To

Mayor and Council

Subject

Memorandum of Understanding between the Columbus-Phenix City Transportation Study and the Columbus Consolidated Government

Initiator

Planning Department

Recommendation

Approval is requested to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the \n \n Columbus-Phenix City Transportation Study (C-PCTS). The C-PCTS serves as the \n \n Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the urbanized area.

Approval

Pending

Background

The Metropolitan Planning Organization is designated by the Governors of

Georgia and Alabama and is housed within the Columbus Department of Planning.

The MPO has the primary responsibility for carrying out the urban

transportation planning process and of developing the planning work program,

transportation plan, and transportation improvement program. The MPO is

responsible for the following cities/counties: Columbus/Muscogee County &

Chattahoochee County in Georgia, along with parts of Lee and Russell Counties

in Alabama and the City of Phenix City.



Following each decennial census, federal regulations require Metropolitan

Planning Organizations to examine any revised Census-designated urban areas and

update its generalized transportation Urban Area Boundary (UAB) as well as

examine whether any changes are warranted to the MPO planning area. A MOU was

generated between the C-PCTS and the cities/counties that are represented by

the MPO. The MOU outlines the responsibilities of the MPO and the cities and

counties. In 2009, the C-PCTS incorporated Chattahoochee County into the MPO

and the MOU was updated to reflect that change. The 2010 Census data shows a

portion of Harris County, Georgia as being in the new Urbanized Area Boundary,

therefore the MOU needs to be revised to include Harris County into the MPO.

Analysis

The current Memorandum of Understanding is being updated to include a portion

of Harris County, Georgia into the Metropolitan Planning Organization based on

the 2010 Census Data.

Financial Considerations

The C-PCTS is funded with 80% of Federal Funds and 20% of Local Funds. The City

is responsible for maintaining, preparing, and funding an annual budget for the

MPO?s operations. The C-PCTS receives additional funding from the Alabama

Department of Transportation and the City of Phenix City, Alabama.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement

This is an updated MOU between the Columbus-Phenix City Transportation Study

and the Columbus Consolidated Government which outlines the responsibilities of

the C-PCTS and the City.

Legal Considerations

The Columbus-Phenix City Transportation Study is in compliance with all

applicable planning requirements and certifications necessary in order to

receive the federal funds.

Recommendations/ Actions

Approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor of Columbus to execute the

Memorandum of Understanding.

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