Overview

In urbanized areas (with a population of 50,000 or more), federal planning law (49 U.S.C. 5303) calls upon local officials to cooperate with states and public transportation providers in undertaking a continuing, comprehensive, and cooperative (3C) multimodal transportation planning process. Well-organized, inclusive transportation planning can help a region meet current needs while preparing for future challenges.

In non-metropolitan areas, federal planning law (49 U.S.C. 5304) requires each state to cooperate with local officials to develop a long-range statewide transportation plan and statewide transportation improvement program (STIP). These planning and programming documents are developed through a continuing, comprehensive, and cooperative (3C) process carried out on a statewide basis and coordinated with the metropolitan panning processes of the state. For nonmetropolitan areas, the statewide transportation plan must be developed in cooperation with affected nonmetropolitan officials with responsibility for transportation or, if applicable, through regional transportation planning organizations (RTPOs). Funding is available from FTA to support statewide and non-metropolitan planning through 49 U.S.C. 5305(e). Planning programs are jointly administered by FTA and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which provides additional funding.

Resources

Increased Federal Share under the Metropolitan Planning Program and State Planning and Research Program - FTA is increasing federal support of planning activities that help communities with lower population densities or lower average incomes, compared to surrounding areas, expand access to public transportation. This Dear Colleague letter describes the eligibility criteria for the increased federal share — up to 100 percent — under the Metropolitan Planning Program and the State Planning and Research Program for planning activities amended under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law 49 U.S.C 5305(f).

Local Match Waiver for Complete Streets - This Dear Colleague letter informs states and metropolitan planning organizations that FTA has approved a waiver of the non-federal match for the Metropolitan Planning Program and the State Planning and Research Program for Complete Streets planning activities. For more information on the waiver and how grant recipients can utilize this waiver, please refer to the FAQ page.

FTA Toolkit - Applying Increased Federal Share Toward Planning Grants 49 USC 5305(f)(2) - This toolkit provides information about developing grant applications for planning grants with increased Federal support. FTA is increasing support for planning activities that help communities with lower population densities or lower average incomes expand access to public transportation. The toolkit explains eligibility, allowable activities and provides examples of potential projects.

23 CFR 450 - Planning Assistance and Standards - Federal transportation planning regulations (this link goes to the highway version--the transit version, adopted by FTA at 49 CFR 613, is an identical copy which incorporates this section by reference).

FTA Circular 8100.1C - Program Guidance for Metropolitan Planning and State Planning and Research Program Grants - FTA program guidance for metropolitan planning and state planning and research program grants.

FTA Fact Sheet: Metropolitan, Statewide, & Non-Metropolitan Planning - FTA Fact Sheet on the planning provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

FHWA Fact Sheet: Metropolitan Planning - FHWA Fact Sheet on the metropolitan planning provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

U.S. Code Title 49, Chapter 53 - Public Transportation - This is the public transportation section of U.S. Code. The Metropolitan Transportation Planning statute is found at Section 5303; Statewide Transportation Planning is found at Section 5304; and Planning Programs are found at Section 5305. The Metro and Statewide Planning sections are identical to the corresponding sections of Federal Highways code, 23 U.S.C. 134 and 135.

Additional resources related to Metropolitan, Statewide & Non-Metropolitan Planning