GPI Final 02 October 25.PDF

FOREWORD

The Hawaii State Legislature created the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization (OahuMPO) in 1975 as an advisory body to coordinate transportation planning on Oahu. As the designated metropolitan planning organization for the island of Oahu, the OahuMPO carries out various requirements mandated by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT).

The Participation Plan of the OahuMPO has been developed to help members of the public and affected organizations, including government agencies, understand: 1) our planning process for Oahu’s major surface transportation efforts and 2) how to participate effectively in that process. The process results in plans and programs that provide direction to the development of our surface transportation system. Although the OahuMPO programs the federal funding of many of the City and State transportation projects, the OahuMPO does not design or construct these projects. As such, the Participation Plan focuses on those aspects and areas of transportation planning that fall within the OahuMPO’s purview.

The Participation Plan has been developed to ensure compliance with the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
(SAFETEA-LU) legislation. In accordance with this legislation, the procedures outlined in the Participation Plan will be reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to ensure a full and open participation process.

Gordon G.W. Lum Executive Director

]This page intentionally left blank]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS..................................................................................................... 1

PART 1: METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROCESS......................... 3

1.1 OVERVIEW.................................................................................................................... 3

1.2 THE OAHU METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION.................................. 3

1.3 PLANNING ACTIVITIES IN WHICH THE OahuMPO IS INVOLVED....................... 5

PART 2: THE PARTICIPATION PLAN.................................................................................... 7

2.1 PARTICIPATION PLAN MISSION STATEMENT....................................................... 7

2.2 PARTICIPATION PLAN GOALS AND OBJECTIVES................................................. 7

2.3 TITLE VI AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONSIDERATIONS.......................... 8

PART 3: PARTICIPATION PLAN ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES............................. 10

3.1 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES............................................................. 10

3.2 PUBLIC MEETINGS..................................................................................................... 10

3.3 STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS...................................................................... 11

3.4 DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC RECORDS.................................................................... 12

3.5 INTERESTED PARTIES & INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW............................... 13

3.6 PUBLIC REVIEW OF DRAFT DOCUMENTS............................................................ 14

3.7 PUBLIC TESTIMONY AT MEETINGS OF THE POLICY COMMITTEE................. 15

PART 4: EARLY & CONTINUOUS INVOLVEMENT.......................................................... 17

4.1 OAHU REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN........................................................ 17

4.2 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.................................................. 19

4.3 OVERALL WORK PROGRAM.................................................................................... 21

APPENDIX A: BYLAWS OF THE CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE......................... A-1

FIGURES

1 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN THE OAHU REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN 18

2 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN THE OAHU TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM 20

3 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN THE OVERALL WORK PROGRAM.............................. 22

GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS

FOR THE

OahuMPO PARTICIPATION PLAN

3-C Comprehensive, Cooperative and Continuing

ADA Americans with Disabilities Act

CAC Citizen Advisory Committee

DBEDT Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism

DOT Department of Transportation

DPP Department of Planning and Permitting

DTS Department of Transportation Services

EJ Environmental Justice

FHWA Federal Highway Administration

FTA Federal Transit Administration

MPO Metropolitan Planning Organization

OahuMPO Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization

ORTP Oahu Regional Transportation Plan

OWP Overall Work Program

SAFETEA-LU Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users

STIP Statewide Transportation Improvement Program

T6/EJ Title VI and Environmental Justice

TAC Technical Advisory Committee

TIP Transportation Improvement Program

UH University of Hawaii

USDOT United States Department of Transportation

[This page intentionally left blank]

PART 1

METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROCESS

1.1 OVERVIEW

Transportation planning in metropolitan areas is a collaborative process led by the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) and other key stakeholders in the regional transportation system. This process is designed to foster involvement by all interested parties – such as the general public, the business community, community groups, environmental organizations, and affected public agencies –through a proactive public participation process conducted by the MPO in coordination with the state and the transit operator.

The metropolitan transportation planning process is aimed at developing programs to meet a region's transportation needs by analyzing the existing system and preparing plans and studies in a comprehensive, cooperative, and continuing manner. This process, referred to as the 3-C (comprehensive, cooperative, and continuing) planning process, is federally required as a condition for receipt of federal highway and transit funds.

These plans and programs are the basis for the development and operation of an integrated, intermodal transportation system that facilitates the efficient and economic movement of people and goods.

The participation plan, developed under the metropolitan planning process, applies to those activities under the purview of the MPO. It is important to remember that programs and projects under state or city jurisdictions follow their own respective participation plans, which may differ from those of the MPO. Specifically, when state or city programs or projects enter the metropolitan transportation planning process for programming or incorporation into an MPO plan, the MPO’s participation plan is followed. When city or state programs or projects contained in a MPO plan or program is implemented or is being proposed for submittal into a MPO plan or program, the participation plan of the respective jurisdiction is used.

1.2 THE OAHU METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION

The Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization (OahuMPO) is the MPO for Oahu. The OahuMPO was established by State law as a City/State agency to coordinate transportation planning on Oahu in cooperation with the State and City transportation and planning agencies. This State law was a response to the Federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1973, which required the formation of an MPO to ensure that existing and future expenditures for transportation projects and programs were based on the 3-C planning process. Federal funding for transportation projects and programs are channeled through this planning process.

Organizationally, the OahuMPO has four components:

1.2.1 The Policy Committee

The Policy Committee is the OahuMPO's decision-making body. It has thirteen members: six State Legislators, five City Council members, the State Department of Transportation Director, and the City Department of Transportation Services Director.

The Policy Committee has two standing advisory committees - the Technical Advisory Committee and the Citizen Advisory Committee.

1.2.2 The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

The TAC is responsible for ensuring the technical competence of the planning process. Its members include two staff representatives from each agency: State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, State Department of Transportation, City Department of Planning and Permitting, and City Department of Transportation Services. The Hawaii Transportation Association Managing Director, a University of Hawaii faculty member, and representatives from the Federal Highway, Transit, and Aviation Administrations are non-voting members of the TAC. The TAC advises both the Policy Committee and the OahuMPO Executive Director on technical matters.

1.2.3 The Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC)

The CAC is the foundation of the OahuMPO’s public involvement program. The CAC advises the Policy Committee and the OahuMPO's Executive Director with input from its members on transportation planning issues.

The CAC was established by the Policy Committee in July 1977 and operates under a set of bylaws (See Appendix A). Its members include non-governmental organizations and City neighborhood boards, representing diverse segments of the community (see OahuMPO website for current list of member organizations). The CAC provides a vehicle for informing interested citizens of various transportation issues and for face-to-face discussions with key decision-makers and project administrators.

1.2.4 The OahuMPO Executive Director and Staff

The OahuMPO Executive Director and staff are responsible for the administration and implementation of policy, project direction, and coordination as directed by the Policy Committee.

1.3 PLANNING ACTIVITIES IN WHICH THE OahuMPO IS INVOLVED

The OahuMPO'S planning activities include:

· Developing three major documents: a long-range (minimum 20-year) Oahu regional transportation plan (ORTP), a short-term (four-year) transportation improvement program (TIP), and an annual overall work program (OWP) of transportation planning studies;

· Conducting special planning studies in support of the basic planning programs;

· Reviewing planning projects for compatibility with other planning efforts and for compliance with applicable federal transportation planning rules; and

· Serving as a resource for City and State transportation and planning agencies.

It is important to understand that activities such as a project’s local funding, design and construction, program operations, and neighborhood street improvements are not addressed by the OahuMPO’s planning activities. Further, while access to air and water transportation facilities is subject to the planning process, planning for airport and harbor facilities itself is also not within the OahuMPO’s area of responsibility.

1.3.1 Oahu Regional Transportation Plan (ORTP)

The ORTP is the official guide for the development of the major surface transportation facilities and programs to be implemented on Oahu. Based upon projected transportation needs, the plan identifies short-range and long-range strategies and actions that should ultimately lead to the development of an integrated intermodal transportation system that facilitates the safe, efficient, and effective movement of people and goods. The ORTP must be updated at least once every five years and may be amended as necessary.

1.3.2 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

The TIP is a four-year programming document that identifies and establishes the implementation priority for State and City transportation projects to be funded in part with federal highway and transit funds. Additionally, regionally significant projects requiring an action by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) or Federal Transit Administration (FTA) must be included in the TIP, even when federal highway or transit funds are not used. All TIP projects must be consistent with the ORTP and expected to be “ready-to-go” in its programmed year.

When approved by the Policy Committee and the Governor, the entire TIP project listing is incorporated as the Oahu element of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). All projects proposed to be funded with FTA or FHWA funds must be included in the STIP for joint FHWA and FTA approval. The TIP is updated every three years and may be amended as necessary.

1.3.3 Overall Work Program (OWP)

The OWP is the key management tool for coordinating State and City transportation planning activities on Oahu. It describes the planning projects to be undertaken during the programmed year; project objectives and tasks are outlined with the budgetary and staff requirements needed to carry out each project. In addressing current transportation issues and problems, the OWP reflects local planning policies, and federal transportation priorities and requirements. The OWP may be amended during the program year.

1.3.4 Special Projects

The OahuMPO and its participating agencies conduct special planning projects in addition to those that are specifically required under the federal planning rules. These projects generally support or further develop the ORTP and TIP, and are programmed in the annual OWP.

PART 2
THE PARTICIPATION PLAN