,,ii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bgfa ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #ca1 #bjad ,mr4 ,booker introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 to permit the consolidation of metropolitan planning organizations1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,local ,empowerment ,act4 #b4 ,consolidated and high performing metropolitan planning organizations 7a7 ,highways 7#a7 ,apportionment ,section #ajd7;d77#b77;,a7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7,a7 in clause 7i71 by striking 2 and and inserting a semicolon2 7,b7 by redesignating clause 7ii7 as clause 7iii72 and 7,c7 by inserting after clause 7i7 the following3 7ii7 prioritizes the needs of high performing metropolitan planning organizations 7as designated by the ,secretary under section #acd7r7 or section #ecjc7r7 of title #di72 and 4 7#b7 ,surface transportation program ,section #acc of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7,a7 in subsection 7d71 by striking paragraph 7#a7 and inserting the following3 7#a7 ,calculation ,of the funds apportioned to a ,state under section #ajd7;b77#b7-- 7,a7 #ej percent for a fiscal year shall be obligated under this section1 in proportion to their relative shares of the population of the ,state-- 7i7 in urbanized areas of the ,state with an urbanized area population of more than #bjj1jjj2 7ii7 in urban areas of the ,state with an urban area population of not fewer than #e1jjj and not more than #bjj1jjj2 and 7iii7 in areas of the ,state with an area population of fewer than #e1jjj2 7,b7 #be percent for a fiscal year may be obligated under this section in any area of the ,state2 7,c7 7i7 #be percent for a fiscal year shall be obligated under this section1 in proportion to their relative shares of the population of the ,state1 in urbanized areas described in subparagraph 7,a77i7 that have a high performing metropolitan planning organization 7as designated by the ,secretary under section #acd7r7 or section #ecjc7r7 of title #di72 and 7ii7 the amount of the funds obligated to each urbanized area described in clause 7i7 shall-- 7,i7 be equal to #ej percent of the amount of the funds obligated to the urbanized area under subparagraph 7,a77i72 and 7,,ii7 be in addition to the funds obligated to the urbanized area under subparagraph 7,a77i72 and 7,d7 any funds not obligated under subparagraph 7,c7 for a fiscal year shall be obligated under this section1 in proportion to the relative shares of the population of the ,state1 in any area of the ,state under subparagraph 7,b74 2 7,b7 in subsection 7f7-- 7i7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,i7 by striking ,a ,state and inserting ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 a ,state2 7,,ii7 by striking section #ajd7;b77#c7 and inserting section #ajd7;b77#b72 and 7,,iii7 by striking #bjaa through #bjad and inserting #bjae through #bjah2 7ii7 by redesignating paragraph 7#b7 as paragraph 7#c72 7iii7 by inserting after paragraph 7#a7 the following3 7#b7 ,high performing metropolitan planning organizations 7,a7 ,in general ,a ,state that is required to obligate in an urbanized area under subsections 7d77#a77;,a77i7 and 7d77#a77;,c7 funds apportioned to the ,state under section #ajd7;b77#b7 shall make available to the urbanized area for each fiscal year during the period described in paragraph 7#a7 an amount of obligation authority distributed to the ,state for ,federal-aid highways and highway safety construction programs for use in the area that is equal to the amount obtained by multiplying-- 7i7 the amount of funds that the ,state is required to obligate in the area under subsections 7d77#a77;,a77i7 and 7d77#a77;,c72 and 7ii7 the ratio described in paragraph 7#a77;,b74 7,b7 ,availability ,the obligation authority described in subparagraph 7,a7 shall remain available for a period of #d fiscal years4 2 and 7iv7 in paragraph 7#c7 7as so redesignated71 by striking paragraph 7#a7 and inserting paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b72 and 7,c7 in subsection 7h77#a71 by striking of fiscal years #bjac through #bjad and inserting fiscal year4 7#c7 ,metropolitan transportation planning ,section #acd of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7,a7 in subsection 7b7-- 7i7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#g7 as paragraphs 7#b7 through 7#h71 respectively2 and 7ii7 by inserting before paragraph 7#b7 7as so redesignated7 the following3 7#a7 ,consolidated metropolitan planning organization ,the term consolidated metropolitan planning organization means a sole metropolitan planning organization that serves a metropolitan statistical area4 2 7,b7 in subsection 7d71 by striking paragraph 7#f7 and inserting the following3 7#f7 ,consolidation of metropolitan planning organizations in urbanized areas 7,a7 ,limitation on new metropolitan planning organizations ,a metropolitan planning organization shall not be designated-- 7i7 within a metropolitan statistical area if another metropolitan planning organization already exists within the boundaries of the metropolitan statistical area2 or 7ii7 outside the boundaries of a metropolitan statistical area4 7,b7 ,multiple existing metropolitan planning organizations ,if more than #a existing metropolitan planning organizations are designated within a metropolitan statistical area-- 7i7 each metropolitan planning organization may-- 7,i7 retain the designation as a metropolitan planning organization2 or 7,,ii7 agree to be consolidated with the other metropolitan planning organizations2 7ii7 the existing metropolitan planning organizations and the applicable ,governors may-- 7,i7 beginning on ,january #a1 #bjbb1 and once every #aj years thereafter1 revisit the agreement described in clause 7i77,i72 and 7,,ii7 submit to the ,secretary a justification of the continued necessity of that agreement2 and 7iii7 each metropolitan planning organization shall cooperate with every other metropolitan planning organization to-- 7,i7 develop a single transportation improvement plan and a single long-range plan to be used by each metropolitan planning organization when developing individual plans of the metropolitan planning organization2 and 7,,ii7 establish a single set of performance targets that address the performance measures described in section #aej7;c7 to be used in developing individual performance targets of the metropolitan planning organization in accordance with subsection 7h77#b77;,b74 2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7r7 ,high performing metropolitan planning organizations 7#a7 ,in general ,a metropolitan planning organization designated for an urbanized area with a population of more than #bjj1jjj individuals may request that the ,secretary designate the metropolitan planning organization as a high performing metropolitan planning organization4 7#b7 ,criteria ,in making a designation under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall consider-- 7,a7 the extent to which the metropolitan planning organization has an equitable and regional approach to decisionmaking2 7,b7 the extent to which the metropolitan planning organization has incorporated the performance targets established pursuant to section #aej and sections #ecjc7;h77#b71 #ecbf7;c7 and #ecbi7;d7 of title #di into the planning process2 7,c7 whether the metropolitan planning organization is a consolidated metropolitan planning organization2 7,d7 if the metropolitan planning organization is not a consolidated metropolitan planning organization1 the extent to which the metropolitan planning organization is coordinating with all other metropolitan planning organizations designated for the same metropolitan statistical area2 7,e7 the technical capacity of the metropolitan planning organization2 and 7,f7 any other guidance established by the ,secretary4 7#c7 ,review ,a designation under paragraph 7#a7 shall be effective for the period beginning on the date on which the designation is made and ending on the date that is #aj years after the date on which the designation is made4 4 7#d7 ,transportation alternatives ,section #bac7;c7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking paragraph 7#a7 and inserting the following3 7#a7 ,calculation ,of the funds reserved in a ,state under this section-- 7,a7 #ej percent for a fiscal year shall be obligated under this section to any eligible entity in proportion to their relative shares of the population of the ,state-- 7i7 in urbanized areas of the ,state with an urbanized area population of more than #bjj1jjj2 7ii7 in urban areas of the ,state with an urban area population of not fewer than #e1jjj and not more than #bjj1jjj2 and 7iii7 in areas of the ,state with an area population of fewer than #e1jjj2 7,b7 #be percent for a fiscal year may be obligated under this section in any area of the ,state2 7,c7 7i7 #be percent for a fiscal year shall be obligated under this section in urbanized areas described in subparagraph 7,a77i7 that have a high performing metropolitan planning organization 7as designated by the ,secretary under section #acd7r7 or section #ecjc7r7 of title #di72 and 7ii7 the amount of the funds obligated to each urbanized area described in clause 7i7 shall-- 7,i7 be equal to #ej percent of the amount of the funds obligated to the urbanized area under subparagraph 7,a77i72 and 7,,ii7 be in addition to the funds obligated to the urbanized area under subparagraph 7,a77i72 and 7,d7 any funds not obligated under subparagraph 7,c7 for a fiscal year shall be obligated under this section in any area of the ,state under subparagraph 7,b74 4 7b7 ,transportation ,section #ecjc of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#g7 as paragraphs 7#b7 through 7#h71 respectively2 and 7,b7 by inserting before paragraph 7#b7 7as so redesignated7 the following3 7#a7 ,consolidated metropolitan planning organization ,the term consolidated metropolitan planning organization means a single metropolitan planning organization that serves a metropolitan statistical area4 2 7#b7 in subsection 7d71 by striking paragraph 7#f7 and inserting the following3 7#f7 ,consolidation of metropolitan planning organizations in urbanized areas 7,a7 ,limitation on new metropolitan planning organizations ,a metropolitan planning organization shall not be designated-- 7i7 within a metropolitan statistical area if another metropolitan planning organization already exists within the boundaries of the metropolitan statistical area2 or 7ii7 outside the boundaries of a metropolitan statistical area4 7,b7 ,multiple existing metropolitan planning organizations ,if more than #a existing metropolitan planning organizations are designated within a metropolitan statistical area-- 7i7 each metropolitan planning organization may-- 7,i7 retain the designation as a metropolitan planning organization2 or 7,,ii7 agree to be consolidated with the other metropolitan planning organizations2 7ii7 the existing metropolitan planning organizations and the applicable ,governors may-- 7,i7 beginning on ,january #a1 #bjbb1 and once every #aj years thereafter1 revisit the agreement described in clause 7i77,,ii72 and 7,,ii7 submit to the ,secretary a justification of the continued necessity of that agreement2 and 7iii7 each metropolitan planning organization shall cooperate with every other metropolitan planning organization to-- 7,i7 develop a single transportation improvement plan and a single long-range plan to be used by each metropolitan planning organization when developing individual plans of the metropolitan planning organization2 and 7,,ii7 establish a single set of performance targets that address the performance measures described in section #aej7;c7 of title #bc to be used in developing individual performance targets of the metropolitan planning organization in accordance with subsection 7h77#b77;,b7 and sections #ecbf7;c77#b7 and #ecbi7;d74 2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7r7 ,high performing metropolitan planning organizations 7#a7 ,in general ,a metropolitan planning organization designated for an urbanized area with a population of more than #bjj1jjj individuals may request that the ,secretary designate the metropolitan planning organization as a high performing metropolitan planning organization4 7#b7 ,criteria ,in making a designation under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall consider-- 7,a7 the extent to which the metropolitan planning organization has an equitable and regional approach to decisionmaking2 7,b7 the extent to which the metropolitan planning organization has incorporated the performance targets established pursuant to section #aej of title #bc and sections #ecjc7;h77#b71 #ecbf7;c7 and #ecbi7;d7 into the planning process2 7,c7 whether the metropolitan planning organization is a consolidated metropolitan planning organization2 7,d7 if the metropolitan planning organization is not a consolidated metropolitan planning organization1 the extent to which the metropolitan planning organization is coordinating with all other metropolitan planning organizations designated for the same metropolitan statistical area2 7,e7 the technical capacity of the metropolitan planning organization2 and 7,f7 any other guidance established by the ,secretary4 7#c7 ,review ,a designation under paragraph 7#a7 shall be effective for the period beginning on the date on which the designation is made and ending on the date that is #aj years after the date on which the designation is made4 4