[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 23, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 23CFR450.308]

[Page 103-104]
 
                           TITLE 23--HIGHWAYS
 
 CHAPTER I--FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 450--PLANNING ASSISTANCE AND STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
     Subpart C--Metropolitan Transportation Planning and Programming
 
Sec. 450.308  Metropolitan planning organization: Metropolitan planning area boundaries.

    (a) The metropolitan planning area boundary shall, as a minimum, 
cover the UZA(s) and the contiguous geographic area(s) likely to become 
urbanized within the twenty year forecast period covered by the 
transportation plan described in Sec. 450.322 of this part. The boundary 
may encompass the entire metropolitan statistical area or consolidated 
metropolitan statistical area, as defined by the Bureau of the Census. 
For geographic areas designated as nonattainment or maintenance areas 
(as created by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA)) for 
transportation related pollutants under the CAA, the boundaries of the 
metropolitan planning area shall include at least the boundaries of the 
nonattainment or maintenance areas, except as otherwise provided by 
agreement between the MPO and the Governor under the procedures 
specified in Sec. 450.310(f) of this part. In the absence of a formal 
agreement between the Governor and the MPO to reduce the metropolitan 
planning area to an area less than the boundaries of the nonattainment 
or maintenance area, the entire nonattainment or maintenance

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area is subject to the applicable provisions of this part. Where a 
portion of the nonattainment or maintenance area is excluded from the 
metropolitan planning area boundary, the STP funds suballocated to 
urbanized areas greater than 200,000 in population shall not be utilized 
for projects outside the metropolitan planning area boundary.
    (b) The metropolitan planning area for a new UZA served by an 
existing or new MPO shall be established in accordance with these 
criteria. The current planning area boundaries for previously designated 
UZAs shall be reviewed and modified if necessary to comply with these 
criteria.
    (c) In addition to the criteria in paragraph (a) of this section, 
the planning areas currently in use for all transportation modes should 
be reviewed before establishing the metropolitan planning area boundary. 
Where appropriate, adjustments should be made to reflect the most 
comprehensive boundary to foster an effective planning process that 
ensures connectivity between modes, reduces access disadvantages 
experienced by modal systems, and promotes efficient overall 
transportation investment strategies.
    (d) Approval of metropolitan planning area boundaries by the FHWA or 
the FTA is not required. However, metropolitan planning area boundary 
maps must be submitted to the FHWA and the FTA after their approval by 
the MPO and the Governor.