[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 23, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 23CFR450.308]

[Page 101-102]
 
                           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 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

[[Page 102]]

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.