m - City of New Braunfels

City Council Agenda Item Report
NOVEMBER 8, 2010
Agenda Item No. L./£:
Presenter I Contact - Shannon Mattingly, Planning Director
(830) 221-4055 - smattingly@nbtexas.org
SUBJECT:
Discuss and consider approving a contract to develop a regional
transportation plan to support the creation of a Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO)
8ACKGROUND/RA TIONALE:
In 1962, the Unites States Congress passed legislation that required the formation of a
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for any urbanized area (UZA) with a population
greater than 50,000 to allocate funding for transportation projects and programs. This federal
funding is to be spent in a manner that encourages metropolitan region-wide plans developed
through intergovernmental collaboration , rational analysis, and consensus-based decision
making.
The City of New Braunfels has been experiencing growth at a rate of 5 to 6% annually since
2000 and the population of the City of New Braunfels has expanded to an estimated 58,520
as of January 1, 2010. The City anticipates these numbers to be confirmed with "the
completion of the 2010 census.
The City of New Braunfels and the City of Seguin are interested in jointly pursuing the
possibilities of forming a regional metropolitan planning organization within Comal and
Guadalupe Counties. Part of this process will be to create a regional transportation plan. This
regional transportation plan will:
• review both the City's and the County's existing plans;
• make recommendations on the consistency of these plans;
• determine the appropriate types of road sections; and
• review the environmental aspects of relocating and expanding roads and proposing any
new roadway alignments.
This item is currently identified in our approved budget and the City of Seguin has also
approved $25,000 to go towards this project in their current budget. This process will include
extensive public participation through community meetings and presentations to City and
County Officials.
ADDRESSES A NEED/ISSUE IN A CITY PLAN OR COUNCIL PRIORITY:
Yes 2006 Comprehensive Goal 21: Provide a system of convenient and safe
Plan:
transportation facilities through comprehensive,
cooperative and continuing transportation system
planning and development.
Page I of2