Managing the TDM Process: Developing MPO Institutional Capacity

(PI: Karen Lorenzini (TTI), CoPIs: Chandra Bhat, Phillip Reeder, Patricia Ellis, Tina Geiselbrecht, Ipek Sener, Stacey Bricka, and John Overman)

Within Texas, the development of urban travel models is a cooperative process between the Texas Department of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations. Though TxDOT-Transportation Planning and Programming Division is responsible for developing and validating an MPO's travel model, MPOs play an important role in model development by providing the demographic data and regional roadway information required for model development and forecast applications. Like other MPOs nationwide, Texas MPOs struggle with the difficulties of limited resources, time, and staff for the development of accurate and reliable travel models. Owing to the collaborative process between TxDOT and Texas MPOs, and the different sizes and staff resources among Texas MPOs dedicated to model development, the MPOs in Texas have different needs and challenges in this regard. This project will research current practices, trends, and innovations by MPOs in Texas and nationwide for managing this process. The goal is to assist MPOs in developing institutional capacity to undertake travel-related technical analyses in a complete and timely manner. While the results from the study will include tiered recommendations appropriate for MPOs of all sizes, the focus will be on small and medium-size MPOs with limited staff and data resources for providing information for developing models.