Planning Factors

In 2005, under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Congress showed support for metropolitan and statewide transportation planning by emphasizing eight distinct areas which metropolitan planning organizations¹ (MPOs) and states² should consider when developing their plans:

1. support the economic vitality of the [United States, the States, nonmetropolitan areas, and] metropolitan areas, especially by enabling global competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency;
2. increase the safety of the transportation system for motorized and nonmotorized users;
3. increase the security of the transportation system for motorized and nonmotorized users;
4. increase the accessibility and mobility of people and for freight;
5. protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, improve the quality of life, and promote consistency between transportation improvements and State and local planned growth and economic development patterns;
6. enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system, across and between modes [throughout the State], for people and freight;
7. promote efficient system management and operation; and
8. emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system.

¹SEC. 3005. METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING and SEC. 3006. STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING of Title III—Public Transportation in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (PL 109-59), signed into law on August 10, 2005.

²49 USC applies to Public Transportation; the same planning factors are included under the title for Highways, at 23 USC §134 (metropolitan) and 23 USC §135 (statewide).