National, Statewide and Regional Transportation Planning
Contents
- National Transportation Planning Policy
- Statewide Transportation Planning (WSDOT)
- Transportation-Related Washington Statutes and Administrative Codes
- Regional Transportation Planning
-
- What is a Regional Transportation Planning Organization?
- Regional Transportation Planning Organizations and Metropolitan Planning Organizations
- Washington State Transportation Contacts and Resources
National Transportation Planning Policy
Since federal funds are disbursed to states and to regional transportation planning organizations, this section provides background information on national transportation planning policy.
The federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) required states to develop a coordinated, comprehensive, and financially-constrained long-range transportation strategy that placed a strong emphasis on coordination between local, regional, and state agencies. It mandated better integration of transportation and land use decision-making processes. It also elevated the importance of maximizing system efficiency and demand management rather than an exclusive reliance on building new capacity. The original act expired in 1997 and was reauthorized via the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA21) in 1998. In August 2005, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), which extends the TEA-21 funding, was signed by President Bush. TEA-21 authorizes the federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and transit for the 5-year period from 2005-2009.
- Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2005: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)
- Metro-Regional Transportation Solutions for the 21st Century: City-County Innovation through TEA-21, Joint Center for Sustainable Communities, U.S. Conference of Mayors/National Association of Counties - Report on local projects funded by TEA-21
- Federal Transportation Policy Framework, prepared by the Florida Department of Transportation - Links to federal codes and regulations, and U.S. Department of Transportation information on federal regulations.
Statewide Transportation Planning
Transportation planning in Washington State falls under the aegis of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), which prepares the state's transportation plan. Federal legislation, the Surface Transportation Act (TEA-21) and its subsequent reauthorization acts (SAFETEA-LU), requires each state to prepare a transportation plan and program providing for development, management, and operation of systems and facilities considering all modes of transportation. The plan must be based on at least a 20-year forecast period and may include a financial plan. Regular updates to the plan are required.
Based on state law, WSDOT must prepare a "comprehensive and balanced statewide transportation plan" every two years based on legislative policies and applicable state and federal laws (RCW 47.01.071). The Statewide Transportation Planning Act, adopted in 1993, establishes a statewide vision for transportation and sets the stage for a balanced transportation system that offers transportation choices (car, transit, rail, bicycle, and walking). The state transportation policy plan must establish a vision and goals for the transportation system consistent with the state's growth management goals; identify significant transportation policy issues; and recommend statewide transportation policies to the Legislature (RCW 47.06.030).
The Washington Transportation Plan (WTP) is a blueprint for transportation programs and investments, and incorporates federal transportation requirements. Regular updates are required by state and federal law. The plan covers all modes of transportation: roadways, ferries, public transportation, aviation, freight rail, passenger rail, marine ports and navigation, bicycles, and pedestrians.
The Washington State Growth Management Act requires that future transportation planning and system development support the broader, long-range goals for community development. The State has established Regional Transportation Planning Organizations that facilitate improved integration of transportation and comprehensive planning, and facilitate coordination among state and local planning efforts.
The WSDOT's Transportation Planning Office coordinates among jurisdictions to assure that transportation facilities and services operate as a total system.
State Transportation Plans
- Washington State Transportation Plan, 2007-2026, WSDOT - Includes update information
- Modal Plans, WSDOT
- Bicycle Facilities and Pedestrian Walkways Plan for Washington State, WSDOT
- Highway System Plan 2007-2026, High Benefit Low Cost (
), WSDOT, Dec. 2007.
Transportation Planning Guidance
- Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Transportation Planning Office - Links to state transportation plan, state highway plan, route development plans, trends report, guidebooks
- RTPO Transportation Planning Guidebook, WSDOT, June 1998 - Description of regional transportation planning process in Washington
- Coordinating Transportation and Growth Management Planning, WSDOT Planning Office and CTED Growth Management Program - Describes 1998 amendments to requirements for GMA transportation elements, level of service requirements, RTPO/MPO planning process, and transportation facilities and services of statewide interest
- Your Community's Transportation System: A Transportation Element Guidebook, CTED, 1993 - describes steps in developing a transportation element for Washington local government comprehensive plans (available to Washington jurisdictions from CTED or by library loan from MRSC)
- Building Projects That Build Communities: Recommended Best Practices, WSDOT, 2003 - Recommended process for collaborative decision-making and for developing transportation projects that are sensitive to community values and design context
- OFM List of essential state public facilities as required for comprehensive plans (From State Capital Plan; includes transportation projects with statewide impact).
Transportation-Related Washington Statutes and Administrative Codes
Regional Transportation Planning
What is a Regional Transportation Planning Organization?
In 1991 the state Growth Management Act enabled counties to form regional transportation planning organizations (RTPO) (Ch. 47.80 RCW). Regional councils of government typically serve as the regional transportation planning organizations (RTPO) or metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for regions of the state. In urbanized areas, the RTPO is the same as the MPO designated for federal planning purposes (RCW 47.80.020). They serve as pass-through agencies for the disbursement of federal highway and other federal transportation funds (including transportation enhancements). State transportation funds are also distributed through the RPTOs. Formation of an MPO is not mandatory, but no federal transportation funds may be spent in the area without an MPO.
RTPOs must (1) encompass at least one complete county; (2) have a population of at least 100,000 or contain a minimum of three counties; and (3) have as members all counties within the region, and at least 60 percent of the cities and towns within the region, representing a minimum of 75 percent of the cities' and towns' population.
All RTPOs are required to prepare regional and/or metropolitan transportation plans (MTP). The MTP is developed through a coordinated process between local jurisdictions and agencies in order to develop regional solutions to transportation needs. The regional transportation plans also provide a framework for the development of transportation policies included in land use and transportation and other elements of growth management comprehensive plans.
Regional Transportation Planning Organizations and Metropolitan Planning Organizations
Washington State Department of Transportation information on RTPOs and MPOs:
- Regional Transportation Planning, WSDOT - What is an RTPO and other FAQs; includes map with links to RTPOs and MPOs in Washington
- Metropolitan Transportation Planning, WSDOT - What is an MPO and other FAQs; includes map with links to RTPOs and MPOs in Washington
- MPO/RTPO Planning Coordinating Committee, WSDOT - Meeting information.
Washington State is divided into the following RTPOs:
- Benton-Franklin Council of Governments (BFCOG) (Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla Counties) Transportation Programs Office
- Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG) MPO and Southwest Washington (SWRTPO) RTPO
- Lewis Clark Valley (LCVMPO) MPO (Asotin, Nez Pierce Counties)
- North Central NCRTPO (Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan Counties) and Wenatchee Valley Transportation Council
- Northeast Washington RTPO (Ferry, Pend Oreille, Stevens)
- Palouse (Asotin, Columbia, Garfield Counties) - SouthEast Washington Economic Development Association (Formerly called Palouse Economic Development Council)
- Peninsula RTPO (Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason Counties)
- Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) (King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish Counties) Transportation Policy Board
- QUAD-County RTPO (Lincoln, Grant, Adams, Kittitas Counties)
- Skagit MPO- Skagit Council of Governments (Skagit, Island Counties)
- Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council RTC (Clark, Klickitat, Skamania Counties)
- Southwest Washington RTPO (SWRTPO) (Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis Pacific, Wahkiakum Counties) and Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments, CW COG - Transportation Planning
- Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC)
- Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) - Metropolitan and Regional Transportation Planning
- Wenatchee Valley Transportation Council (WVTC) MPO and North Central RTPO (NCRTPO)
(Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan Counties) - Whatcom Council of Governments (WCOG) - MPO and RPTO
- Yakima Valley Conference of Governments (YVCOG) - Current Regional Transportation Issues.
Regional Transportation Plans
The following regional plans were prepared by the regional transportation planning organizations:
- Benton-Franklin Council of Governments, 2006-2025 Regional Transportation Plan
- Puget Sound Regional Council, Destination 2030 Update, amended 2007 and Destination 2040 Underway: Developing the new plan
- Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council, Metropolitan Transportation Plan, amended 2008
- Yakima Valley Council of Governments, Draft Metropolitan and Regional Transportation Plan, 2003-2023.
Washington State Transportation Contacts and Resources
- Washington State Department of Transportation Offices and Contact Numbers, including regional offices
- MPO/RTPO WSDOT Directory
(150 KB)
- County Road Administration Board (CRAB)
- National Transportation Library
- Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) - Fosters state investment in quality local transportation projects. The TIB distributes grant funding, which comes from the revenue generated by three cents of the statewide gas tax, to cities and counties for funding transportation projects.

