MPO updates cooperative agreement with KDOT and Lawrence Transit to reflect staffing reorganization

The Lawrence–Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board on Aug. 7 unanimously approved a 2025 cooperative agreement among the MPO, the Kansas Department of Transportation and Lawrence Transit that updates which city department houses the MPO and clarifies signing authority.

Jessica, MPO staff, said the update is technical: earlier this year the MPO’s staff and administrative designation moved from the Planning and Development Services department to the Municipal Services and Operations department, and the cooperative agreement language was revised to reflect that change. She told the board the revisions do not make substantive policy changes to how the MPO, KDOT and Lawrence Transit work together on planning, the TIP and related activities.

The amended cooperative agreement aligns internal signatures and KDOT guidance by designating the MPO Policy Board chair to sign the cooperative agreement; staff said the document will then be returned to the city transit director and forwarded to KDOT as part of the MPO’s records. Jessica said bylaws and the designation agreement will be edited to reflect the same administrative change and that staff will bring documents to the board for signature as needed.

Board members moved and seconded the cooperative agreement and approved it by roll-call vote with Dorsey, Eldridge, Larson, Littlejohn and Smith recorded as "yes." No public comments were received in person or online on the item, staff said.

The approved cooperative agreement is an administrative update reflecting the MPO’s new host department and the designated signatory; staff said it does not change substantive interagency responsibilities or the policy content of prior agreements.