MPO board authorizes start of public process to revise documents after KDOT and U.S. DOT guidance

Lawrence — The Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) policy board voted unanimously to advise MPO staff to begin the public process of revising MPO planning documents following guidance from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and federal planning partners. The board acted during a virtual meeting where staff described suggested edits to multiple documents and the potential consequences of noncompliance.

The board’s action directs staff to begin amendments, subject to the MPO’s established public participation plan. The motion, as stated during the meeting, was to “advise MPO staff to begin the process of revising MPO documents based on the guidance received from KDOT and federal planning partners and start the public process.” The motion passed on a roll-call vote with all voting members present recorded as yes.

The guidance delivered to the MPO includes suggested removals of references to environmental justice analyses and language the federal…