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 reviewers interpreted as tied to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) outcomes. Allison Speth, the KDOT representative on the call, summarized the potential downside of not aligning documents with federal law: “The risk involved in MPO documents not being updated and aligned with federal law and the current executive orders is a potential loss of federal funds to the region. Perhaps the freezing of the TIP, which would include not only KDOT projects and City of Lawrence projects, but also, federally funded projects in our smaller cities in our community.”

MPO staff told board members that the region’s current Transportation Improvement Program (federal fiscal years 2025–2028) lists about $221,000,000 in federal funding for transportation projects. Staff said that number could rise to roughly $225,000,000 after planned TIP amendments. The staff presentation described the suggested edits as ranging from word changes in the public participation plan and the unified planning work program (UPWP) to the removal of an environmental-justice analysis and maps from the TIP.

Board staff explained that any document amendment would follow the MPO’s public participation procedures: proposed edits would be posted for public comment, the technical advisory committee would make a recommendation, and the MPO policy board would consider formal action on the amendment. Jessica (MPO staff) told the board the process would be staged and could be folded into regular TIP amendments where appropriate; she said the changes would not happen overnight.

Board members raised process questions and asked for clarity about legal requirements. A federal representative on the call clarified a legal point about language access: “Title 6 still requires that we be accessible to anybody that does not speak English because that is a nationality, and nationality is protected status under Title 6,” the Federal Highway representative said, noting that some prior executive orders were rescinded but that Title VI obligations remain.

After discussion, a board member moved to direct staff to proceed with the public process. Allison Speth seconded. The roll-call vote recorded all voting members present in favor; the chair said the MPO would begin the TIP amendments and expected to return with the first revised document in August.

Why this matters: MPO plans and the TIP govern which projects can receive federal funding in the region. Staff warned that projects that rely on federal funds — including large infrastructure projects and transit vehicle purchases — could be affected if documents are determined not to meet federal requirements. The board’s decision begins a process of public notices, comment periods and technical review before any final changes are adopted.

Meeting context and next steps: MPO staff emphasized that updates would follow the public participation plan’s notice and comment periods. The MPO expects to present the first amended document (a TIP amendment) to the board in August for further consideration.