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Gainesville-area MTPO approves transition plan, directs interlocal update and staffing steps
Summary
The Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization voted to advance its transition from RPC oversight to an independent structure with HDR as planning consultant, directed staff to circulate an updated interlocal agreement and to solicit small-city nominations for a rural representative, and approved logistical steps for advisory committees and document transfers.
The Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization on Dec. 2 approved steps to complete a planned transition that will move day‑to‑day planning support from the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council to HDR and establish the MTPO as a standalone entity.
Commissioner Mary Helen Wheeler, acting as chair, and Commissioner Eastman led a presentation of the governance subcommittee’s recommendations, including an updated draft interlocal agreement that revises the 2004 document to reflect boundary and membership changes triggered by the latest census and TMA status. Brad Thoburn, policy and strategic planning lead at HDR, introduced himself and said HDR will provide transition support, help organize files and lead early work on the 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan.
“We have transferred what we believe is the critical documentation,” Thoburn said, summarizing the records-transfer work and the establishment of an electronic file structure HDR will use during the transition.
The board directed staff to circulate the draft interlocal to member entities for legal review and to include language addressing how a rural/small‑city representative will be chosen for the MTPO board. Commissioners debated options for selecting the rural representative: rural cities could nominate a candidate and forward nominations to the county for selection, or the small cities could confer and choose a nominee among themselves. The board approved a motion to send a chair’s letter soliciting nominations from the small cities and directed staff to draft interlocal language that contemplates a two‑year, renewable term for that seat.
Members also discussed advisory‑committee staffing during the transition. Allison Moss, transportation planning manager for the county, and other staff noted that the Technical Advisory Committee and Citizen Advisory Committee are federally required and must continue meeting; the locally formed Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board has historically been staffed by City of Gainesville staff. HDR can provide limited remote clerking support, but evening meeting times create a challenge. The board asked staff to explore moving some advisory meeting times or using a hybrid approach so HDR or county staff can provide clerking and meet federal requirements.
The board confirmed administrative logistics: the county clerk will handle MTPO finances during transition, the county will host an interim website (acgnvmobility.org) and HDR will coordinate files and the LRTP contract work that Corradino Group previously led. Commissioners emphasized returning the finalized interlocal for board approval and signature once member entities and legal counsel complete reviews.
Next procedural steps include circulating the interlocal draft for review, soliciting small‑city nominations via a chair’s letter, and bringing final interlocal language and any interlocal execution documents back to the MTPO for approval and signature.
