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Federal reviewers open TMA certification review for Cape Cod MPO and invite public input
Summary
FHWA and FTA officials explained the four-phase TMA certification review for the Cape Cod Metropolitan Planning Organization, outlined the documents under examination and confirmed a desk review, site visit and a final report expected in early February; they invited written and oral public comments.
Federal Highway Administration staff and Federal Transit Administration representatives opened a public engagement session on Dec. 13 as part of a Transportation Management Area (TMA) certification review of the Cape Cod Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
Anthony Jones of the FHWA’s Massachusetts division described the review as a joint FHWA/FTA process required under federal regulations, intended to assess planning processes, identify best practices and recommend improvements. "This review process is not a pass, fail, or a audit of a sense," Jones said while explaining the review’s purpose and how it affects certification eligibility.
Why it matters: Certification outcomes affect an MPO’s eligibility to carry out or access certain federal transportation funds and shape priorities in planning documents used to program projects.
The federal team outlined four review phases: a desk review of documents, a one-to-two-day site visit with meetings and interviews, development of draft findings, and a final certification report. Jones said the desk review typically takes about 60 days and the team expects to issue a final report in early February. "During this desk review, it takes about 60 days to where we review all of the documents," Jones said.
The reviewers named the primary planning documents they examine: the Unified Work Program, the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the Congestion Management Process, the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the Public Participation Plan. Jones said reviewers evaluate compliance, document integration and performance-based planning requirements under federal law.
Public participation: Jones emphasized that public feedback informs funding priorities and project selection. "Your your input influences the funding, the priorities, and any initiatives that goes along with the development of projects within your regions, and so your voice really truly matters in this process," he told attendees and explained ways to participate: speak at public meetings, submit comments via the MPO website or email, and follow the MPO’s online channels for updates.
Availability and next steps: Jones said the federal team will complete the joint desk review, incorporate site-visit observations, and finalize the report following internal FHWA/FTA and state reviews. He confirmed a follow-up hybrid meeting on Dec. 15 and said the session recording and supporting documents will be posted through the MPO’s channels. Contact information for Jones and Brandon Burns of FTA Region 1 was displayed for follow-up.
The public engagement session closed after roughly an hour of presentation and comment; the federal team directed participants to the MPO website for documents and to submit written comments ahead of the reviewers’ report.
