| Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization |
| Bylaws & Operatiing Procedures |
| for the |
| Transportation Planning Program in the Austin Metropolitan Area |
Section I - Definitions
For the purposes of these bylaws, the following definitions apply
- Metropolitan Transportation Planning Process. The Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO), designated as Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
(CAMPO), in cooperation with the State and with operators of publicly owned transit
services, shall be responsible for carrying out the metropolitan transportation planning
process in accordance with Section 134, Title 23, United States Code (23 USC 134)
and applicable federal and state regulations. CAMPO shall have a continuing,
cooperative, and comprehensive transportation planning process that results in plans
and programs that consider all transportation modes and supports metropolitan
community development and social goals. These plans and programs shall lead to
the development and operation of an integrated, intermodal transportation system that
facilitates the efficient, economic movement of people and goods.
The metropolitan transportation planning process includes the development of a
transportation plan, transportation improvement program (TIP) and a unified planning
work program (UPWP) that will encourage the achievement of community goals by
evaluating the environmental, energy, economic, and social costs of transportation
plans and systems, projecting future travel demands, determining viable transportation
alternatives, and evaluating these alternatives to determine the optimum combination
of all modes of travel to best serve the citizens of the Austin metropolitan area.
- Public Involvement Program. The metropolitan transportation planning process
includes the development of a Public Involvement Program and staff procedures. The
Program is intended to include all Austin metropolitan area citizens, groups, agencies,
and transportation providers in a transportation effort that is proactive and provides
complete information, timely public notice, full public access to key decisions, and
supports early and continuing involvement of the public in developing plans and
programs including the Transportation Plan and Transportation lmprovement
Program. The Public Involvement Program shall integrate the concerns of a wide
variety of involved parties and encourage and provide for the greatest level of
education of transportation issues. The program will provide opportunities for citizens to contribute ideas and voice
opinions early and often, both during and after preparation of draft plans and programs. Public participation in CAMPO
Transportation Policy Board meetings is governed by Section Ill. E. of this document.
- Transportation Plan. The metropolitan planning process includes the development of a
transportation plan addressing at least a twenty-year planning horizon. The plan shall include both long-range and
short-range strategies/actions that lead to the development of an integrated intermodal transportation system that
facilitates the efficient movement of people and goods. The transportation plan shall be reviewed and updated at least
every five years to confirm its validity and its consistency with current and forecasted transportation and land use
conditions and trends and to extend the forecast period. The transportation plan must be approved (adopted) by the CAMPO
Transportation Policy Board
- Transportation Improvement Program. The Transportation lmprovement Program
specifies how federal transportation funds are spent in the Austin metropolitan area for
a minimum three-year period. The TIP will be prepared at least every other year and
will include a financial plan that demonstrates how the Transportation lmprovement
Program can be implemented.
- Unified Planning Work Program. The Unified Planning Work Program is a document setting forth, by work
element tasks, the planning priorities facing the metropolitan area and documenting the planning activities to be
performed with funds available to CAMPO. The estimated expenditures and funding sources for carrying out the work shall
be identified.
- Metropolitan Planning Organization. The Metropolitan Planning Organization
(MPO) is that organization designated by the Governor as being responsible, together
with the state, for carrying out the provisions of 23 USC 134 (The Urban
Transportation Planning Process) and 49 USC 5303, as amended. The MPO is the
forum for cooperative decision making by principal elected officials of general purpose
local and state government and a representative from the Texas Department of
Transportation and the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Section II - Organization
The structure of the Metropolitan Planning Organization consists of the Transportation Policy
Board, the Executive Committee, the CAMPO Office and other Committees, all as described
in subsequent paragraphs of these bylaws and operating procedures.
- Transportation Policy Board. The Transportation Policy board, as the Metropolitan
Planning Organization, hereinafter referred to as the TPB, furnishes policy guidance
and direction for the continuing transportation study. Ultimate responsibility for the
total transportation process including, but not limited to, review and approval of the
recommended transportation plan and transportation improvement program rests with
the Transportation Policy Board
- Executive Committee. The Executive Committee are members of the Transportation
Policy Board who make recommendations on transportation planning issues, projects
and the process as directed by the Transportation Policy Board.
- CAMPO Office. The development of detailed transportation studies, maintenance of
accurate data, preparation of reports, and performance of other activities requested by
the Transportation Policy Board is the responsibility of the CAMPO Office. The
Director of the CAMPO Office is responsible solely to the Transportation Policy Board.
- Other Committees. The Chairperson, with the advice and consent of the Executive
Committee, may establish other committees as needed.
Section III - Transporation Policy Board
The following rules shall govern the operations of the Transportation Policy Board.
- Membership. Membership on the Transportation Policy Board is established by the Joint Powers Agreement.
- Voting Representation.
- A member of the Transportation Policy Board may
designate an alternate to exercise some or all of that member's authority as a
member of the Transportation Policy Board pursuant to the applicable
subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this subparagraph (B)(l). The alternate designated
by a member will count toward a quorum and may vote on any matter
authorized by the member designating the alternate. A person designated as a
voting alternate may vote as an alternate on behalf of only one designating
member. A member who designates an alternate shall give written notice of
the alternate's name and voting authority to the Chairperson prior to the first
meeting for which the alternate is designated. The authority of an alternate
designated under this subparagraph (B)(l) shall continue until it is rescinded or
changed by written notice from the designating member to the Chairperson.
- A member of the Legislature may designate as an alternate another
member of the Transportation Policy Board who is an elected official.
- An elected official other than a member of the Legislature may
designate as an alternate a person appointed as an alternate by the
body who appointed that member.
- A member who is not an elected official may designate as an alternate
a person employed by or who serves on the Board of the organization
represented by that member.
- Non-Voting Proxy. A member of the Transportation Policy Board may appoint
a proxy to attend a meeting in the member's stead. The proxy appointed by a
member does not count toward a quorum and may not vote.
- Quorum. Fifty percent (50%) of the total members encompassed in paragraph A or their alternate shall constitute a quorum of the members
for transaction of business at all meetings.
- Officers. The Transportation Policy Board elects a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson for a term of one year. Elections are to be held at
the first meeting of each year. If the Chairperson resigns or is no longer eligible to be a member of the Transportation Policy Board, the Vice
Chairperson will serve as Chairperson until an election is held.
- Meetings.
The Chairperson,
with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee, shall establish
the dates and times of meetings, and the Chairperson designates in the
written notice of the meetings the location and business to be
transacted or considered. Any Board member may submit a matter for
consideration on a future agenda. If the Chairperson does not include
that item on the agenda, the member may petition the Executive Committee
and the Executive Committee may require the item to be placed on a
future agenda.
Written notice of
the meeting, the agenda, and all supporting documents shall be mailed to
each member of the Board at least seven (7) days prior to the
meeting.
All meetings are to be held as open meetings as defined in Chapter 551,
Government Code, and the CAMPO Director shall insure that the written notice
of the meeting is posted in the appropriate governmental offices at least
seventy-two (72) hours prior to the meeting, and shall insure that at least
two copies of the agenda and such supporting documentation as is available
to the members of the Transportation Policy Board are made available for
public inspection in the CAMPO Office at the same time they are made
available to Board members.
In the absence of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from a meeting of the
Transportation Policy Board at which a quorum is present, the Executive Director
will convene the meeting and the remaining members of the board present shall
elect a presiding officer who shall serve until the conclusion of that meeting
or until the arrival of the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson.
Public
participation in meetings shall be as follows. Only those agenda items posted
for public hearing or for action by the board are eligible for public comment.
If action is required on an item which has already been the subject of a public
hearing, no public comment will be taken. Persons wishing to comment on a
specific agenda item must fill out the card provided by the CAMPO staff. This
card must be presented to the appropriate staff member before the board begins
consideration of the item. A valid card must specify the item on which they will
comment and include the speaker's name, address, and whom they represent.
Speakers are limited to three minutes and a speaker's time may not be assigned
to another speaker.
Persons wishing to address the board about issues not on the agenda should offer
their comments during the "Citizens Communication" agenda item. Persons wishing
to speak during "Citizens Communication" must contact the CAMPO staff via phone,
electronic mail, facsimile transmission, or in person between 9:00 a.m. on the
6th day before the meeting at which they wish to speak and 4:30 p.m. on the day
of the meeting at which they wish to speak. Such persons must specify the topic
on which they wish to address the board. No more than ten persons will address
the board during Citizens Communication at any given meeting. Speakers are
limited to three minutes and a speaker's time may not be assigned to another
speaker. Speakers are requested to not directly address individual members of
the board or the CAMPO staff. The Chairperson will enforce decorum.
Functions.
The functions of the
Transportation Policy Board shall be as delineated in
the Joint Powers Agreement.
-
Attendance.
If a member of the Transportation Policy Board misses more than half of
the Board meetings scheduled during a calendar year, the Chairperson may
contact the member's appointing body to request a replacement appointee
to the Transportation Policy Board.
SECTION IV EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- Membership.
The
Executive Committee will consist of the Transportation Policy Board Chairperson
and Vice-Chairperson and members of the Transportation Policy Board that are, at
a minimum, representative of the jurisdictions that are signatory of the Joint
Powers Agreement. The members of the Executive Committee shall be appointed by
the Chairperson of the Transportation Policy Board at the first meeting each
year. The jurisdictional representatives of the Joint Powers Agreement are
indicated below:
| Texas Department of Transportation |
1 |
| City of Austin | 1 |
| County of Travis | 1 |
| County of Williamson |
1 |
| County of Hays | 1 |
| Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority |
1 |
- Function. The functions of the Executive Committee shall be as follows:
- Meet at the direction of the Chairperson.
- Take actions on items delegated by the Transportation Policy Board and/or make recommendations on items to the Transportation Policy Board.
-
The
Executive Committee will have no distinctive powers on their own unless given by
the Transportation Policy Board or established by these bylaws and operating
procedures.
SECTION V CAMPO Office
The following rules govern the operations of the CAMPO Office:
- Direction. The CAMPO Director will be selected by the Transportation Policy Board. The CAMPO Director will hire staff, supervise, and prepare contracts as necessary to perform the work outlined in the Unified Planning Work Program.
- Funding. The budget of the CAMPO Office must be consistent with the Unified Planning Work Program.
- Functions. The functions of the CAMPO Director and CAMPO Office are established in the Joint Powers Agreement.
-
Additional Tasks.
Any
request for substantial work by CAMPO staff not included in the approved Unified
Planning Work Program must be reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee.
SECTION VI Other Committees
The following rules govern the operations of the Special Committees.
- Other Committees.
The
committee will perform tasks and functions as requested by the Chairperson, with
the advice and consent of the Executive Committee.
-
Membership. Members
of other committees are appointed by the Chairperson with the advice and consent
of the Executive Committee. Membership of each committee may include persons who
are not board members with expertise of a nature that would be beneficial to the
planning process.
- Officers.
The
Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for the committee shall be designated by the
Chairperson of the Transportation Policy Board.
- Meetings.
Meetings of a committee are held as necessary to perform the tasks and functions
of the committee. The Chairperson of the committee calls such meetings as
necessary and shall notify all committee members of the time, date, and place of
the meeting.
- Technical Advisory Committee. The Technical Advisory Committee's purpose is to advise the Transportation Policy Board in its
development of
- The long-range metropolitan transportation plan;
- The Transportation Improvement Program, including review of and recommendations on candidate projects for the TIP;
- The Unified Planning Work Program; and
- Other transportation planning activities, as directed by the Transportation Policy Board or CAMPO's Executive Director.
SECTION VII Adoption
These
bylaws and operating procedures shall be in full force and effect at such time
as they have been approved by a majority vote of the Transportation Policy Board
at a meeting at which a quorum, as defined herein, is present
SECTION VIII Revsisions
These bylaws and operating procedures may be revised by approval of the Transportation
Policy Board at a meeting at which a quorum, as defined herein, is present. Adopted
unanimously by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy
Board on June 10, 1996; revised by resolution on February 8, 1999, April 14, 2003, February 13, 2006
and January 22, 2007.
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