On one hand, you can see why FHWA and FTA proposed a rule on realigning and coordinating metropolitan planning organizations. For instance, if you take a look at FHWA's "HEPGIS" map that overlays MPO boundaries with Census-defined urbanized areas (this map is at http://hepgis.fhwa.dot.gov/fhwagis/ViewMap.aspx?map=MPO+Boundaries|MPO+Boundary), you can see how a mapmaker would want to tidy things up a lot.
But as far as I know, nothing changed in either MAP-21 or the FAST Act that required FHWA to take a fresh look at MPOs' boundaries or planning areas, so what was the motivation?
One analysis of this was put forth by Alex Bond of the Eno Center for Transportation, in an article he wrote in the Eno Transportation Weekly. From what Alex writes, it sounds like DOT Secretary Foxx found it frustrating to work with multiple MPOs during his tenure as mayor of Charlotte.
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