OahuMPO coordinates transportation planning for the entire island of Oahu. It focuses upon the development of plans and programs to produce an integrated intermodal surface transportation system that facilitates the efficient, economic movement of people and goods. OahuMPO uses a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive transportation planning process between the participating agencies. It does not construct projects or implement these programs directly.
The metropolitan transportation planning process is required to have a proactive public involvement process. There are several points in the planning process at which citizen input may directly influence the outcome of planning activities. The greatest potential for influence by the public is early in the planning process, before decisions have been made. The Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) is the foundation of our public involvement program. Involvement with the CAC offers its membership a convenient vehicle to be informed of early and continuing opportunities to review and comment on plans and programs. Citizens need not be a CAC member to provide their input.
The OahuMPO primarily uses three documents to coordinate the transportation planning process on Oahu: 1) Transportation Improvement Program, 2) Oahu Regional Transportation Plan, and 3) Overall Work Program. The OahuMPO focuses upon the development of plans and programs to produce an integrated intermodal surface transportation system.
TIP Development Process
The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a programming document that lists transportation projects that will be undertaken by the State of Hawaii and City and County of Honolulu and funded in part with federal money. The TIP is a short-term, four-year implementation program for federally-assisted surface transportation projects. It identifies the public transit, highway, bicycle, and pedestrian projects that will receive federal transportation funds in the near future. The TIP is required to be financially constrained by year and include a financial plan that demonstrates which projects can be implemented using current revenue sources and which projects are to be implemented using proposed revenue sources. The projects identified in the TIP must be consistent with the Oahu Regional Transportation Plan (ORTP).
ORTP Development Process
The Oahu Regional Transportation Plan (ORTP) is a long-term vision document that outlines transportation goals, objectives, policies, and projects for Oahu. Projects that appear in the ORTP are eligible for Federal transportation funding assistance. The almost 25-year horizon of the plan incorporates forecasted population, housing, employment, environmental, land-use, and technology changes. Based upon projected transportation needs, financial resources, and community input, the ORTP identifies strategies and actions to promote the development of an integrated, intermodal, surface transportation system that facilitates the safe, efficient, and economic movement of people and goods. It also identifies specific highway, transit, freight, bicycle, and pedestrian projects that are designed to improve safety, mitigate congestion, and increase mobility for Oahu’s residents and visitors. The ORTP is updated every five years.
OWP Development Process
The Overall Work Program (OWP) does two main things: 1) it describes and programs planning studies (along with any defined objectives, tasks, and deliverables), and 2) describes and programs the budgetary and staffing requirements for OahuMPO. The OWP is a rolling two-year document, meaning that it shows two years’ worth of studies and budget, but it is updated annually. The OWP is a requirement for metropolitan transportation planning activities performed with Federal funds provided under 23 USC and 49 USC 53.
The OWP identifies transportation-related planning studies (called work elements) undertaken by the OahuMPO and its participating agencies. Often these studies are completed in order to investigate and better understand a specific transportation problem and to help define the best possible solution. Other studies included in the OWP address Federal planning requirements, such as the development of a Congestion Management Process, or monitoring the impact of projects on low-income and minority populations.