New Regional Transportation Organizations: Old Problem, New Wrinkle?

Abstract

As attention turns to the operations and management of the nation’s highway infrastructure, regional operating organizations (ROOs) have increasingly become part of the transportation scene. Many ROOs are housed in new organizations, which are essentially voluntary alliances between state and local operating agencies in a region. The history of regional organizations and the so-called “new regional transportation organizations” that are being created around operations and management tasks is examined. Three questions are asked: ( a) Why are new organizations being created when regional organizations already exist? ( b) How do new organizations differ from those that currently exist? ( c) How will the new organizations operate within the existing metropolitan context as they develop and mature? The conclusion is that the success of these organizations depends on how they navigate the transition from being new organizations whose focus and jurisdiction do not adequately correspond to regionwide operations issues to being full-fledged regional organizations in an environment populated by existing metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and regional authorities. The particular challenge is how these organizations will be able to grow to meet region-specific needs and challenges while providing sufficient accountability and consistency to facilitate federal participation. The history of MPOs suggests that universal and far-reaching federal mandates may not be the best strategy to achieve these goals.