3.
City Council Work Session
- Meeting Date:
- 04/20/2026
- TITLE
- Discussion of Proposed Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee (TPCC) Membership as Part of the Billings MPO Redesignation
- PRESENTED BY:
- Lora Mattox
- Department:
- Planning & Community Services
Presentation:
Yes
Legal Review:
No
Project Number:
N/A
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council hear information regarding the membership of the Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee as part of the redesignation process. Future discussions include review of the required redesignation agreements and supporting documents. These documents will be reviewed by City Legal prior to Council discussion and action.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is initiating a redesignation process to update its governance structure and better align with federal MPO requirements. As part of this process, the current structure will transition to a Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee (TPCC), which will serve as the MPO’s policy decision-making body responsible for adopting key planning documents such as the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP).
MPO staff have developed a preliminary TPCC membership concept that maintains balanced representation between the City of Billings and Yellowstone County while ensuring compliance with federal requirements. The proposal recommends retaining current members and considering the addition of the Director of Aviation & Transit to strengthen multimodal coordination, incorporate transit and freight perspectives, and improve opportunities for transit funding.
City Council input will help guide the final TPCC membership structure as part of the MPO redesignation process.
MPO staff have developed a preliminary TPCC membership concept that maintains balanced representation between the City of Billings and Yellowstone County while ensuring compliance with federal requirements. The proposal recommends retaining current members and considering the addition of the Director of Aviation & Transit to strengthen multimodal coordination, incorporate transit and freight perspectives, and improve opportunities for transit funding.
City Council input will help guide the final TPCC membership structure as part of the MPO redesignation process.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
The purpose of this memo is to initiate discussion with the Billings City Council regarding the proposed membership structure of the Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee (TPCC) as part of the Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) redesignation process.
Federal regulations require that the MPO’s policy board be appropriately designated and structured to ensure coordinated, cooperative, and comprehensive transportation decision-making within the metropolitan planning area. As part of the redesignation from the existing City/County Planning Board structure to a TPCC, MPO staff are seeking input and direction from the Council on proposed TPCC membership.
The Billings MPO is undertaking a redesignation process to modernize and clarify its governance structure and better align with federal MPO requirements and current local practices. The redesignation will establish a Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee (TPCC), as the MPO’s policy decision-making body.
The TPCC will be responsible for adopting federally required transportation planning documents, including the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), and associated amendments. Membership composition is a critical component of redesignation and must reflect appropriate representation of local governments and transportation interests within the MPO planning area.
MPO staff have developed a preliminary TPCC membership concept intended to:
· Chairperson, Board of County Commissioners, or Designee;
· Mayor, City of Billings, or Designee, and
· Administrator, Montana Department of Transportation District 5
The MPO is suggesting for consideration by the City and County the addition of the Director of Aviation & Transit to the TPCC to include a transit element. Reasons for this recommendation include:
· Comply with federal and state planning requirements
§ MPOs are federally required for urbanized areas over 50,000 and must conduct a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (3-C) transportation planning process across all modes, including transit. Including transit providers helps ensure compliance with federal law and planning requirements. The LRTP is also required to consider freight movement and accessibility across the MPO area, so the airport's role as a freight hub is considered at a limited level during our LRTP update processes.
· Ensure transit perspectives are represented in regional priorities. Transit agencies provide practical insight into operations, service needs, ridership, and funding. Including MET Transit ensures regional priorities reflect transit users and strengthens MPO decision-making, as emphasized in federal guidance.
· Better Coordinate Multimodal Planning. MPOs develop long- and short-range plans (including the TIP) that integrate all transportation modes. Transit participation helps ensure investments improve connectivity and mobility across the system and align with federal planning factors.
· Improve funding opportunities for transit projects. Federal transit funds flow through MPO planning and programming. Direct MET Transit involvement helps prioritize transit projects in the TIP and long-range plan, strengthening MET’s ability to secure funding.
· Ensure transit needs are accounted for in Safety, Equity, and Accessibility Planning. MPOs increasingly focus on safety, equity, and accessibility. MET Transit serves transit-dependent populations, and its involvement ensures these considerations inform MPO decisions.
Adding the Director of Aviation & Transit in the Billings MPO TPCC helps ensure that public transit and freight services are integrated into regional transportation planning and investment decisions, aligns with federal planning requirements, enhances multimodal coordination, supports equitable and accessible transportation, and strengthens opportunities for transit funding and region-wide collaboration.
Federal regulations require that the MPO’s policy board be appropriately designated and structured to ensure coordinated, cooperative, and comprehensive transportation decision-making within the metropolitan planning area. As part of the redesignation from the existing City/County Planning Board structure to a TPCC, MPO staff are seeking input and direction from the Council on proposed TPCC membership.
The Billings MPO is undertaking a redesignation process to modernize and clarify its governance structure and better align with federal MPO requirements and current local practices. The redesignation will establish a Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee (TPCC), as the MPO’s policy decision-making body.
The TPCC will be responsible for adopting federally required transportation planning documents, including the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), and associated amendments. Membership composition is a critical component of redesignation and must reflect appropriate representation of local governments and transportation interests within the MPO planning area.
MPO staff have developed a preliminary TPCC membership concept intended to:
- Maintain balanced representation between Yellowstone County and City of Billings
- Including elected officials with policy authority over transportation and land use decisions
- Support coordination with state and partners in an advisory or non-voting role, as appropriate
- Ensure compliance with federal MPO requirements while remaining workable and efficient
· Chairperson, Board of County Commissioners, or Designee;
· Mayor, City of Billings, or Designee, and
· Administrator, Montana Department of Transportation District 5
The MPO is suggesting for consideration by the City and County the addition of the Director of Aviation & Transit to the TPCC to include a transit element. Reasons for this recommendation include:
· Comply with federal and state planning requirements
§ MPOs are federally required for urbanized areas over 50,000 and must conduct a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (3-C) transportation planning process across all modes, including transit. Including transit providers helps ensure compliance with federal law and planning requirements. The LRTP is also required to consider freight movement and accessibility across the MPO area, so the airport's role as a freight hub is considered at a limited level during our LRTP update processes.
· Ensure transit perspectives are represented in regional priorities. Transit agencies provide practical insight into operations, service needs, ridership, and funding. Including MET Transit ensures regional priorities reflect transit users and strengthens MPO decision-making, as emphasized in federal guidance.
· Better Coordinate Multimodal Planning. MPOs develop long- and short-range plans (including the TIP) that integrate all transportation modes. Transit participation helps ensure investments improve connectivity and mobility across the system and align with federal planning factors.
· Improve funding opportunities for transit projects. Federal transit funds flow through MPO planning and programming. Direct MET Transit involvement helps prioritize transit projects in the TIP and long-range plan, strengthening MET’s ability to secure funding.
· Ensure transit needs are accounted for in Safety, Equity, and Accessibility Planning. MPOs increasingly focus on safety, equity, and accessibility. MET Transit serves transit-dependent populations, and its involvement ensures these considerations inform MPO decisions.
Adding the Director of Aviation & Transit in the Billings MPO TPCC helps ensure that public transit and freight services are integrated into regional transportation planning and investment decisions, aligns with federal planning requirements, enhances multimodal coordination, supports equitable and accessible transportation, and strengthens opportunities for transit funding and region-wide collaboration.
FISCAL EFFECTS
The proposed redesignation of the Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) governance structure and establishment of the Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee (TPCC) is not expected to have a direct fiscal impact on the City of Billings or Yellowstone County. The TPCC would function as the MPO’s policy board and operate within the existing MPO budget and staffing resources.
Administrative support, planning activities, and required transportation planning documents—including the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)—will continue to be funded through existing federal MPO planning funds and required local match.
The potential addition of the Director of Aviation & Transit as a TPCC member would not create additional costs but would provide improved coordination for transit and freight planning. This participation may also help strengthen the region’s ability to prioritize and secure federal transportation and transit funding through the MPO planning and programming process.
Administrative support, planning activities, and required transportation planning documents—including the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)—will continue to be funded through existing federal MPO planning funds and required local match.
The potential addition of the Director of Aviation & Transit as a TPCC member would not create additional costs but would provide improved coordination for transit and freight planning. This participation may also help strengthen the region’s ability to prioritize and secure federal transportation and transit funding through the MPO planning and programming process.
STAKEHOLDERS
The redesignation of the Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization engages a broad set of stakeholders who rely on an efficient, federally compliant regional transportation planning process. Primary stakeholders include the City of Billings, Yellowstone County, the Montana Department of Transportation, and MET Transit- agencies responsible for funding, operating, and maintaining the transportation system. Elected officials from the City Council and County Commission play a key role in setting regional priorities and ensuring that public resources are allocated responsibly. This redesignation ensures that all key decision-makers and system operators are formally represented, strengthening accountability, coordination, and responsiveness to community needs.
ALTERNATIVES
No action is required, information only.