RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF HEIGHTENED ACCOUNTABILITY AND
PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS OF STATE DEPARTMENTS OF
TRANSPORTATION AND METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS IN
REAUTHORIZATION OF TEA-21
WHEREAS, given the strategic role of metropolitan transportation infrastructure, it is imperative
that the federal investment in transportation be continued; and
WHEREAS, it is time for the Administration and Congress to ensure that additional attention be
focused on the metropolitan areas; and
WHEREAS, the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21),
must act to give metropolitan areas greater decision making powers, including control over
resources; and
WHEREAS, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) and TEA-21
established a voice for metropolitan areas, be devolving greater responsibility for planning and
implementation to Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs); and
WHEREAS, a U.S. General Accounting Office report found that states often so dominate MPOs
that decisions often are in opposition to metropolitan needs; and
WHEREAS, states need to be required to coordinate overall transportation planning with
Metropolitan Planning Organizations to create a workable transportation system, which would
result in economic efficiencies,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urge
the Administration and Congress to subject State Departments of Transportation (state DOTs) and
MPOs to heightened performance and accountability requirements; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors call on the
Administration and Congress to require state DOTS and MPOs to regularly report to the public
how federal transportation funds are being spent; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors call on the
Administration and Congress to direct state DOTs and MPOs to show how federal transportation
funds support locally adopted performance targets and create a workable transportation system;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors call on the
Administration and Congress in the reauthorization of TEA-21 to hold state DOTs and MPOs to a
higher standard of managerial efficiency, programmatic effectiveness, and fiscal responsibility; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors call on the
Administration and Congress to include in the reauthorization of TEA-21 a measure that requires
the MPO Board makeup to reflect the jurisdiction that the MPO is representing; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors call on the
Administration and Congress to establish a framework for state DOTs and MPOs accountability
that includes tighter disclosure requirements, participation in each other's transportation planning
processes, improved performance measures, and rewards for exceptional performance.
©2003 U.S. Conference of Mayors 
