MY AMPO

Core Products Interest Group

RESOURCES & RESEARCHMEETINGS & WEBINARS
Mission

The AMPO Core Products Interest Group focuses on the core metropolitan transportation planning and programming efforts that all MPOs are federally required to maintain regardless of size or structure. These core products such as the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and the Public Participation Plan (PPP). This interest group grew out of the previous Public Involvement Working Group to include a more comprehensive scope.

Goals

Provide a forum for the MPO community to share best practices, guidance, and resources that support:

  • MPOs in meeting federal requirements related to core products
  • The use of a wide range of public involvement strategies, techniques, and methods to meet the diverse needs of MPO stakeholders, projects, programs, and activities
  • Identifying opportunities, challenges, needs, and emerging issues in developing and maintaining these products
  • Communicating and sharing best practices, guidance, resources, and activities with other AMPO committees and at AMPO events
Core Products Discussion Forum

Join the Core Products Interest Group leadership team and its members on the discussion forum.

Leadership Team

Helen Wiles, Dover Kent MPO

Helen Wiles, Dover Kent MPO

Core Products Interest Group leader

As the public outreach manager for the Dover Kent MPO, Helen is the one that citizens and shareholders can call when they have an idea, would like to get more information, or to schedule an event or program. She started as an on-air personality for several local radio stations before jumping the fence to sales and marketing.

Stephen Keen, H-GAC

Stephen Keen, H-GAC

Core Products Interest Group leader

Stephen is the Lead Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) planner and lead Safety Planner for Houston-Galveston Area Council, which serves as the MPO for an eight-county region.

Committee Liaison

TBD

FHWA Liaison

Matt Smoker

Matt Smoker

FHWA Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty

AMPO Contact

Ellen Zavisca, ezavisca@ampo.org

Craig Luebke, Knoxville Regional TPO

Craig Luebke, Knoxville Regional TPO

Core Products Interest Group leader

A Senior Transportation Planner with the Knoxville Regional TPO, Craig has been engaged in TIP management and the project delivery process for more than 20 years.

Amy Luft, COMPASS

Amy Luft, COMPASS

Core Products Interest Group leader

With background in both the public and private sectors, Amy has over 30 years’ experience in project management, outreach, and communication. She has served as Communication Coordinator at Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS) for over 15 years and serves as the Communication Team Lead.

Resources & Research

Bringing Equity Forward in Planning

WILMAPCO Resources on Urban Technology Desert Data Report

Atlanta Regional Commission
This guide provides tips on how to ensure that your virtual meetings are open to the public and engaging for all participants. It also provides information on choosing the right tool for your virtual meetings and how to avoid common technical issues. Finally, it provides a list of over 30 online tools to help you with online meetings and community engagement.

Broward MPO
The Broward MPO, in partnership with the Palm Beach MPO and South Florida Commuter Services, has produced a video that explains what a MPO is and how regional transportation projects in Broward get funded.

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning shared examples of the public outreach for their On to 2050 regional transportation plan development process.

The Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho, COMPASS
What is COMPASS?

Dover Kent Metropolitan Planning Organization

Memphis Urban Area MPO
The Memphis Urban area MPO produces its Annual Outreach Report, which describes its public participation process and engagement techniques for the past year.

Memphis Urban Area MPO Outreach Report
MPO 101 explains what an MPO is and the functions of an MPO:  Memphis MPO 101 2016_FINAL
Memphis 2040 RTP outreach – Bus Ads
Examples of the MPO Outreach Process for the development of their regional transportation plan:  Memphis RTP 2nd Public Meetings FINAL
MPO Livability Videos:
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
TIP Video:
2017-2020 TIP
2011-14 TIP

Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization
Miami- Dade Transportation Planning Organization Video

Mid-Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
MRMPO Releases First Video: Welcome to the Mid-Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
The Mid-Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MRMPO) is pleased to announce the release of its first video: Welcome to the Mid-Region Metropolitan Planning Organization. This video is the first of a series of short videos to be released by MRMPO on various topics related to the regional transportation planning process. The video highlights our unique metropolitan area, its challenges, and our agency’s plans and programs to help address those transportation challenges. Our region must work hard to ensure our transportation system meets the needs of a growing population and developing economy, as well as the environment and our health and safety. Our goal is to be proactive and keep the region moving while striving to improve quality of life through sound transportation investments and improvements.
The video also covers how you can take part in shaping our region’s transportation future by weighing in on our plans, attending our meetings, or inviting us to speak to your community.

So, if you have a few minutes, check out the video and stay tuned for future ones. Remember, your interest and involvement will truly help our region keep moving!

Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham
Funding a project with a MPO:  https://vimeo.com/210829210
Inside an MPO:  https://vimeo.com/210825997

Space Coast TPO
Space Coast TPO TIP Fact Sheet 2018
Space Coast TPO Title VI Flyer
Space Coast TPO Bike Ped Safety Education Brochure

FHWA Case Studies and Notable Practices
Recently, FHWA recognized case studies and notable practices in public engagement.  Several States DOTs and MPOs are recognized, include the Memphis Urban Area MPO for the development process of their regional transportation plan: https://planning.dot.gov/focus_caseStudies.aspx

Meetings & Webinars

2025 Meetings 

Quarter 1 Meeting 
March 20 at 3:00 PM ET
Topic: How to Increase Public Engagement
Register here.

Quarter 2 Meeting 
June 18 at 2:00 PM ET
Topic: Ensuring that the MTP and TIP are working Hand-in-Hand
Register here.

Quarter 3 Meeting 
September 24 at 3:00 PM ET
Topic: TBD
Register here.

Quarter 4 Meeting 
December 10 at 3:00 PM ET
Topic: Congestion Management – Is anyone doing it right?
Register here.

2024 Meetings 

Quarter 1 Meeting 
March 27th at 2:00 PM ET
Topic: MPO Branding 101
Meeting materials can be found here

Quarter 2 Meeting 
June 26th at 2:00 PM ET
Topic: Performance Management — Going Beyond Compliance
Meeting materials can be found here

Quarter 3 Meeting 
September 11th at 3:00 PM ET
Topic: Enhancing Equity Through our Core Products
Meeting materials can be found here

Quarter 4 Meeting 
December 12th at 2:00 PM ET
Topic: Beyond 23 CFR – How IIJA/BIL is Expanding MPO’s “Core Products”
Meeting materials can be found here

2023 Meetings 

Quarter 1 Meeting 
March 28th at 3:30 PM ET
Topic: Housing Coordination Plans
Access meeting materials here.

Quarter 2 Meeting 
June 28th at 3:00 PM ET
Topic: Implementing MTP Strategies
Access meeting materials here.

Quarter 3 Meeting 
August 29th at 3:00 PM ET
Topic: Best Practices of MPO TIP and DOT STIP Project Integration
Access meeting materials here.

Quarter 4 Meeting 
December 11th at 3:00 PM ET
Topic: Using nontraditional social media to reach your community
Access meeting materials here.

2022 Meetings 

Quarter 1 Meeting 
March 31st at 2:00 PM ET
Topic: Hybrid Meeting Strategies
Format: Hybrid Coffee Chat/Webinar
To view the presentation and notes, click here.

Quarter 2 Meeting 
Cancelled

Quarter 3 Meeting 
September 22nd at 2:00 PM ET
Topic: Title VI and Public Involvement
Format: Hybrid Coffee Chat/Webinar
Access meeting materials here.

Quarter 4 Meeting 
December 14th at 2:00 PM ET
Topic: Public Participation Plans Best Practices
Format: Hybrid Coffee Chat/Webinar

2021 Meetings, Webinars, & Coffee Chats

First Quarterly Meeting/Webinar:  Monday, March 8th at 2:00 PM ET

  • Presenters:  Erica Lychak, Broward MPO and Bill Swiatek, Wilmington Area Planning Council
  • Topics:  Equity and Title VI. How to reach hard-to-reach communities.
  • To access meeting materials, click here.
2020 Meetings and Webinars

Quarterly Meeting/Webinar:  Monday, December 14th at 2:00 PM ET

  • Presenters: Corinne Tucker, Sarasota/Manatee MPO and Amy Elmore, Forward Pinellas
  • Topic: Virtual Outreach and Meetings
  • To access meeting materials, click here.

SPECIAL – Quarterly Meeting/Webinar: Wednesday, May 6th at 1:00 PM ET

  • Presenters:  The AMPO Public Involvement Leadership Team:  Anthea Thomas, Broward MPO, Melissa Roberts, Atlanta Regional Commission, Amanda Wilson, North Central Texas Council of Governments and Helen Wiles, Dover/Kent MPO
  • Topic:  Virtual Public Engagement in the Time of Covid-19
  • To access meeting materials, click here.

Quarterly Meeting/Webinar: Monday, March 9th at 2:00 PM ET

  • Presenters:  Fleming El-Amin and Jody McCullough from FHWA
  • Topic:  Public Involvement and Resources Related to Title VI and Environmental Justice. They will provide an overview of what Environmental Justice means at FHWA and share helpful resources on policy and public participation.
  • To access meeting materials, click here.
2019 Meetings and Webinars

Quarterly Meeting/Webinar: December 9, 2019 at 2:00pm

  • Presenters: Abby Hemenway the Public Involvement Officer at Space Coast TPO and Jeff Kramer the Senior Research Associate at the Center for Urban Transportation Research, University of South Florida.
  • To access meeting materials, click here.


Quarterly Meeting/Webinar: September 16, 2019 at 2:00pm

  • To access meeting materials, click here.

Quarterly Meeting/Webinar: June 10, 2019 at 2 PM EST     

  • To access meeting materials, click here.

Quarterly Meeting/Webinar: March 11, 2019 at 2 PM EST

  • To access meeting materials, click here.
2018 Meetings and Activities          

Quarterly Meeting/Webinar: June 11, 2018 at 2pm EST

  • To access meeting materials, click here.

Quarterly Meeting/Webinar: March 12, 2018 at 2pm EST

  • To access meeting materials, click here.
2017 Meetings and Activities

Quarterly Meeting/Webinar: December 11, 2017 at 2pm EST

  • To access meeting materials, click here.

 2017 AMPO Annual Conference Public Involvement Working Group Meet and Greet

  • Quarterly Meeting/Webinar:  September 11, 2017
    • To access meeting materials, click here.
  • Webinar – June 12, 2017
    • To access meeting materials, click here.
  • AMPO Planning Tools and Training Symposium Public Involvement, Title VI, Environmental Justice, and Equity in Practice provided attendees with an overview of public involvement practices, including federal requirements, public participation plans, environmental justice & Title VI, and community engagement evaluations.  The session included presentations, interactive activities, and open discussions, with a focus on sharing practical examples of facilitation techniques, outreach methods, as well as an emphasis on connecting attendees with one another.
    • To access meeting materials, click here.
  • Kick Off Meeting – April 17, 2017
    • To access meeting materials, click here.
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