National Association of Regional Councils

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The event discussed prioritizing strategic investments in transportation, water and energy to determine how the federal government can invest more directly in the regions that drive the Great Lakes Megaregion’s economy. Several NARC members from the region participated in a luncheon discussion on the role of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in the region, including:

• Randy Blakenhorn, executive director, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning – Chicago, IL

• Steve Ernst, study director, Rockford Area Transportation Study – Rockford, IL

• Chester Jourdan, executive director, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission – Columbus, OH

• Terry Kohlbuss, executive director, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission – Peoria, IL

• John Swanson, executive director, Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission – Portage, IN

• David Warm, executive director, Mid-America Regional Council – Kansas City, MO

Each regional leader presented a different MPO perspective, but each reinforced that working regionally on infrastructure issues provides the most comprehensive benefits for communities. Below are some quoted highlights from the NARC member participants:

“Standalone MPOs are a thing of the past. We need to deal more comprehensively with issues affecting our communities.”

Randy Blankenhorn, CMAP

“Our organizations must and are relating land use, transportation and economic development to meet the needs of our regions.”

Terry Kohlbuss, Tri-County RPC

“We must begin to develop new criteria for MPOs to meet, having a clear distinction between performance standards and accountable outcomes that drive good choices.”

“We must look at the overall community health and tie transportation decisions to community development and jobs creation.”

“We must breakdown the silos and make regional planning organizations the nexus for coming together for solutions in transportation, land use, housing and energy.”

“The Midwest region is a good example of connectivity and working well with fellow regional agencies to improve our interrelated economy.”