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Costa Applauds Passage of Legislation that Supports Merced County Association of Governments

April 27, 2017

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 496 - "To repeal the rule issued by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration entitled "Metropolitan Planning Organization Coordination and Planning Area Reform." The legislation would help local associations like the Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG) with their ability to plan and implement regional projects and preserve local control in transportation project planning and funding. Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16) is an original co-cosponsor of similar House legislation, H.R. 1346.

"The rule would have ultimately made local associations like MCAG expendable and ineffective," said Rep. Jim Costa. "I applaud the House and Senate passage of this commonsense legislation to repeal the rule to ensure that MCAG can continue its efforts to make a positive difference in Merced County. Our local agencies know best how to direct transportation dollars to serve areas of the highest need, and this rule, if not repealed, would have likely resulted in less local control over our transportation dollars and a less effective transportation system for Merced County. I hope President Trump promptly signs and enacts this bipartisan legislation into law."

"We appreciate the efforts of Congressman Costa and his colleagues to successfully repeal this rule, said Stacie Dabbs, Interim Executive Director, Merced County Association of Governments. MCAG has a long history of voluntary and effective collaboration with the other valley transportation planning agencies. This rule would have threatened decades of progress and our ability to serve all communities in Merced County."

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) jointly published the Final Rule on Metropolitan Planning Organization Coordination and Planning Area Reform in the Federal Register on December 20, 2016. The final rule became effective on January 19, 2017. The rule was implemented to streamline decision making procedures, but it would have left Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) like MCAG with less control. Repealing the rule would ensure that local MPOs maintain control over regional projects.

In August 2016, Reps. Costa and Jeff Denham (CA-10) sent a joint letter to the USDOT expressing strong opposition to the Metropolitan Planning Organization Coordination and Planning Area Reform Proposed Rulemaking.