Federal government

Collects federal fuel and excise taxes and distributes revenues to the states.
[This is like the brother in our family analogy.]

U.S. Department of Transportation: Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration

• Oversees plans that are prepared by states and metropolitan regions, to satisfy standards required for federal funding.
• Operates under criteria set by federal legislation

U.S. Environmental Protection Administration

• Comments on environmental impact of federally funded projects under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
• Comments on air quality conformity assessments, which are required by the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and prepared by the Metropolitan Planning Organization to determine
  the impact of federally funded transportation plans on regional air quality.

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State government

Collects state fuel and vehicle taxes. (This is like the sister in our story.)

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)

• Oversees the planning and allocation of funds for transportation projects throughout the state. These include interstates, highways, state roads, bridges and other eligible transportation projects.
• Prepares a four-year Statewide Transportation Improvement Program for submission to U.S. DOT, combining TIPs of Pennsylvania’s 15 MPOs and funding programs of 7 Rural Planning Organizations and 1 independent county.
• Develops a statewide Twelve-Year Program, scheduling state funding for specific projects over
  12 years (For our region, the 1st four years is identical to SPC’s TIP).
• Three districts in southwestern Pennsylvania:
  • District 10 – Butler, Armstrong, Indiana Counties (office in Indiana)
  • District 11 – Allegheny, Beaver, and Lawrence Counties (office in Bridgeville)
  • District 12 – Washington, Greene, Fayette, and Westmoreland Counties (office in Uniontown)

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State Transportation Commission (STC)

• Sets policy direction regarding the state’s Twelve-Year Program.
• Holds hearings each odd-numbered calendar year on transportation projects for consideration on the next Twelve-Year Program. In Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Public Participation Panels collect testimony and take it to the STC, so individuals can testify more conveniently.

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Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission

• Plans, constructs and operates toll roads in Pennsylvania.
• Independent agency appointed by the Governor.
• Draws upon separate, designated funding sources — primarily revenues from tolls, oil franchise
  tax and bonding.

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Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC)

• The designated MPO for 10 counties (Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, Westmoreland) and the City of Pittsburgh.
• Responsible for developing and adopting a long-range transportation plan that sets priorities for transportation improvements that will receive federal and state funds. This plan must stay within projected revenues and must meet federal air quality standards. It must cover at least a 20-year planning period, consider all modes of transportation,and support the region’s community
  development goals.
• Develops and adopts a four-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to fund specific projects and implement the long-range transportation plan. The TIP may not exceed projected revenues.
• Works cooperatively with county and municipal governments, transit authorities, and state and federal agencies.
• Serves as the regional consensus-building body.
• Provides technical assistance to member governments, such as traffic counts and forecasts, mapping, census and other statistical data.

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Public transit operators

• Separate systems operate in each county.
• Construct, maintain and operate bus, light-rail and paratransit (van) services.
• Work in conjunction with the MPO and State.

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Local governments

Counties and municipalities

• Construct and maintain local roads and bridges.
• Some of these facilities qualify for state and federal funding, which is allocated through the region’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
• Counties and municipalities may operate public transit systems.
• Municipalities are responsible for land use regulation.

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