Former Memphis City Councilor and recently appointed MATA Board member John Vergos, gives us some background into the Metropolitan Planning Organization. First, the introduction:
If you ever want to see $40 million of taxpayers’ money spent in a month, with no discussion, you need to go to a meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
Who’s the MPO, you might ask? It’s an organization created by the federal government to coordinate all federal transportation dollars in this region. These are generally matched with state and local funds. Its purpose is to make sure roads in this locale match up with roads in Arkansas and Mississippi. You wouldn’t want Third Street to be a couple of miles off-center on its entry into Tunica. That makes sense.
But who makes up this board, where and when does it meet, and what does it really do?
Then, Vergos gives some insight:
At the last meeting, I watched the group pass an array of expensive projects calling for traffic coordinating signals for Houston Levee Road, new roads through Shelby Farms, all kinds of I-269 stuff — and every bit of it with no discussion. It was that way all through the 36-item agenda.
When I spoke up to complain that no one knows about this group, that no City Council members ever attend (although I used to, when I could), nor county commissioners, nor any media, I was told by an MPO member: “John, these projects are all vetted through our legislative bodies with citizens’ input and work their way up the ladder.”
The reality with the MPO is that it’s a roadbuilder’s/developer’s grab bag. Any real citizen input is illusory.
And when Vergos describes trying to get any REAL discussion, he throws the knockout punch:
Item 36 on the agenda of that last meeting was called “Imagine Memphis 2035 Transportation Plan.” I guess this was MPO’s attempt to show how bold and futuristic they are. Well, here’s our future: If we keep spending $50 million a month on unplanned growth, we will have squandered a wonderful opportunity for smart growth and fiscal responsibility.
Members of the MPO will tell you that even though these projects are approved they still have to come before the legislative bodies for ultimate approval. This is true; however, I can tell you from experience, these come as a fait accompli. By the time city and county legislators get them, it’s like trying to stop a moving train. The entire development community has already got their seven votes both ways, and it’s a done deal.
Wow.