Certification

Federal Law requires the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to jointly certify the transportation planning processes of Transportation Management Areas (TMAs) at least every four years (a TMA is an urbanized area, as defined by the US Census, with a population over 200,000). A certification review generally consists of four primary activities: a site visit; a review of planning documents (in advance of the site visit); a FHWA/FTA certification report; and a certification review closeout presentation.

Each year, the District and the MPO must jointly certify the metropolitan transportation planning process as described in 23 C.F.R. §450.336. The joint certification begins in January. This allows time to incorporate recommended changes into the Draft Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). The District and the MPO create a joint certification package that includes a summary of noteworthy achievements by the MPO and, if applicable, a list of any recommendations and/or corrective actions. The District will include the signed joint certification package in its submittal of the Final UPWP, which is due no later than June 1.