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FM Metro COG FAQ
Which government
body do you work for?
All and none. Metro COG is a government supported agency referred
to as an MPO or Metropolitan Planning Organization. The MPO is
sanctioned by the federal government for all urban areas with
populations over 50,000 persons. Metro COG is directly responsible
to the State of North Dakota Department of Transportation and
the Federal Highway Administration regarding its work activities.
But Metro COG is not a federal or State agency. The MPO is locally
governed by a policy making board comprised of at least two-thirds
local elected officials. But Metro COG is not a city or county
department. Rather, Metro COG is a non-profit organization dedicated
to supporting local municipalities through transportation and
community planning services.
Where does your funding come from?
Eighty percent of Metro COG’s funding is from the Federal
Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration. However,
to get this eighty percent the local governments we serve, namely
the Cities of Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, Dilworth and Cass and
Clay County, must provide the other twenty percent. The Minnesota
Department of Transportation also provides a portion of the funding.
The federal funds are administered through the North Dakota Department
of Transportation.
Can you fix the timing of the street
lights?
No. While we do provide technical assistance and data collection
services to the local governments who are responsible for street
light timing, we do not make decisions or modifications to street
light timing. You need to contact the appropriate city office
(usually Engineering or Public Works) to have this issue addressed.
You’re the transit people,
right?
No. We are not part of the local transit systems. However, we
do work closely with local transit providers, and one of the primary
focuses for our Community Planner, Wade Kline, is evaluation and
planning of transit routes and services. So, while we can’t
help you with most complaints or scheduling questions, we can
direct you to the right place. And, public input about current
transit issues is always welcome, so feel free to give us a call.
What is this “planning process”
I keep hearing about?
The planning process is a six step process to take an idea and
turn it into a project.
| Step 1 – | Involve the public. Experience has proven that involving the public and involving them early in the process greatly increases a given projects chances for success, support and acceptance. |
| Step 2 – | Collect and analyze data. Before going to far it is important to gather all of the facts. |
| Step 3 – | Understand the issues. Public input and data analysis help determine the pros and cons of a project. Input and analysis also help identify the specific issues that must be addressed by the project and thereby defining its goals. |
| Step 4 – | Create the vision. Determine how to address the issues and meet the goals while ensuring future needs and success are addressed as well short-term immediate gains. |
| Step 5 – | Define and evaluate alternatives. There is always more than one way to do things. It is important to look into alternatives and see how each will impact the area. |
| Step 6 – |
Make recommendations. With the vision and preferred alternative in hand, it is time to make a recommendation to the decision makers. In our case the decision makers are the local governments. |
