I'm very disappointed. I believe these regulations hit very far from the mark. I have identified several problems with these regulations and I will let Jim Currie of MDT go into more detail, but I would like to mention just a few things that I see as real problems. These regs were supposed to help the State DOTS get their jobs done better and more efficiently. Its one thing to add more participants to the process.
More involvement is a good thing.
But its another thing to give them the authority to make decisions about how the planning process will work . This decision maker role is currently held by State DOTs and MPOs for a reason. The basic elements of streamlining-the herding of the cats, so to speak is the only thing NOT in the regs. Certainly not Sections 1308 and 1309 of TEA 21. These regulations are supposed to answer questions-but what is contained in these documents raises even more questions than before because they are vague where they need to be precise.