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5.3 MPO Coordination Process The MPO performs long range transportation planning functions through a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive process within the urbanized area of the County. Since its formation in 1993, the MPO has actively undertaken planning, coordination and outreach efforts to develop viable short-term and long-term transportation plans and studies for member jurisdictions and agencies within the Indian River County urbanized area. Over the years, the MPO's transportation planning vision has increasingly focused on implementing a more inclusive multimodal planning approach rather than an automobile focused approach. To support this approach, the WO seeks input from a diverse group of stakeholders in the development of MPO projects. Currently, the MPO committees consist of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), the Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC), the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BAC) and the MPO Board. In addition, project review committees are formed on a project by project basis to receive input from representative stakeholders from communities impacted by a project. MPO meetings also have a standing agenda item for public comment as one mechanism to ensure that the public is well represented in decisions related to transportation. In addition to its longstanding interagency coordination functions, the MPO is an active partner in regional planning activities along the Treasure Coast. For example, MPO staff participated in the activities of the Committee for a Sustainable Treasure Coast. In 2005, the MPO executed an interlocal agreement for regional coordination with the Mal -tin and St. Lucie County MPOs to pursue funding to improve regionally significant transportation facilities, and participation in a regional transportation board, the Treasure Coast Transportation Council. MPO, staff actively participates and remain involved in all regional planning studies and efforts, including the efforts to create a Regional Transportation Organization, the All Aboard Florida Study, and the Amtrak service expansion. By coordinating on regional mobility needs, the MPO helped the State achieve the Florida Transportation Plan objective of having 100 percent of MPOs being parties to regional agreements by 2010. On a quarterly basis, MPO staff conducts formal meetings with SRA staff to assess the state of transit services within the County. Those meetings have been instrumental in coordinating transit planning and managing and maximizing federal and state grant funding. In addition to those formal meetings, staff from the two organizations interacts on a more frequent basis to share ideas and address issues related to day to day operations. MPO and SRA staff members actively engage in community outreach through membership in various organizations and ongoing dialogue with members of the business community, public and private agencies, and educational institutions. MPO and SRA staff members also attend quarterly meetings with the St. Lucie and Martin County T/MPOs and transit agencies to coordinate and share ideas. 5.4 Assessment of Land Use Patterns within the County Land use patterns play an important role in the effectiveness and efficiency of public transportation services, particularly those factors related to the types of land use, residential and employment densities, and development patterns. This section presents an overview of the County's land use patterns and how they impact transit service within the County. 5-4 Suinky Cw"Wws K i