The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has reopened the public comment period on a proposed merger between the Gainesville-Hall Metropolitan Planning Organization (GHMPO) and Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC).
The rules proposed by the USDOT call for any metropolitan planning organizations that "touch" borders to merge, in this case forcing the GHMPO is be absorbed into the ARC.
The public now has until October 24 to register comments with the USDOT about the proposed change.
Mores specifically, USDOT officials are asking for comments about the proposed rule that would force the two entities to merge, the potential expectations for the final rule, criteria for application and expected costs of the proposed rule.
Both the GHMPO and ARC have expressed their opposition to a merger, citing the loss of local control for GHMPO officials.
Comments can be registered online here, by fax at (202) 493-2251 or mail at:
Docket Management Facility
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/10/452946/public-comment-period-reopened-on-proposed-merger-for-local-planning-organization