Abstract
Successful metropolitan planning must relate the planning function to the decision making process. Four prerequisites are mentioned to relate the planning function effectively to the decision-making responsibility in a metropolitan environment' namely, providing a governmental forum for regional review and action by local governmental units, incorporating the planning agency in that government structure and hierarchy, informing and involving the citizenry in regional matters, and obtaining the support of the important leadership elements within the region. Planning and decision making can become two smoothly integrated steps in a single process.