Metropolitan planning organization

Encyclopedia : M : ME : MET : Metropolitan planning organization

A metropolitan planning organization (MPO) is a regional transportation planning body that is required to approve transportation improvement plans for major infrastructure projects, to ensure that they are consistent with federal environmental legislation and that they are fiscally sound. They aim to achieve local consensus on these projects between different levels of government and across jurisdictions.

In the USA the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 required that MPOs exist and that they develop transportation plans and programs for metropolitan areas with 50,000 or more residents. MPOs are regulated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) through a yearly certification process, which controls the dispersion of federal funds. The MPO is responsible for the planning of transportation systems as opposed to specific transportation projects, and generally produces the following major work products:

Long Range Plan – A document detailing transportation needs for the next thirty years, including a funding plan based upon revenue forecasts
Transportation Improvement Program – A shorter range (five years) plan that includes transportation projects that will receive federal, state and local funding
Unified Planning Work Program – the MPO’s operating budget

MPOs differ greatly in various parts of the country and even within states. Some have large staffs, while others may include only a director and a transportation planner. Sometimes MPOs are staffed by a county or a council of government. In many urban areas existing organizations like counties or councils of government also function as MPOs. The MPO role can also be played by an independent organization or a regional government. In the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area, for example, the Metro is the MPO. In the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota metropolitan area, the Metropolitan Council is the MPO.

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