Metropolitan Planning Organization
Updated: September 3, 2024A metropolitan planning organization is a transportation policy-making organization made up of representatives from local government and transportation authorities. In 1962, the United States Congress passed legislation that required the formation of an MPO for any urbanized area (UZA) with a population greater than 50,000. Congress created MPOs to ensure that existing and future expenditures for transportation projects and programs are based on a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (3-C) planning process. Federal funding for transportation projects and programs is channeled through this planning process. Statewide and metropolitan transportation planning processes are governed by Federal Law (23 USC 134 and 135).