What is a Metropolitan Planning Organization?Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) were created by Congress in 1962 through the Federal Aid Highway Act. The Federal law requires that a MPO be designated for each urban area with a population of 50,000 or more and that transportation projects be supported and coordinated with long range plans. MPOs were created to carry out the planning process with the cooperation of the states and local jurisdictions.
There are fourteen MPOs in Illinois representing the urbanized areas.Bi-State Regional Planning Commission
Champaign Urban Area Transportation Study
Chicago Metropolitan Agency on Planning
Danville Area Transportation Study
Decatur Area Transportation Study
DeKalb-Sycamore Transportation Study
Dubuque Metropolitan Area Transportation Study
East-West Gateway Council of Governments
Kankakee Area Transportation Study
McLean County Regional Planning Commission
Peoria/Pekin Urbanized Area Transportation Study
Rockford Area Transportation Study
Springfield Area Transportation Study
Stateline Area Transportation Study
All MPOs are required to produce a Long Range Transportation Plan that results in programs and projects that consider all transportation modes and support metropolitan community and economic development and social goals. However, MPOs have significant responsibilities in other planning areas as well. MPOs are the primary entities responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of comprehensive planning in Illinois metropolitan areas.
To learn more about Metropolitan Planning Organizations in general visit the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO) website listed below.
