What is the Metropolitan Planning Organization?
A Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), is a transportation policy-making board comprised of representatives from local government and transportation authorities. Each urbanized area in the United States with a population of 50,000 or more is required by the federal government under US Code Section 134 of Title 23 to have a metropolitan planning organization (MPO). An MPO is a federally required transportation planning body comprised of elected and appointed officials representing local, state and federal governments or agencies having interest or responsibility in transportation planning and programming. An MPO is responsible for the development of Long Range plans, the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and a Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for its metropolitan planning area. The adoption of these documents is a prerequisite for the receipt of both federal transit and federal highway funding.

The ATRC MPO is responsible for establishing a continuing, cooperative and comprehensive transportation planning process for Lewiston, Auburn, Lisbon and a portion of Sabattus, according to federal and state laws.

Show All Answers

1. What does ATRC stand for?
2. What does an MPO do?
3. What are the core functions of an MPO?
4. What is the MPO structure?
5. What is the Metropolitan Planning Organization?
6. What is the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)?
7. What is the Long Range Plan?
8. What is The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)?
9. When do the ATRC committees meet?
10. Are the ATRC meetings open to the public?