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Boston Region MPO – What Is An MPO?
OVERVIEW • WHAT IS AN MPO? • MPO MEMBERSHIP • MPO ELECTION PROCESS •
MPO REGION MAP • NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), established in metropolitan areas with more than 50,000 residents, are responsible for conducting the federally required metropolitan transportation planning (3C) process. Based on this planning, they decide which surface transportation system improvements will receive federal capital transportation funds. More information about MPOs is available at the Federal Highway Administration´s Website.

The MPO´s mission is to articulate a vision and goals for transportation in the region and then develop, evaluate, and implement strategies for achieving them. Public involvement is an important element of this work. Federal legislation and regulations, initiated more than 40 years ago and refined periodically since then, provide a broad framework for MPO activities and products.

MPO products include three federally required certification documents, produced at regular intervals: the Transportation Plan (Plan), the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). Both the Plan and the TIP include air-quality-conformity analyses to ensure consistency with the region´s air quality goals.

MPOs also prepare studies and reports that are not federally required, but which produce information that is useful to the region´s agencies, authorities, and municipalities.