A Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is the policy board of an organization created and designated to carry out the metropolitan transportation planning process. MPOs are required to represent localities in all urbanized areas (UZAs) with populations over 50,000, as determined by the U.S. Census. MPOs are designated by agreement between the governor and local governments that together represent at least 75 percent of the affected population (including the largest incorporated city, based on population) or in accordance with procedures established by applicable state or local law.

Source: Federal Transit Administration

A metropolitan planning organization (MPO) is a transportation policy-making organization made up of representatives from local government and transportation authorities.The Federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1973 required the formation of a MPO for any urbanized area with a population greater than 50,000. MPOs were created in order to ensure that existing and future expenditures for transportation projects and programs were based on a comprehensive, cooperative, and continuing planning process. Federal funding for transportation projects and programs are channeled through this planning process.

The Farmington Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is the regional planning forum for transportation planning for the cities of Aztec, Bloomfield, Kirkland, and Farmington and the urbanized areas of San Juan County. The MPO carries out federal laws related to coordinated, continuing, and comprehensive transportation planning. The MPO, in cooperation with its entities, NMDOT, transit operators, and the general public develops long and short range transportation plans. FMPO was established in 2004.

Source: American Community Survey, 2020 redistricting

Learn about the Farmington MPO (PDF - 495 KB)

There are five core functions of a MPO: 

• Establish a setting: Establish and manage a fair and impartial setting for effective regional decision making in the metropolitan area. 
• Evaluate alternatives: Evaluate transportation alternatives, scaled to the size and complexity of the region, to the nature of its transportation issues, and to the realistically available options. 
• Maintain a Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP): Develop and update a long-range transportation plan for the metropolitan area covering a planning horizon of at least twenty years that fosters (1) mobility and access for people and goods, (2) efficient system performance and preservation, and (3) quality of life. 
• Develop a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): Develop a program based on the long-range transportation plan and designed to serve the area’s goals, using spending, regulating, operating, management, and financial tools. 
• Involve the public: Involve the general public and all the significantly affected sub-groups in the four essential functions listed above.

Yes, MPO's are responsible for three key documents:  the Unified Work Planning Program, the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, and the Transportation Improvement Program.

The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP):

The UPWP lists the transportation studies and tasks to be performed by the MPO staff or a member agency. Because the UPWP reflects local priorities, the content differs from one metropolitan area to another.  

The UPWP contains several elements: 

• The planning tasks and studies that will be conducted over a one- to two-year period; 
• All federally funded studies as well as all relevant state and local planning activities conducted without federal funds; 
• Funding sources identified for each project; 
• A schedule of activities; and 
• The agency responsible for each task or study.
  

Learn More About FMPO's UPWP

The Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP):

The transportation plan is the statement of the ways the region plans to invest in the transportation system.The plan shall “include both long-range and short-range program strategies/actions that lead to the development of an integrated intermodal transportation system that facilitates the efficient movement of people and goods.” (23 CFR450C,Sec.450.322) 

The plan has several elements, for example: 

• Identify policies, strategies, and projects for the future; 
• Determine project demand for transportation services over 20 years; 
• Focus at the systems level, including roadways, transit, non-motorized transportation, and intermodal connections; 
• Articulate regional land use, development, housing, and employment goals and plans; 
• Estimate costs and identify reasonably available financial sources for operation, maintenance, and capital investments; 
• Determine ways to preserve existing roads and facilities and make efficient use of the existing system; 
• Be consistent with the statewide transportation plan; and 
• Be updated every five years. 

MPOs should make special efforts to engage interested parties in the development of the plan.

Learn More About FMPO's 2045 MTP

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP):

The TIP is a financially constrained three-year program covering the most immediate implementation priorities for transportation projects and strategies from the metropolitan transportation plan. It is the region’s way of allocating its limited transportation resources among the various capital and operating needs of the area, based on a clear set of short-term transportation priorities. 

• Under federal law, the TIP: 
• Covers a minimum three-year period of investment; 
• Is updated at least every two years; 
• Is realistic in terms of available funding (known as a fiscally constrained TIP) and is not just a “wish list” of projects; 
• Conforms with the SIP for air quality if the region is designated a nonattainment or maintenance area; 
• Is approved by the MPO and the governor for air quality; and 
• Is incorporated into the statewide transportation improvement program (STIP).

Learn More About FMPO's TIP

Transportation planning must be cooperative, because no single agency has responsibility for the construction, operation, or maintenance of the entire transportation system. For example, some roads that are part of the Interstate Highway System are subject to certain standards and are usually maintained by a state DOT. Others are county arterials or city streets designed, operated, and maintained by counties or local municipalities.Transit systems are often built, operated, and maintained by a separate entity.The MPO is responsible for actively seeking the participation of all relevant agencies and stakeholders in the planning process.

FMPO's transportation planning process works in coordination with the local governments of it member entities, including Aztec, Bloomfield, Farmington, Kirtland, and San Juan County, and NMDOT.

While the MPO does work with the local transit providers to aide with planning, the MPO and the transit provider are separate organizations. Red Apple Transit, the local transit provider, will be able to answer your questions regarding transit in the region.  

Visit Red Apple Transit's Website

Transportation planning uses a lot of acronyms.  Click here for a list of some of the most commonly used acronyms.