Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)
Function
Metropolitan Planning Organizations are entities designated by law with the lead responsibility for the development of a metropolitan area's transportation plans and to coordinate the transportation planning process. All urban areas over 50,000 in population are required to have an MPO if the agencies spend Federal funds on transportation improvements.
There are eight MPOs in Minnesota:
A map showing the eight MPOs and their metropolitan planning areas in Minnesota. Click on map for a full-size MPO map.
- Metropolitan Interstate Council (Duluth–Superior)
- 218-529-7541
- Grand Forks–East Grand Forks MPO
- 218-746-2660
- Fargo–Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments
- 701-532-5100
- St. Cloud Area Planning Organization
- 320-252-7568
- Twin Cities Metropolitan Council
- 651-602-1720
- Rochester–Olmsted Council of Governments
- 507-328-7100
- La Crosse Area Planning Committee
- 608-785-5977
- Mankato/North Mankato Area Planning Organization
- 507-387-8613
The following are some primary functions of an MPO:
- Maintain a Long-Range Transportation Plan
- Develop a Transportation Improvement Program
- Develop a Unified Planning Work Program