Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Program

Transportation Planning is an important step in the process of creating or maintaining a transportation project. Before the Alabama Department of Transportation can resurface a roadway or build a bridge it must develop a 25-year plan, 4-year plan, and a bicycle & pedestrian plan, among others. The goal of each plan is to help decide what transportation projects will move forward.

The above requirements are a part of the continuous, cooperative, and comprehensive (3C) approach that is required by the Code of Federal Regulations, specifically 23 CFR 450. These regulations ensure that Federal funds are reimbursed when eligible, that projects are prioritized inside a transportation plan, and that local agencies are operating under financial constraint.

The Planning Section of the Local Transportation Bureau is responsible for managing long and short-range plans developed by local agencies, specifically Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) and Rural Planning Organizations (RPO). A map of all agencies can be found here.

Modeling Coordination
MPOs are required to develop traffic models as a part of long-range planning. The Planning Section is responsible for making sure MPOs and RPOs have all the licenses, data, and training they need to develop these models and perform other duties.

Programs & Compliance
The State, in coordination with local agencies, develops performance measures as a part of their long-range planning process. The Planning Section is responsible for making sure MPOs and RPOs have the data they need to make informed decisions on these measures.

Documents Coordination
Similar to ALDOT, local agencies are required to develop documents that will support the development of transportation projects. The Planning Section is responsible for reviewing documents from MPOs and RPOs and coordinating them with the state’s documents.

Work Program Coordination
MPOs and RPOs are funded through a Work Program maintained by the State. The Planning Section is responsible for contributing the needs of MPOs and RPOs into the state’s Work Program.

A Metropolitan Planning Area is an area of the state with a population of more than 50,000, as determined by the U.S. Census. A Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is responsible for voting on all DOT projects within their Metropolitan Planning Area. They are also responsible for developing planning documents and models that illustrate where transportation projects should be emphasized.

A Rural Planning Organization (RPO) manages portions of the state with populations under 50,000, as determined by the U.S. Census. RPOs act as a liaison between the State and the local agencies. RPOs contribute to the success of the local agency by helping them with grants, helping them manage data, and helping local projects move forward.

All local planning efforts are housed within the Local Transportation Bureau, Planning Section. However, multiple statewide efforts are housed in other ALDOT bureaus and sections.

Office Engineering Bureau, Planning Section
The Office Engineering Bureau houses the state’s 25-year and 4-year plans, their Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, their Freight Plan, their Carbon Reduction Strategy and the State’s Public Involvement Plan. They are also responsible for the rural portion of the state’s Work Program.

Local Transportation Bureau, Transit Section
The Transit Section houses the Transit Asset Management Plan and the State Management Plan.

Design Bureau, Rail and Safety Sections
The Rail Section is responsible for the Alabama State Rail Plan. The Safety Section is responsible for the Strategic Highway Safety Plan.

Other Bureaus
The Maintenance Bureau houses the Transportation Asset Management Plan. The Aeronautics Bureau is responsible for the Statewide Airport System Plan and Economic Impact Study. The Research Bureau is responsible for the research portion of the state’s Work Program.

•   MPO Information from the Federal Transit Administration
•   MPO Portal
•   MPO Checklist