Transportation Glossary
Term Description

A federally mandated, local body located in urban areas with a population of at least 50,000 residents, which sets coordination standards and selects projects (many of which relate to transportation) to be funded. MPOs have the responsibility to develop unified short-term and long-term transportation plans for entire metropolitan areas. The Federal Transit Administration requires accountability, sound management practices, and financial planning to encourage full consideration of all reasonable alternatives to meet mobility and access needs within major transportation corridors. MPOs must ensure a continuing, cooperative, comprehensive, transparent, and multimodal metropolitan transportation planning process.