What are Metropolitan Planning Organizations?
A Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is an agency created by federal law to provide local input for urban transportation planning. Federal transportation funds are allocated to cities with populations of greater than 50,000 for the express purpose of providing transportation planning for the MPO area. The mission of a MPO is to provide comprehensive, coordinated and continuous (the "3Cs") transportation planning for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods consistent with the region's overall economic, social and environmental goals. Special emphasis is placed on providing equal access to a variety of transportation choices and effective public involvement in the transportation planning process. There are more than 300 MPOs across the country. Most MPOs are part of a city, county or area regional planning council.
The West Virginia MPOs
Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson (BHJ) Metropolitan Planning Commission
Jefferson County, Ohio:
(Mingo, Mt. Pleasant, Richmond, Smithfield, Steubenville, Stratton, Toronto,
Wintersville). Brooke County, West Virginia: (Beech Bottom, Follansbee,
Wellsburg, Windsor Heights). Hancock County, WV: (New Cumberland, Weirton).
Bel-O-Mar Regional Council
Jefferson County, Ohio:
(Mingo, Mt. Pleasant, Richmond, Smithfield, Steubenville, Stratton, Toronto,
Wintersville). Brooke County, West Virginia: (Beech Bottom, Follansbee,
Wellsburg, Windsor Heights). Hancock County, WV: (New Cumberland, Weirton).
KYOVA Interstate Planning Commission
Serving Huntington, WV;
Ironton, Ohio (Cabell and Wayne Counties, WV; Lawrence County, Ohio), Kentucky
(Boyd/Greenup Counties).
Regional Intergovernmental Council
Serving Charleston
Metropolitan Area (Kanawha and Putnam Counties, West Virginia)
Wood-Washington-Wirt (W-W-W) Interstate Planning Commission
The WWW designated study
area expands beyond the urban area boundary to encompass all of Wood County,
West Virginia, and portions of Washington County, Ohio, including the townships
of Newport, Marrietta, Fearing, Muskingum, Warren, Dunham and Belpre. Initially,
Wirt County, West Virginia was included in both the Metropolitan Statistical
Area (MSA) and the transportation planning study area. When the Census Bureau
excluded Wirt County from the MSA during the 1980 census, the county was
eliminated from the study area. However, the official name of the organization
remained the same.
Morgantown/Monongalia County Transportation Planning Organization
Serving the greater
Morgantown area and Monongalia County, West Virginia.
Hagerstown / Eastern Panhandle Metropolitan Planning Organization
Serving the three-county
region of Berkeley and Jefferson Counties in West Virginia and Washington
County, Maryland. Frederick County, Virginia (expanded in 2020).
Fayette / Raleigh Metropolitan Planning Organization
Serving the two-county
region of Fayette and Raleigh Counties in West Virginia
Last Updated: 11/26/2014