What is an MPO?

MPOs are entities designated by law with the lead responsibility for the development of the area's transportation plans and for coordinating the transportation planning process.  All urban areas over 50,000 in population are required to have an MPO if the agencies spend federal money on transportation improvements. Learn more about what the Centre County MPO does here, or scroll down this page to view the Story Map. You can find the most current MPO Bylaws here.

 MPO Functions

1.  Evaluate Transportation Alternatives

2.  Develop a Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)

  • Describes planning activities/key policy actions
  • Required by the U.S. Department of Transportation
  • Prepared every two fiscal years

    Centre County UPWP

3.  Maintain a Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)

  • Describes transportation strategies and policies
  • Minimum 20-year planning horizon
  • Updated every five years
  • Air Quality Conformity Analysis is no longer required
  • Fiscally constrained
  • Opportunities for public involvement

    Centre County LRTP 2050

4.  Develop a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

  • Intermodal program outlining transportation funding over a 4-year period
  • Includes schedules, funding, sources, and lead agencies
  • Updated every two years
  • Air Quality Conformity Analysis is required
  • Opportunities for public involvement

    Centre County TIP

5.  Involve the Public

The CCMPO’s Public Participation Plan (PPP) outlines a series of standard procedures for informing the public and involving them in a meaningful planning process that provides complete information, timely public notice, and full access by all segments of the population.

   Public Participation Plan

 

 

 MPO 101 Story Map


Centre County MPO Organizational History

The Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization (CCMPO) evolved from two predecessor organizations: 
  1. Centre Region Area Transportation Study (CRATS), which was responsible for conducting long-range transportation planning in the State College, Pennsylvania area in the 1970s.
  2. Centre Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (CRMPO), which was formed in 1982 and succeeded CRATS as the entity responsible for coordinating transportation planning efforts. 
In November 2003, the CRMPO approved the expansion of the MPO to a countywide organization. Effective January 2004, the CCMPO assumed responsibility for coordinating transportation planning efforts in all of Centre County, Pennsylvania.
 
The CCMPO works closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Centre County Planning Commission (CCPC), the Centre County Planning and Community Development Office (CCPCDO), and the SEDA-COG MPO (headquartered in Lewisburg, PA) to identify and prioritize transportation improvement projects in Centre County.