What is a Metropolitan Planning Organization?

FAMPO Urbanized AreaA Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is a federally mandated and federally funded transportation policy-making organization created by federal law to provide local input for urban transportation planning and allocating federal transportation funds to urbanized areas with a population of greater than 50,000.

The Federal Highway Act of 1962 created MPOs in order to ensure that existing and future expenditures of governmental funds for transportation projects and programs are based on a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (“3-C”) planning process.

The MPO develops plans and programs that the federal government must approve in order for federal-aid transportation funds to flow to the Fredericksburg Region.

The Policy Committee leads the MPO and decides how federal and state transportation funds will be allocated for the region.

The Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO) was designated after the 1990 Census and has a planning area boundary that includes the City of Fredericksburg, and the counties of Spotsylvania and Stafford.

Mission Statement

The MPO’s mission is to provide a cooperative, continuous and comprehensive (“3C”) transportation planning process to build regional agreement on transportation investments, that balance roadway, public transit, bicycle, pedestrian, and other transportation needs and support regional land use, economic, and environmental goals for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods.  Special emphasis is placed on providing equal access to a variety of transportation choices and effective public involvement in the transportation planning process.