2/9/2018
Meetings scheduled in Twin Falls on potential creation of metropolitan planning organization
TWIN FALLS - The Idaho Transportation Department and other agencies involved in transportation are hosting an inter-agency and public meeting on Feb. 22 to share information on the potential creation of a metropolitan planning organization.
Metropolitan planning organizations are responsible for regional transportation planning in urban areas that have populations of 50,000 people or more. Populations are determined by the U.S. Census.
It is anticipated that Twin Falls will have a population of 50,000 after the 2020 census is completed, which would require that a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) be created.
The inter-agency and public meeting will be Thursday, Feb. 22, at Twin Falls City Hall, 203 Main Avenue East. Registration will be from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The inter-agency meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the public meeting from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. At the meetings, the transportation department will provide educational materials about the metropolitan planning organization process and federal requirements. The meetings also will share information on:
- Difference between a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and a Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA)
- Federal and state process of designating the metropolitan planning organization
- Impacts of the metropolitan planning organization for the area
- Potential membership and structure of a Policy Board, Technical Advisory Committee and Citizens Advisory Committees
- Roles and responsibilities of the organization
- Products and plans the MPO will be required to produce
- Understanding of relationships between organizations
- Decision-making process used by the MPO
- Potential challenges of the organization
- The Idaho Transportation Department's role in making the metropolitan planning organization successful within the next 5 years.
Those interested in attending the inter-agency meeting or public meeting are encouraged to register in advance. Registration can be done at:
www.eventleaf.com/MVMPOKickOff
Those with questions about the meetings can contact Maranda Obray at maranda.obray@itd.idaho.gov or at (208) 334-8483.
To learn more about metropolitan planning organizations, please visit itd.idaho.gov/funding/?target=advisory-boards and click on the MPOs tab.