Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) ensure that federally-funded transportation investments are coordinated, planned cooperatively and developed with local input.
A transportation system consists of many parts that work together to move people and goods within metropolitan areas, statewide, and throughout the country. It just makes sense that local coordination needs to happen before federal dollars are spent on large-scale projects in the area.
Established through federal legislation, MPOs exist throughout the United States in all urbanized areas of more than 50,000 people. They have the authority to prioritize, plan, and program transportation projects in urban areas for federal funding.
The MIC, as the MPO for the Duluth-Superior planning area, brings together elected officials and citizens from all area jurisdictions, along with planners, engineers, policy makers and community stakeholders to address transportation issues and determine transportation priorities.