ABOUT THE MPO
Established in 1982, the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is a non-profit entity serving as a forum for public officials, citizens, and other interest groups to establish policies and plans to deal with various metropolitan issues.
The communities in the region have joined together to ensure efficient, coordinated action in resolving intergovernmental issues. The role of the MPO is to harmonize the activities of federal, state, and local agencies and to provide assistance and encourage public participation in the long-term development of the area.
Part of the MPOs function is to provide technical assistance and expertise to complete studies and identify solutions to metropolitan problems, primarily that of transportation. Each MPO is required to develop a unified planning work program in cooperation with the State and transit operators. They are also required to prepare a long-range (20 year horizon) transportation plan that includes a financial plan. This plan assesses capital investment and other measures to preserve the existing transportation system.
Similarly, a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) must be developed by the MPO in cooperation with the States and transit operator. The TIP includes a prioritized list of projects and a financial plan consistent with anticipated funding. The TIP is updated annually and covers a four year period.
The MPO is located in northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. The MPO planning area encompasses the cities of Grand Forks, ND and East Grand Forks, MN as well as the urbanized areas and areas anticipated to be urbanized it the next 20-years in Grand Forks County, ND and Polk County, MN. MPOs are designated for each metropolitan area with a population exceeding 50,000. The year 2000 population of the city of Grand Forks was 49,366 and 7,501 for the city of East Grand Forks.
The MPO relies on press releases, newsletters, and interviews for the dissemination of MPO-related information. This website is just an additional means to informing the public of the work of the MPO.