Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

Federal regulations require that urbanized areas throughout the United States have a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to conduct a continuing, cooperative and comprehensive transportation planning process. Urbanized areas are defined as areas with a population of 200,000 or greater, known as Transportation Management Areas (TMA).

MPOs participate in a federal certification review of the transportation planning process for their TMAs every three years. MPOs must be certified in order to receive federal aid for transportation projects. The transportation planning process must result "in plans and programs that consider all modes of transportation and support metropolitan community development and social goals. These plans and programs shall lead to the development and operation of an integrated, intermodal transportation system that facilitates the efficient, economic movement of people and goods." (23CFR450.300 and 49CFR450.300)

Voting members of the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization include representatives from the Cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg, and the Counties of Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, and York, as well as the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads, Williamsburg Area Transit (WAT), the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission. Representatives from the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and Federal Aviation Administration are non-voting members.

The HRPDC provides staffing for the MPO to assist them in carrying out their responsibilities and to coordinate efforts with the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads, Williamsburg Area Transit (WAT), and VDOT. The MPO's Technical Advisory Committee provides review and recommendations on all regional transportation planning efforts.

Members of the Hampton Roads MPO work together to:

1. develop the Regional Long-Range Transportation Plan, the Transportation Improvement Program, the Congestion Management Process , and the Intermodal Management System;

2. develop the annual Unified Planning Work Program, which includes the allocation of the funds authorized to finance the planning process;

3. approve the work activities in the Unified Planning Work Program through the MPO voting process;

4. participate in the development of major investment studies; and

5. participate in work sessions that support carrying out the planning process.

Voting Members

Chesapeake
Clifton E. Hayes, Jr., City Council Member

Gloucester County
Lane B. Ramsey, Interim County Administrator

Hampton
Randall A. Gilliland, Vice Mayor

Isle of Wight County
Stan D. Clark, Member, Board of Supervisors

James City County
Bruce C. Goodson, Board of Supervisors

Newport News
Joe S. Frank, Mayor

Norfolk
Paul D. Fraim, Mayor

Poquoson
Charles W. Burgess Jr., City Manager

Portsmouth
Douglas L. Smith, City Council Member

Suffolk
Selena Cuffee-Glenn, City Manager

Virginia Beach
Louis R. Jones, Vice Mayor

Williamsburg
Jackson C. Tuttle, II, City Manager

York County
James O. McReynolds, County Administrator

Hampton Roads Planning District Commission
Arthur L. Collins, Executive Director/Secretary

Williamsburg Area Transport
Mark D. Rickards, Executive Director

Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads
Michael S. Townes, President/Chief Executive Officer

Virginia Department of Transportation
Dennis W. Heuer, District Administrator, VDOT-Hampton Roads District

Non-voting Members

Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation
Roberto Fonseca Martinez, Division Administrator

Federal Transit Administration
Letitia A. Thompson, Federal Transit Administrator

Federal Aviation Administration
Terry Page, Manager

Virginia Department of Aviation
Randall P. Burdette, Director

Virginia Port Authority
Jerry A. Bridges, Executive Director

List Updated April 7, 2008

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