Metropolitan Planning Organization

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. 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. 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 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.