What is the TPO?
The Central Virginia Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) is a forum for cooperative, continuing and comprehensive planning. The TPO area encompasses the City of Lynchburg, as well as the urbanized sections of Bedford, Campbell and Amherst Counties. These areas also include sections that are likely to become urbanized in the foreseeable future.
The TPO considers long-range regional projects, and combines public input, technical data and agency collaboration to develop innovative improvements for the region’s transportation network. Additionally, the TPO coordinates with several transportation-related agencies on projects that have both a direct and indirect impact on the transportation network.
Every five years, the TPO engages with local stakeholders, the public and state/federal agencies to develop a Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), which is a comprehensive assessment of the region's future transportation needs within the urbanized area. The LRTP sets a blueprint for creating a more efficient, connected, and resilient transportation system in the Central Virginia region over the next 25 years.
In addition to the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), the TPO is responsible for creating and maintaining the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) which budgets for transportation projects to be implemented over a 5-year period.
Why do we have a TPO?
The Central Virginia Transportation Planning Organization (CVTPO), previously known as the Central Virginia Metropolitan Planning Organization (CVTPO), is a federally mandated organization representing the transportation interests for the urbanized area. It is one of 342 MPOs that were created by the U.S. Congress through the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1962 to ensure that existing and future expenditures of governmental funds for transportation projects and programs are based on a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (“3-C”) planning process. All federal funding for transportation projects and programs in these urbanized areas and surrounding counties are channeled through the planning process implemented by the TPO.
How is the MPO Area Determined?
An MPO is established for all urban areas in the United States with a population greater than 50,000. Several federal agencies are involved in defining the MPO’s service area, including the Census Bureau, Office of Management and Budget, and the Federal Highway Administration/ U.S. Department of Transportation. The MPO is responsible for serving all areas included in a city’s Urbanized Area boundary, as well as any surrounding areas that are expected to be developed in the foreseeable future.
