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About MPOs

Each urban area in the United States with a popoulation of 50,000 or more has a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) which acts as a liaison between local communities, their citizens, and the state departments of transportation (DOTs).  MPOs are important because they direct how and where available state and federal dollars for transportation improvements will be spent. MPOs currently operate under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users signed into law on August 10, 2005 by President Bush. Federal law requires that the Charlotte County-Punta Gorda  MPO provide continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (3-C) transportation planning process in order to receive federal funds for transportation projects.

The MPO is your link to state and federal transportation decision-making. Our job is to translate local  priorities in Charlotte County, Florida to state and federal transportation project funding. MPOs were mandated by the Federal Highway Act of 1973 to provide a cooperative, comprehensive, and continuing transportation planning and decision-making process. The process encompasses all modes and covers both short-range and long-range transportation planning.

The Charlotte County-Punta Gorda MPO is  responsible for transportation planning for Charlotte County and the part of the Southwest portion of the DeSoto County. The Charlotte County-Punta Gorda MPO was established by the Governor in 1992. As a result of the 1990 census, The Punta Gorda/North Port  urbanized area was determined to exceed 50,000 in population, initiating the requirement for an MPO. Activities of the MPO are funded from state and federal sources along with a small local match.

The Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners, City of Punta Gorda and Charlotte County Airport Authority are the local members that are actively involved in the  MPO  Planning process.

2013-2017 DRAFT TENTATIVE WORK PROGRAM

2013-2017 CHARLOTTE ADDITIONS, DELETIONS AND RESCHEDULING

2035 LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN