History and Scope of the Evansville MPO

 

Effective transportation planning requires an organization with a regional focus and the ability to operate independent of city, county or state lines.  The United States Congress first officially recognized this need in 1962, when the Federal-Aid Highway Act was enacted.  This legislation mandated that all urbanized areas over 50,000 in population were required to establish a "3-C" (continuing, cooperative, comprehensive) planning process in order to receive federal highway planning and improvement funding.  In 1969, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) were created to conduct the 3-C planning process within these urbanized areas.  As a result of the 2000 Census, and with a population that exceeds 200,000, the Evansville/Henderson urban area has been designated a Transportation Management Area (TMA).

 

In October of 1969, the Evansville Urban Transportation Study (EUTS) was created as the planning agency responsible for conducting the 3-C planning process within the Evansville urbanized area.  The MPO was associated with the Southwest Indiana Kentucky Regional Council of Governments (SWIKRCOG) until 1985, when SWIKRCOG was dissolved.  EUTS continued as an independent transportation planning agency and was designated as the MPO for the Evansville urbanized area in 1986.  In 2006, the MPO Policy Board voted to change the name of the MPO to Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organization or Evansville MPO. 

 

The Evansville MPO Study Area contains approximately 650 square miles in Indiana, including the City of Evansville, all of Vanderburgh County, and all of Warrick County.  In Kentucky, the Study Area encompasses approximately 440 square miles which includes the City of Henderson and Henderson County.  Additionally, INDOT and Evansville MPO have executed an agreement for the MPO to provide planning assistance in the rural counties of Gibson and Posey.  The Evansville MPO rural transportation planning program is being conducted as part of an INDOT Small Urban and Rural Planning program established to meet the non-metropolitan planning requirement detailed in TEA –21.   Figure 1-1 illustrates the Evansville MPO Study Area and the Figure 1-2 illustrates the MPO's Regional Planning Area which includes the rural planning counties.

 

A Policy Committee and a Technical Committee guide and assist the Evansville MPO in its regional planning activities for the Study Area.  Both committees are required elements of the MPO by federal legislation.  The Policy Committee is the chief advisory body and is responsible for policy formulation, project guidance, and administrative coordination.  This includes delegation of and review of work activities for the Evansville MPO Staff.  Official actions taken by the Evansville MPO require approval by the Policy Committee.  Committee membership includes elected or appointed officials from each local government within the Study Area, as well as representatives from the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.  The Policy Committee members are appointed for a one-year term.

 

The Technical Committee is composed of planners, engineers, community representatives and professional staff from various departments of Study Area local public agencies.  This committee is the chief working committee, providing relevant expertise and data to the MPO.  Each technical task undertaken by the MPO's staff involves the participation of the Technical Committee.  The Technical Committee is directly responsible to the Policy Committee. 

 

The rural planning activities for Gibson and Posey Counties are guided by a Transportation Advisory Committee for each county.  The committee members include representatives from the city/town and county government agencies, elected officials, and representatives from the community.

 

The Citizen Advisory Committee serves as the MPO's public outreach committee.  Membership is composed of representatives from a diverse group of stakeholders, including civic organizations, neighborhood groups, and other community interest groups.