City of Amarillo, TX
Home MenuAmarillo Metropolitan Planning Organization
Email: amarillompo@amarillo.gov
Phone: 806-378-4219
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Office Location: 808 S Buchanan Street, 2nd Floor, Amarillo, Texas 79101
Planning Area
The MPO's planning area, known as the Metropolitan Area Boundary (MAB), includes Amarillo, Canyon, Bushland, Lake Tanglewood, Timber Creek Canyon, Palisades, and Bishop Hills.
Amarillo Metropolitan Planning Organization Staff
MPO Administrator, Travis Muno — travis.muno@amarillo.gov
Phone: 806-378-4219
MPO Senior Transportation Planner, Jenifer Ramirez — jenifer.ramirez@amarillo.gov
Phone: 806-378-6293
MPO Transportation Planning Technician, Devin Jones — devin.jones@amarillo.gov
Phone: 806-378-6024
MPO Transit Planner I, Julia Miller — julia.miller@amarillo.gov
Phone: 806-378-6923
MPO Transportation Planner II, Allison Knie — allison.knie@amarillo.gov
Phone: 806-378-6493
About the MPO
Every metropolitan area with a population of over 50,000 must have a designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to qualify for federal highway or transit assistance. The Amarillo MPO plays a critical role in ensuring that projects receiving federal funds align with local priorities and federal requirements. The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) relies on the MPO to ensure that federally funded highway and transit projects are products of a credible planning process that meets local needs. Approval for federal funding of urban highway and transit projects hinges on their inclusion in the MPO’s program.
Over the years, federal transportation acts have strengthened the MPO’s responsibilities in programming transportation projects, notably:
- Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA 1991)
- Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21 1998)
- Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU 2005)
- Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act 2015)
- Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
These acts underscore the MPO's importance in developing and maintaining transportation plans that ensure federal funds support locally developed initiatives. The MPO's membership includes local officials from the city and counties within the urbanized area, along with representatives from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The MPO coordinates with local, state, and federal agencies to ensure consistency in transportation planning across different government levels.
MPO Responsibilities
The MPO carries out three major activities to meet federal requirements and maintain eligibility for transportation funds:
- Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP): A long-range plan (20-25 years) that includes an inventory of current transportation systems, future travel demand forecasts, and environmental analysis, updated every five years.
- Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): A short-range plan (four years) listing proposed transportation projects, updated every two years to align with the MTP and demonstrate financial feasibility.
- Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP): An annual work plan detailing MPO activities, resource allocation, and necessary planning studies, adopted each July for the upcoming federal fiscal year.
Data Collection and Analysis
The MPO gathers and analyzes data on transportation trends, population growth, land use, and environmental impacts to inform its planning efforts.
Funding Allocation
The MPO allocates federal and state transportation funds to projects within the metropolitan area, ensuring that funding aligns with the region’s transportation priorities and complies with federal transportation laws.
Public Involvement
Public participation is crucial to the MPO's planning process. The MPO actively involves the public and stakeholders through expanded citizen participation efforts, encouraging citizens to attend Policy Committee meetings and provide input on transportation plans and projects.