The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1962 required that transportation projects in Census‑designated urbanized areas of 50,000 or more in population be based on a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive urban transportation planning process undertaken by the states and local governments as a condition attached to federal transportation financial assistance. That federally mandated process gave birth of the 3C, "continuing, comprehensive and cooperative” planning process.
Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) are designated by the State’s Governor to conduct the 3C planning process in each urbanized area. In Arkansas these MPOs may be the boards of existing regional planning organizations, or in smaller areas may be committees specially created for this purpose with city employees providing staff support. In either case, the governing body of the MPO consists of elected officials representing local governments in the area plus representatives of local transit agencies and the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD).
The Statewide Planning Section has a Coordinator assigned to each of the eight MPOs in Arkansas to act as a planning liaison between the Department and the MPO. Coordinators provide a point of contact for MPO staff seeking information and guidance on matters relating to AHTD projects in their area, interpreting and ensuring adherence to federal regulations, and planning matters in general.
| BI-STATE
METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION |
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| METROPLAN |
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| CITY OF HOT SPRINGS |
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| CITY OF JONESBORO |
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| NORTHWEST ARKANSAS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION |
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| SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION |
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| TEXARKANA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION |
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| CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS |
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