Metropolitan Planning Organization

The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) was created in 1977 in compliance with the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1973 and the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964. The MPO for Hamilton County and the Northern portions of Dade, Walker, and Catoosa Counties in Georgia is known as the Chattanooga / Hamilton County / North Georgia Metropolitan Planning Organization (CHCNGA-MPO).  The MPO coordinates continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (3-C planning process) transportation activities within CHCNGA area along with the Tennessee and Georgia Departments of Transportation.

The MPO, managed by the Transportation Planning Division of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency (RPA), is comprised of a policy board known as the Executive Board, a technical committee known as the Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) and professional staff. The professional staff consists of the Executive Director of the RPA, the Director of the Transportation Planning Division of RPA, three planners, and an administrative assistant. The Transportation Planning Division staff and other staff of the RPA perform the day to day functions of transportation planning activities for the MPO planning area.

The MPO produces three basic documents which include the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), The Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The MPO also evaluate traffic congestion, air quality, mobility, and other alternative transportation modes.

Transportation Management Area Certification Review

In 2021, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) conducted a Transportation Management Area (TMA) Certification Review of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County/North Georgia Transportation Planning Organization (TPO). FHWA and FTA must conduct a review of the transportation planning process in urban areas with population greater than 200,000 people no less than once every four years to ensure compliance with applicable federal rules and regulations.

The 2021 Federal Certification Review found that the Chattanooga-Hamilton County/North Georgia metropolitan transportation planning process meets federal planning requirements. The final report describing the review process, observations and findings can be found HERE.