Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization

If you need this information in another language, please contact the MVMPO Title VI/Anti-Discrimination Coordinator at 978-374-0519.

Si necesita esta información en otro idioma, comuníquese con el Coordinador contra la discriminación/Título VI de MVMPO al 978-374-0519.

Caso precise destas informações em outro idioma, entre em contato com o Coordenador de Título VI/Antidiscriminação da MVMPO pelo telefone 978-374-0519.

如果需要使用其它语言了解信息，请联系Merrimack Valley大都会规划组织（MVMPO）《民权法案》第六章协调员，电话978-374-0519.

Si w bezwen enfòmasyon nan lòt lang, tanpri kontakte Kowòdinatè Tit VI/Kont Diskriminasyon an nan 978-374-0519.

Nếu quý vị cần thông tin bằng một ngôn ngữ khác, vui lòng liên hệ Điều Phối Viên Tiêu Đề VI/Chống Phân Biệt Đối Xử của MVMPO theo số 978-374-0519.

What’s New?

MVMPO met in-person at MVPC on Janaury 22 at 10:30am. During this meeting, the MVMPO Board held its first annual retreat (10:30am-noon) and typical business meeting (noon-1:30pm).

During the retreat, board members and municipal guests received an overview of the MVMPO’s roles, a review of updates to the MPO’s agreement, and presentations about MassDOT’s project development process and municipal involvement. Finally, board members and guests participated in a co-design session for future years’ work programs.

During the typical portion of the meeting, the board:

• Approved FFY2025-2029 TIP Amendment #1;
• Endorsed the Amendment to the region’s PPP;
• Endorsed a list of candidate regional projects for MassDOT’s Resilience Improvement Plan (RIP);
• Endorsed the region’s updated Congestion Management Process; and
• Released an amendment of the MVMPO agreement for partner review..

MVMPO is scheduled to meet next on February 26, 2025. This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. During this meeting, MVMPO will:

• Execute the amended MVMPO agreement;
• Review federally-required performance measures; and
• Discuss FFY2026-2030 Transportation Improvement Program Readiness findings.

A full agenda is forthcoming and will be posted on the on the Commission’s Events page. 

MVMPO Overview

The Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (or MVMPO) guides regional transportation planning and determines how federal aid will be used to support regional transportation. Board members are appointed by their respective communities to support transportation planning from a regional perspective. Members of the public and transportation advocates are encouraged to follow and engage in the MVMPO’s process:

• • Share your perspective with your respective community/subregion’s appointed MVMPO board member.
  • Attend and provide comments at monthly MVMPO board meetings.
  • Attend public hearings on proposed document amendments and provide comments.
  • Reach out to directly to MVMPO staff at [email protected].

MVMPO’s Role

MVMPO programs apportioned and discretionary federal aid (i.e. obligates the use of federal funds to support local needs). Apportioned aid is made available to states by the federal government in amounts determined by formulas included in federal surface transportation legislation, the most recent being the Investment in Infrastructure and Jobs Act/Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation (BIL). Apportioned aid comprises most of the federal aid that MPOs are responsible for programming. MPOs are also responsible for programming discretionary aid—aid that is not guaranteed and often awarded to regions and municipalities through competitive grant processes—and earmarks.

To remain eligible to program available federal aid, MVMPO must produce and endorse four certification documents: the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), and a Public Participation Plan. Each document fulfills a particular purpose and can be viewed below.

Frequently Asked Questions