What is an MPO?

In order to qualify for federal highway and federal transit funding assistance, every metropolitan area in the United States with a population of 50,000 persons or greater is required to establish and designate a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Formed in 1985, the Adirondack / Glens Falls Transportation Council is recognized by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as the designated MPO for Warren County, Washington County, and the Town of Moreau in Saratoga County, New York. (Click here to view map.) As an MPO, its mission is to facilitate a cooperative transportation planning and decision making process between area municipalities and state and federal agencies and to establish a process for the allocation and use of federal highway and transit funds that are available to the region.  Funding for the day to day operations of AGFTC is provided by FHWA, FTA, and by in-kind contributions from local municipalities.

Who is the Transportation Council?

The Council consists of two principal working groups, the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Policy Committee. The Policy Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving all planning activities undertaken by the Council and its staff. This includes an annual work program (UPWP), the area Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and a Long Range Plan (LRP).Its members include the Chairs of the Board of Supervisors of Warren and Washington Counties, the Mayors of the City of Glens Falls and the Village of South Glens Falls, Supervisors of the Towns of Queensbury, Fort Edward and Kingsbury, the Chair of the Lake Champlain / Lake George Regional Planning Board, and representatives of the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Thruway Authority. The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration serve as advisory members of the Council.The Technical Advisory Committee is a group composed of the technical staffs of the Policy Committee members and meets regularly to oversee the operation of the council and make recommendations to the Policy Committee.  See a listing of the Committee Members.

What does the Council do? How can the public get involved?

Through discussion of local and regional transportation issues, the Transportation Council develops and prioritizes transportation policies, programs and projects for the area’s highway, bridge and public transportation facilities in accordance with its adopted Planning Principles.The Council strives to ensure that the general public is involved in this transportation decision making process through public meetings, hearings, newsletters and other types of outreach that are designed to ensure access to complete information on a timely and continuous basis. These activities are documented in A/GFTC’s LRP and in its TIP.