Background

What is the Las Cruces MPO?

The Las Cruces Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is a multi-jurisdictional agency responsible for transportation planning in Las Cruces, Mesilla and parts of Dona Ana County.  Federal regulations require the designation of an MPO to carry out a coordinated, continuing and comprehensive transportation planning process for urbanized areas with a population of more than 50,000.  The Las Cruces MPO annually establishes project priorities for consideration by the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) when programming transportation funds.  The MPO is also responsible for planning all aspects of the transportation system, including roads, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, public transit and the airport.

The Las Cruces MPO has been in existence since 1982.  It operates under the guidance of a Policy Committee which is comprised of nine elected officials: three City of Las Cruces Councillors, three Dona Ana County Commissioners, and three Town of Mesilla Trustees.  The Policy Committee makes decisions to plan for the future transportation needs of the regions.  The Policy Committee has two advisory  committees: the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), which makes recommendations to the Policy Committee regarding technical issues, and the Bicycle Facilities Advisory Committee (BFAC) which provides recommendations for the planning of bicycle facilities within the MPO area.  The MPO is supported by a permanent full-time staff of an MPO Officer, two planners, a development technician and two co-ops.

What does the MPO do?

There are five core functions of an MPO:

Establish a setting : The MPO establishes and manages a fair and impartial setting for effective regional decisionmaking on transportation issues.

Evaluate alternatives : The MPOs evaluate transportation alternatives, scaled to the size of the region, the nature of its transportation issues, and considers realistically available options.

Maintain a Long Range Transportation Plan The MPO develops and updates a long range transportation plan, the 2000 Transportation Plan,  for the Las Cruces area.  This document covers a planning horizon of twenty years and focuses on mobility and access, efficient system performance, and quality of life.

Develop a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) The MPO develops a TIP, which is a financially constrained, prioritized capital transportation improvement program programmed for the next six years using federal and state funding. 

Involve the Public The MPO prepares and follows a Public Involvement Plan, which outlines the procedures used to ensure the general public and any affected sub-groups will have the opportunity to participate in the transportation planning process.