A Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is an entity composed of local elected officials and state agency representatives that is tasked with reviewing and approving transportation investments in a metropolitan area. In order for areas with a population over 50,000 to receive federal highway aid, the Highway Act of 1962 required the development of a transportation planning process that was continuing, comprehensive, and carried out in a cooperative or coordinated manner. MPOs were created as part of the 1973 Highway Act in order to carry out this 3-C planning process, which has been the guiding principle of metropolitan planning.
The Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is an organization made up of elected officials and appointed representatives of Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Marion, Hiawatha, Robins, Ely, Fairfax, and Shueyville. Representation on Corridor MPO is based on population for the participating cities and county, and includes at least one elected official from each governing body. Each city and county may have one member for each 10,000 people for the first 50,000 population plus one additional member for each 25,000 persons over 50,000 in population, based on the latest Federal Decennial Census. Each member jurisdiction contributes to the local share of Corridor MPO’s budget.
Over forty years of planning cooperation and coordination are a foundation for Corridor MPO. Prior to the formal organization of Corridor MPO, Linn County and Cedar Rapids were jointly involved in comprehensive planning - using the city-county Planning Director to coordinate planning activities. In 1962 Cedar Rapids, Linn County, and Marion officials met informally as a group called "Metro" to discuss joint problems. In late 1964, following enabling legislation passed by the 60th Session of the Iowa General Assembly, the Linn County Regional Planning Commission was formed, comprised of representatives from Linn County, Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, and Robins. In an effort to remove confusion in the public over the relationship between the MPO and Linn County government and to allow the name to grow with the MPO (it had already expanded south into Johnson County), the Linn County Regional Planning Commission changed its name to the Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization in 2007.
In 1965 Corridor MPO formally assigned staff activities and responsibilities to the Cedar Rapids Department of Planning and Redevelopment staff. In 1997, that office was reorganized into the Department of Development and again in 2005 into the Department of Community Development. The Director of the Department of Community Development is responsible for the planning programs carried out by the Department and acts as the Executive Director of the MPO while a long-range planning coordinator administers the day-to-day activities of Corridor MPO. This staff operation has been in effect for over forty years, providing coordinated planning and development services in an effective, economical fashion.
In 2002, Corridor MPO expanded its planning area to reflect the growth experienced in the metropolitan area, and invitations to join Corridor MPO were extended to several new jurisdictions within the new planning boundary. The cities of Fairfax, Ely and Shueyville elected to become full voting members of Corridor MPO.
Since its inception, the major activity of Corridor MPO has been the preparation of areawide plans to help guide orderly growth and development within the region. Such plans include Land Use; Open Space and Outdoor Recreation; Transportation; Air Quality; Water and Sewer Systems; Solid Waste Management; and Housing and Community Development. Joint zoning ordinance studies have also been undertaken in order to encourage modern, uniform public regulations of private land development within the county. In recent years preparation of the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), the annual prioritization and programming of Surface Transportation Program and Transportation Enhancements Program projects in the metropolitan area, has become a major activity of Corridor MPO.
Functional advisory committees are established as needed for both policy and technical review purposes. Advisory committees include representatives of the Corridor MPO, areawide citizen interests, and technical personnel where applicable. Some examples are the Tower Terrace Road Corridor Management Plan Advisory Group and the Population and Employment Forecast Technical Advisory Committee (PEFTAC).
Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization Membership | |
|---|---|
| Member Name | Jurisdiction |
| Councilmember Brian Fagan – Chair | Cedar Rapids |
| Supervisor Linda Langston – Vice Chair | Linn County |
| Mayor Bill Voss – Secretary | Fairfax |
| Mayor Paul Rehn – Treasurer | Marion |
| Mayor Kay Halloran | Cedar Rapids |
| Mayor Tom Theis | Hiawatha |
| Mayor Ian Cullis | Robins |
| Mayor Jim Doyle | Ely |
| Mayor Tim Carson | Shueyville |
| Supervisor Lu Barron | Linn County |
| Supervisor Jim Houser | Linn County |
| Councilmember Jerry McGrane | Cedar Rapids |
| Councilmember Pat Shey | Cedar Rapids |
| George Kanz | Cedar Rapids |
| Scott Sylvester | Cedar Rapids |
| Vacancy | Cedar Rapids |
| Vacancy | Cedar Rapids |
| Boyd Potter | Marion |
| Kim McCarty | Marion |
Agendas |
Minutes |