  
ISTEA, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), and the recently enacted SAFETEA-LU legislation have placed an emphasis on the transportation planning process. These pieces of legislation specifically set guidance that Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO's) and states are to follow during the development process of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
The major elements of the planning process are:
Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization
The Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has the responsibility for carrying out the regional transportation process. As the transportation staff for the MPO, MVPC is responsible for developing three federally-mandated transportation planning documents:
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Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) – Lists regional transportation projects to be completed in the next four years. Federal transportation regulations mandate that the TIP, similar to the Transportation Plan, demonstrate financial constraint and air quality conformity.
- Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) - Details the local transportation planning activities to be undertaken in upcoming year by MVPC and other agencies in the MPO.
- Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) - Covers a 20-year horizon and includes both long and short-term strategies that will result in the development of an integrated multi-modal regional transportation system.
MVPC also undertakes highway and transit analyses as determined necessary by the MPO, providing technical assistance to cities and towns on transportation issues all through a process that meets federal requirements for involving state and local officials and citizens. Learn more about the MPO, including a map of the regional representation of the MPO.
Regional representation on the MPO:
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