Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization

Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization
Name	Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization
Jurisdiction	Burleigh County; Morton County
Headquarters	Bismarck, North Dakota

Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization

The Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization serves as the federally designated metropolitan planning body for the Bismarck–Mandan urbanized area centered in Bismarck, North Dakota and Mandan, North Dakota. It coordinates transportation planning among local jurisdictions including Burleigh County, North Dakota and Morton County, North Dakota, aligning investments with federal statutes such as the Federal-Aid Highway Act and the requirements of the United States Department of Transportation. The MPO supports long-range plans, transportation improvement programs, and conformity with standards applied by agencies like the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration.

Overview

The MPO operates within the context of metropolitan planning organizations established by the Interstate Highway System era and later refined through the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users and the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act. Its service area overlaps municipal boundaries of Bismarck, North Dakota, Mandan, North Dakota, and adjacent townships and counties such as Lincoln, North Dakota (Burleigh County) and Stanton, North Dakota. The organization produces a metropolitan transportation plan (MTP), transportation improvement program (TIP), and public participation plan consistent with federal guidance from the United States Department of Transportation and coordination with the North Dakota Department of Transportation.

Organization and Governance

Governance rests with a policy board composed of elected officials and agency representatives from Bismarck, North Dakota and Mandan, North Dakota, county commissioners from Burleigh County, North Dakota and Morton County, North Dakota, and partner agencies such as the North Dakota Department of Transportation and tribal governments where applicable like the Spirit Lake Tribe. Technical advisory committees include staff from municipal planning departments, Bismarck–Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization member entities, transit providers such as Bis-Man Transit (also called Bis-Man Public Transit), and utility or public works departments. The MPO adheres to federal civil rights laws including provisions under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and environmental statutes linked to the National Environmental Policy Act when vetting projects.

Planning Responsibilities and Programs

Core responsibilities include developing the long-range metropolitan transportation plan, maintaining the transportation improvement program, conducting air quality conformity analyses when required by the Clean Air Act, and administering the public involvement process. Programs often integrate multimodal planning covering roadways linked to the Interstate 94, U.S. Route 83 (North Dakota), freight planning relevant to the Bismarck Railroad Bridge corridors, bicycle and pedestrian networks tying into Missouri River crossings, and transit planning for providers such as Bis-Man Transit. The MPO also coordinates with regional freight stakeholders including the Bismarck Municipal Airport (airport), railroads like BNSF Railway, and economic development entities such as the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce.

Funding and Budget

Funding streams derive from federal formula programs administered by the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, state matching funds from the North Dakota Legislative Assembly and the North Dakota Department of Transportation, and local contributions from member jurisdictions like the City of Bismarck and the City of Mandan. Grants may include competitive funds from programs authorized under statutes such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and discretionary grants administered by the United States Department of Transportation. The MPO budget typically allocates staff for planning, modeling, public outreach, and project coordination with capital programming aligned to the TIP and MTP timelines.

Regional Projects and Initiatives

Major initiatives coordinated through the MPO include corridor studies for arterial routes connecting Bismarck and Mandan, interchange improvements on Interstate 94, multimodal trail expansions along the Missouri River, and intersection upgrades on U.S. Route 83 (North Dakota). The MPO has participated in resilience and freight studies related to the Missouri River Floods impacts and works with regional partners such as the Capital Area Transit entities, Bismarck Parks and Recreation District, and metropolitan utilities. Projects often intersect with state capital improvement plans from the North Dakota Department of Transportation and regional economic strategies advanced by the Bismarck-Mandan Development Association.

Intergovernmental and Public Engagement

The MPO convenes policy and technical committees composed of representatives from municipal governments including Bismarck, North Dakota and Mandan, North Dakota, county bodies like Burleigh County, North Dakota and Morton County, North Dakota, state agencies such as the North Dakota Department of Transportation, and federal partners including the Federal Highway Administration. Public engagement employs outreach consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Title VI requirements; the MPO engages stakeholders through public meetings at venues like Bismarck Civic Center and online platforms, collaborates with tribal governments, and solicits input from business groups including the Greater Bismarck Chamber.

Performance, Data, and Transportation Studies

The MPO maintains performance measures tied to national goals under federal statutes like Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, tracking metrics such as pavement condition, bridge health, congestion, and safety outcomes referenced to Highway Safety Improvement Program targets. It uses travel demand models, GIS tools, and data from sources including the Federal Highway Administration and North Dakota Department of Transportation to support air quality analyses, freight assessments, and corridor planning. Studies have addressed safety at high-crash locations, transit service planning for Bis-Man Transit, and multimodal access to major employers and institutions such as the North Dakota State Hospital and North Dakota Legislature facilities.

Category:Metropolitan planning organizations in the United States Category:Government of North Dakota