What is the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization?
The Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, commonly called OahuMPO, is responsible for coordinating transportation planning on Oahu.
Federal Law
The Federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1973 (see Code of Federal Regulations Chapter 23 Part 450) required the formation of a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for any urbanized area with a population greater than 50,000.
This mandate was based on the need to ensure that existing and future expenditures for transportation projects and programs were based on a comprehensive, cooperative, and continuing (3-C) planning process. Federal funding for transportation projects and programs are channeled through this planning process.
Title VI and Environmental Justice
OahuMPO complies with the applicable Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964requirements, and regularly monitors its plans and programs for compliance based on the Title VI performance measures documented in the reports below. However, any person who believes that he or she, individually, as a member of any specific class, or in connection with any disadvantaged business enterprise, has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, or sex, protected categories under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other related statutes, please see the complaint procedures here.
State Legislation
OahuMPO was created by the State Legislature in 1975 through the passage of Chapter 279E, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
Although OahuMPO serves as the metropolitan planning organization for the two urbanized areas on Oahu (Honolulu and Kailua-Kaneohe), OahuMPO coordinates transportation planning for the entire island.
Agency Coordination
The responsibilities of OahuMPO and its participating agencies are identified in a Comprehensive Agreement dated October 23, 2008 signed by the Governor, City transit operator (via the Honolulu City Council Chair), and the OahuMPO Policy Committee Chair.
OahuMPO's function is to coordinate the activities of the 3-C transportation planning process on Oahu. The implementation of the projects is done largely by the City and the State planning and transportation departments, which are OahuMPO's participating agencies.
The OahuMPO is comprised of four parts:
