North Florida TPO

The North Florida TPO is the independent regional transportation planning agency for Duval, Clay , Nassau and St. Johns counties.  Federal Statutes require urbanized areas with 50,000 or more people to have a Metropolitan Planning Organization . The TPO Board is comprised of elected officials and transportation agency representatives.  Under Board direction, the TPO is led by an Executive Director with professional staff in transportation planning, modeling, communications and finance.

Our key responsibilities include developing the following:

1. Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) detailing the TPO's annual budget and planning activities;
2. Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) listing the funding and staging of improvements for roadways, transit, air and seaports, bicyclists, pedestrians and the transportation disadvantaged over a five-year period; and
3. Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) with a 20+ year time horizon based on current needs and forecasted future growth which lists the multi-modal transportation projects that are needed and can be funded in that timeframe.

In addition to developing these plans and programs, the North Florida TPO identifies issues, convenes stakeholders, conducts studies and develops policies in light of local, national and global trends. We also address current needs and challenges that impact our daily lives through programs for commuters, the transportation disadvantaged, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Our History

The First Coast Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) was officially designated in 1978 by Florida Governor Reuben Askew. An Inter-Local Agreement between the City of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), the Jacksonville Planning and Development Department, Clay County, St. Johns County and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) first established the North Florida TPO. In 2003 the First Coast MPO voted to become an independent regional agency, making it the third in Florida. This decision was made concurrent with expanding the service area boundary to incorporate the newly designated St. Augustine Urbanized Area and portions of Clay County as a result of the 2000 Census. In 2004 the boundary was expanded to include portions of Nassau County. Subsequently, the Board has added ex-officio members representing Baker, Putnam and Flagler counties, as well as the U.S. Navy.

In 2008 we changed our name to the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) to more specifically reflect our mission and service area.