The MPO is governed by several documents. A brief overview of each document is contained in the following paragraphs. More information may be accessed on each document by clicking on the appropriate selection in the sidebar at the left of this page.

Metropolitan Transportation Plan

The Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) is a guide for the development of the area's transportation system over the next 20+ years. The MTP is required by federal regulations to be updated once every five years in order for the Bismarck-Mandan area to be eligible for federal transportation dollars for transportation improvements. The MTP addresses transportation system needs and provides a set of methods, strategies, and actions for developing an integrated multi-modal system that supports the efficient movement of people and goods, including pedestrians, bicyclists, automobile drivers, transit users, and freight shippers.

Public Participation Plan

The Bismarck-Mandan MPO desires the participation and involvement of a broad range of interest groups, organizations, governments, and citizens to result in more creative and effective decision-making. The Public Participation Plan identifies the role of the MPO with regard to public participation, and provides guidelines to be followed in achieving public
involvement through advertising, public meetings and hearings, and other relevant forums.

Title VI and Non-Discrimination / ADA Plan

The Title VI and Non-Discrimination / ADA Plan is a document which is required by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. Its purpose is to ensure fair treatment to all people within the MPO area, specifically in regards to race, color, sex, age, national origin, disability/handicap, and income status. Any entity receiving federal transportation funds must be compliant with the federal regulations for Title VI.

Transportation Improvement Program

The annually developed Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), produced by the Bismarck-Mandan MPO, identifies federally funded transportation improvements in the area over a four year time frame. Federal regulations require each MPO to develop a TIP for projects using Federal transportation funding sources. The TIP is developed on an annual basis in cooperation with the MPO area member jurisdictions, transit provider, and the North Dakota Department of Transportation.

Unified Planning Work Program

The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) is a description of the multi-modal transportation planning projects to be conducted in the Bismarck/Mandan MPO area in any specified two-year period. This bienniel document is the foundation for requesting federal funds as well as a control tool for scheduling, budgeting and monitoring the transportation planning process.

Monitoring Report

The purpose of the Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization Monitoring Report is to provide a comprehensive understanding of existing conditions and recent trends influencing transportation within the region. The geographic scope of this document generally includes the five member jurisdictions of the Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), including Bismarck, Lincoln, Mandan, and Burleigh and Morton Counties.

Regional ITS Architecture

The Bismarck-Mandan Regional Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Architecture was originally prepared in March 2005 under the leadership of the Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization. ITS, very simply, is computer technology applied to the transportation system to make it a more efficient, safer system for the users. The goal of the Bismarck-Mandan regional architecture (RA) is to guide the implementation of ITS within the Bismarck-Mandan region, as well as to coordinate the funding, deployment, information sharing, and operations of ITS systems. The RA is a living document requiring regular maintenance to reflect the most up-to-date ITS picture in the region. An update cycle of every 2-3 years has been identified for this effort.