About Us
The New Bern Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (NBAMPO) was established in 2013 in response to the 2010 Census designation of the New Bern Urbanized Area. The NBAMPO is the regional transportation planning organization that provides support for multi-modal transportation projects in our area.
A Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is a transportation policy-making organization that is made up of representatives from local government and governmental transportation authorities. The United States Congress passed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1962, which required the formation of an MPO for any urbanized area (UZA) with a population greater than 50,000. Congress created MPOs in order to ensure that existing and future expenditures of governmental funds for multi-modal transportation projects and programs are based on a Continuing, Cooperative, and Comprehensive (“3‑C”) transportation planning process.
When developing a Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), the NBAMPO is required to consider projects and strategies that will:
support the economic vitality of the area,
increase the safety of the transportation system,
increase the security of the transportation system,
increase accessibility and mobility,
protect and enhance the environment, promoting energy conservation, improve quality of life and promote consistency between transportation improvements,
enhance integration and connectivity of multi-modal transportation,
promote efficient system management and operations, and
emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system.
The NBAMPO is comprised of the following member agencies:
Two committees were created to make decisions for our area: the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC). Both groups consist of representatives from each of the above areas, as well as from the local Transit Service, Airport, NCDOT and Federal Highway Association (FHWA).