About MAPO

The Mankato/North Mankato Area Planning Organization (MAPO) is responsible for regional transportation planning within and throughout the Greater Mankato area. This includes pedestrian, bicyclist, transit, automotive, rail, and aviation. MAPO is the federally-designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the region’s urban/rural area. This means MAPO must provide a continuing, coordinated, and comprehensive transportation planning process in order to obtain federal transportation funds.

MAPO must prepare and maintain a long-range (20-year) Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) for the region. MAPO also selects projects for federal funding and prepares a four-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), through the MAPO Policy Board, made up of local elected officials, and the Policy Board’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The TIP includes all federally funded transportation projects in the MAPO area, and development of the TIP includes significant input from citizens and interested groups.

MAPO continually produces a wide range of studies, plans, and recommendations to improve transportation within and throughout the Greater Mankato area. MAPO was established in 2012 in response to the 2010 U.S. Census, which designated the Mankato/North Mankato region as an urbanized area (metropolitan statistical area–MSA), requiring the formation of a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). MAPO is a partnership of the cities of Mankato, North Mankato, Eagle Lake, and Skyline; Blue Earth and Nicollet counties; and the townships of Belgrade, LeRay, Lime, Mankato, and South Bend. MAPO is directed by a six-member Policy Board and advised by a Technical Advisory Committee. The Technical Advisory Committee reviews and formulates recommendations to the Policy Board regarding plans for the Unified Planning Work Program, Long Range Transportation Plan, Transportation Improvement Program as well as other plans and studies MAPO prepares.

MAPO is located at 10 Civic Center Plaza in Mankato, Minnesota. It is staffed by Executive Director Paul Vogel and Transportation Planner Chris Talamantez.

TITLE VI and CIVIL RIGHTS STATEMENT

The Mankato/North Mankato Area Planning Organization operates its programs without regard to race, color, or national origin. If you believe you have been aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice, or wish to request more information about Mankato/North Mankato Area Planning Organization’s obligations under Title VI, please contact us at the following address and telephone number:

Paul Vogel
Executive Director
10 Civic Center Plaza
Mankato, MN 56002-3368
Phone: 507-387-8613

A copy of MAPO’s Title VI Plan is available for review here. A Title VI complaint may also be made by contacting the Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of Civil Rights at 651-366-3071 or submitting the online complaint form here: www.dot.state.mn.us/civilrights/titlevi-complaint-form.html.

MAPO activities are partially funded by the State of Minnesota and the United States federal government.