Cumberland Area Metropolitan Planning Organization

What is the Cumberland Area Metropolitan Planning Organization?
CAMPO is a transportation policy-making organization made up of representatives from local government and transportation agencies - the City of Cumberland, the City of Frostburg, Allegany County, MD and Mineral County, WV. Our mission is to establish a comprehensive, coordinated, continuing (“3C”) transportation planning process for all of the Cumberland Area. We rely on the member agencies and consultants for support, research, and data collection.

Map Of Cumberland Area Metropolitan Organization

Why are there Metropolitan Planning Organizations?
The purpose of an MPO is to provide comprehensive, coordinated and continuous (“3C”) transportation planning for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods consistent with the region's overall economic, social and environmental goals. Special emphasis is placed on providing equal access to a variety of transportation choices and effective public involvement in the transportation planning process.

What does the MPO do?
In general, the MPO is responsible for the transportation planning process for the region. This is accomplished primarily through three related activities:

the Unified Planning Work Program;
the Transportation Improvement Program; and
the Cumberland Area Transportation Plan.

How is the MPO funded?
The MPO receives its funding through money set aside in Federal transportation legislation.

Why is the MPO important to me?
 Transportation planning is important to everyone. How well you get to work, school, the shopping mall, or the hospital affects your safety and your quality of life. The MPO provides an independent yet cooperative forum for regional planning and the allocation of millions of dollars in federal transportation funding annually. The MPO also helps citizens get their voice heard by their state and federal legislators on transportation-related issues. Most importantly, good public involvement makes sure that tax dollars are used in a way that meets the greatest needs and desires of the people.

What is transportation planning and why does it exist?
The transportation planning process exists to provide decision makers with the information they need to make the tough decisions about which projects to fund with limited money. This process involves the creation of regional vision and goals, figuring out what impact each transportation project will have on the region, and identifying what the community’s priorities are.

To do this, transportation planners look at seven factors that relate directly to quality of life:

Support economic vitality
Increase safety and security
Increase accessibility and mobility options
Protect the environment and improve quality of life
Enhance system integration and connectivity
Promote efficient system management and operation
Emphasize system preservation

Why is public involvement important in transportation planning?
Government cannot do it all. Without your input – your ideas – local decision makers cannot have a true understanding of the community’s needs. You may know information that is more current or detailed. You may also see things differently than transportation officials.

Through public involvement, you can have a say in how transportation dollars are spent. You can let transportation planners and decision makers know what your vision for the region is – how we should grow and change. You can let others know about important issues related to transportation – like access for people with disabilities.