Midland MPO - Essential Responsibilities

Planning & Programming

MATS carries out comprehensive transportation planning that considers all travel modes—including roads, bridges, public transit, non-motorized transportation, aviation, and freight movement. This planning is guided by the annual Unified Work Program (UWP) and supported by a series of technical reports and studies that are regularly updated to reflect current conditions and needs. Both short- and long-range planning efforts work together to advance the region’s transportation vision and goals.

The MATS Policy and Technical Committees, composed of representatives appointed by local jurisdictions, guide the development of regional transportation policies and programs. These committees ensure that planning and programming activities are conducted in a comprehensive, cooperative, and continuing manner—commonly referred to as the “3C” process. Their participation, along with collaboration among stakeholders and the public, ensures that local perspectives are represented in every stage of planning.

Through this process, MATS ensures that investments in transportation projects and programs reflect regional priorities and available funding. This involves analyzing current transportation conditions, gathering community input, evaluating potential improvement strategies, and developing fiscally constrained plans and programs such as the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP).