Agency Alert

Welcome to the new IDOT home page. Our location has changed, please update any bookmarks.

Local Planning

IDOT recognizes the importance of the state-local partnership in delivering a safe and efficient transportation system. The department strives to promote a dynamic and effective working relationship with all local agencies. In Illinois, the coordination of transportation activities between the state and local officials include the entire transportation planning, programming, and implementation process. While the consultation process in urbanized areas is very structured, state coordination with local agencies in rural and small urban areas follows a process that is more flexible in order to meet the needs of local officials.

MPOs

A Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is a transportation policy-making organization composed of representatives from local governments and transportation implementers. The 1962 Federal-Aid Highway Act required the formation of an MPO for all urbanized areas with a population greater than 50,000. MPO's were established to ensure that existing and future expenditures for transportation projects and programs were based on a comprehensive, cooperative, and continuing (3-C) planning process. Federal funding for transportation projects and programs are channeled through this planning process.

The MPO Cooperative Operations Manual provides guidance on the roles of the State and MPOs in the transportation planning process in urbanized areas.

IDOT has 16 MPO’s in the state and four MPO liaisons to ensure there is effective communication between the Department and the MPOs. Click here for a link to the map displaying the MPO boundaries and the coordinating contact.

Rural & Small Urban

IDOT follows a process that builds on its current efforts to work with local officials in rural areas. Utilizing current outreach methods, the department consults with local officials on the allocation funding, transportation planning, highway and transit program development, project development and other transportation issues.The Consultation with Non-Metropolitan Officials policy document provides an overview of the transportation planning process in rural and small urban areas.