Metropolitan Planning Organization
Region 1 Planning Council (R1) is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Rockford Region.
The MPO is responsible for planning and coordinating decisions regarding the Rockford Metropolitan Planning Area’s (MPA) surface transportation system. It is the responsibility of the MPO to conduct a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (3-C) transportation planning process and fulfill the following five core functions:
Establish a fair and impartial setting for effective regional transportation decision making in the metropolitan area;
Evaluate transportation alternatives, scaled to the size and complexity of the region;
Maintain a long-range transportation plan covering a 20-year planning horizon;
Develop a four-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and prioritize projects; and
Involve the public.
Structure
The MPO is empowered and governed by an interagency agreement known as the MPO Cooperative Agreement that was developed and mutually adopted by the Cities of Rockford, Loves Park, and Belvidere; the Counties of Winnebago and Boone; the Village of Machesney Park; Rockford Mass Transit District; and the State of Illinois acting through the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).
The activities of the MPO are directed by a Policy Committee that consists of the top elected officials from the above entities plus the IDOT Region 2 Engineer and the Chairman of the Rockford Mass Transit District Board. The Policy Committee receives technical recommendations and assistance from a 20-member Technical Committee comprised of planners and/or engineers from the above entities plus various other local partners, such as the Chicago Rockford International Airport and the Rock River Water Reclamation District.
Much of the technical work accomplished is conducted by Region 1 Planning Council staff. Some of the technical work is occasionally out-sourced to professional consulting firms.
Committees
Alternative Transportation Selection Committee
Unified Work Program
The Unified Work Program (UWP) identifies all of the planning activities to be conducted by the MPO during fiscal year 2024 (July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024). These activities are funded with federal, state, and local resources. The UWP is a federally-required statement of work identifying the planning priorities and activities to be carried out within a metropolitan area. It is required to provide descriptions of the planning work and resulting products, who will perform the work, time frames for completing the work, and the cost of said activities.