The MPO Policy Committee is designated by the governor of Illinois and northeastern Illinois local officials as the region's metropolitan planning organization (MPO). It is the decision-making body for all regional transportation plans and programs for this area. The MPO Policy Committee plans, develops and maintains an affordable, safe and efficient transportation system for the region, providing the forum through which local decision makers develop regional plans and programs.

The CMAP Board and MPO Policy Committee have jointly adopted a memorandum of understanding that is the framework for integrating land use and transportation through CMAP's regional comprehensive planning process. It was most recently revised and reaffirmed on June 19, 2019. The agreement covers the working relationship between the two boards, whose responsibilities are defined in the Regional Planning Act and federal legislation. By adopting this agreement, the MPO Policy Committee and CMAP Board affirmed their commitment to coordinate and integrate the region's planning for land use and transportation in an open and collaborative process.

The MPO Policy Committee meetings are held on the second Thursday of January, March, and June at 9:30 a.m., and jointly with the CMAP Board on the second Wednesday in October.

See CMAP's meeting website more information about MPO Policy Committee meetings, which are open to the public.

* Chair
** Vice-chair
***Non-voting members

The metropolitan planning area (MPA) is the region in which the federally-regulated metropolitan transportation planning process must be carried out. The MPA encompasses the Census-defined urbanized area and the contiguous geographic area(s) likely to become urbanized within the next 20 years. Portions of the Chicago, IL-IN urbanized area extend into northwest Indiana. By agreement, the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission assumes responsibility for these areas. By a similar agreement, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission assumes responsibility for the portion of the Round Lake Beach-McHenry-Grayslake, IL-WI urbanized area that extends into Wisconsin.

The 2010 Census included portions of DeKalb County in northeastern Illinois' urbanized area. In June, 2013 the CMAP Board and MPO Policy Committee approved expanding the MPA to include Sandwich and Somonauk townships in DeKalb County. The governor approved the expanded MPA in September, 2014.

In addition to planning for the urbanized area, the MPO Policy Committee is responsible for transportation planning in the air quality nonattainment area. The nonattainment area includes Goose Lake Township in Grundy County, which is outside the MPA. An agreement between Goose Lake Township and CMAP establishes that CMAP is responsible for federally-regulated transportation planning in this township.

• MPO Policy Committee by-laws
• 2022 U.S. DOT Chicago, Illinois TMA Certification Review
• Non-Attainment Boundary (2008 8-hour ozone)
• Non-Attainment Boundary (2015 8-hour ozone)

• 1981 MPO Designation Letter
• CMAP/IDOTIntergovernmental Agreement concerning Federal Performance Measures - 2018
• CMAP/IDOT/RTA and Service Boards Agreement - 2018
• CMAP/NIRPC/IDOT/INDOT Cooperative Agreement - 2016
• CMAP/SEWRPC/IDOT/WisDOT Cooperative Agreement - 2018
• Transportation/Air Quality Planning Agreement for Goose Lake Township
• CMAP/IEPA Agreement for Coordination of Air Quality Related Transportation Planning
• Certification of the Planning Process
• 5307/5340 Designated and Direct Recipients
• 5310 Designated Recipients
• IL/IN Urbanized Area split of 5307/5340
• IL/WI Urbanized Area split of 5307/5340
• MPA Boundary Endorsement
• MPA Boundary Governor Approval
• MPA Boundary

If you have any questions, contact Aimee Lee (alee@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8688).