MPO FY26 Unified Work Planning Program

The Greater Helena Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is currently in the process of developing its second Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). This program outlines the planned work elements, associated costs, and staff time commitments that the MPO will allocate using Federal Planning Funds (PL Funds) for Federal Fiscal Year 2026, which runs from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.

Throughout this process, any public comments received will be taken into account when the UPWP is presented to the two committees of the Greater Helena Area MPO: the Greater Helena Area Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) and the Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee (TPCC). These committees are responsible for approving the final UPWP before it is sent to the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for their final endorsement. The focus of the Greater Helena Area MPO’s second UPWP is primarily on administrative and planning activities, rather than on specific project development.

Click here to view the draft Unified Planning Work Program document.

Public comment will be accepted regarding the draft plan by using the comment form below, or emailing tweingartner@helenamt.gov.

Background:

The Helena area was designated as a metropolitan area following the 2020 Census, when its population surpassed 50,000 triggering a federal requirement to establish a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). In response, a coalition of regional partners, including the City of Helena, City of East Helena, Lewis and Clark County, and the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), formed the Greater Helena Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (GHAMPO).

An MPO is a federally required planning entity (49 U.S.C. 5303(d)) composed of local governments working collaboratively to coordinate transportation planning for a metropolitan region. While MPO status does not directly provide additional transportation funding, it can provide more direct access to federal funds and enhances regional coordination across jurisdictions and modes.

GHAMPO leads transportation planning efforts within the Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA). It connects local governments, transportation agencies, and the public to plan and prioritize projects that improve multimodal mobility, support economic vitality, increase safety and security of the transportation system, improve access, enhance quality of life, strengthen connectivity, increase system resiliency and reliability, promote efficiency, enhance travel and tourism, and preserve existing infrastructure.