MPO Public Participation Plan

The Greater Helena Area MPO (GHAMPO) invites the public to share their comments on the draft Public Participation Plan (PPP).

The purpose of this Public Participation Plan (PPP) is to outline the strategies and procedures GHAMPO will use to ensure that all stakeholders, including the public, partner agencies, service providers, and underserved communities, have meaningful opportunities to participate in the transportation planning process. This plan promotes effective engagement and transparency throughout all planning activities by encouraging broad public involvement and integrating diverse perspectives into decision-making. It also ensures that GHAMPO meets all applicable federal and state public participation requirements (23 CFR § 450.316). While this PPP governs public involvement during the MPO’s transportation planning processes, GHAMPO defers to the public involvement procedures of the lead agency responsible for project development and construction phases to ensure compliance with applicable requirements during those stages.

The PPP provides a framework to:

• Encourage inclusive public involvement across a wide range of participants.
• Promote transparency and responsiveness in transportation decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with relevant federal and state regulations.

Public comment received will be considered when presenting to the Greater Helena Area MPO's two committees. The Greater Helena Area Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) and Transportation Policy Coordination Committee (TPCC) approve the final PPP locally and then forward it to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for final approval.

Click Here to View the Draft Public Participation Plan

Public comment will be accepted through Sept. 18, 2025 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.