Mat-Su’s new Metropolitan Planning Organization official on Dec. 19; borough, cities, tribes are members

A new Metropolitan Planning Organization, or MPO, for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough region was officially created Dec. 19. Officials from the state of Alaska, the borough, the cities of Palmer and Wasilla and the Knik and Chickaloon tribes participated in a signing ceremony.

Mat-Su’s organizing of its MPO follows the formation of similar planning entities for Anchorage and Fairbanks. One in operation, state and federal agencies will defer to local priorities transportation priorities set out in the regional plans developed by the MPO.

Now called MatSu Valley Planning for Transportation (MVP), the new organization, organized as a nonprofit, will guide planning for federal infrastructure investments in the core urbanized areas of the borough.

“This significant event marks the region's commitment to long-range transportation planning. Transportation infrastructure and economic vitality go hand in hand, and any framework that brings that marriage about is one worth putting effort into,” Mat-Su mayor Edna Devries said.

During early discussions on the MPO there were concerns voiced over the apparent creation of a separate layer of planning for public projects that might usurp the authority of municipalities.

Local officials became more confident as the process was explained by state officials and local members of the Fairbanks MPO, which was formed most recently. Locally-elected officials were also named to the MPO policy board, which also ensured local control.

With a focus on transportation planning, and community engagement, MVP for Transportation aims to enhance the quality of life for residents, promote economic vitality, and ensure the efficient movement of people and goods throughout the region through collaboratively planning for transportation infrastructure.

"We are thrilled to embark on this journey of shared vision and cooperation with the establishment of MVP for Transportation,” said Kim Sollien, the borough’s Planning Services.

"The creation of our non-profit MPO reflects our collective dedication to working together as regional governments to meet the evolving transportation needs of our diverse communities and to make the very best decisions on how and where to spend federal funding."

The MPO signing ceremony was to take place following the Pre-Policy Board meeting at the Mat-Su School District Administrative Offices Board Room.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy was invited to the signing along with community leaders and the MVP for Transportation Policy Board.

Policy Board members represent the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, City of Wasilla, City of Palmer, Knik Tribe, and Chickaloon Native Village.

An area of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough was designated as an “urbanized area” on Dec. 29, 2022, when the 2020 Census Qualifying Urban Areas were published in the Federal Register. The Federal Highway Act of 1962 requires that all Urbanized Areas over 50,000 in population must form an MPO to receive federal transportation funding.

An MPO is created to conduct the transportation planning process within a metropolitan area. The MPO is the Policy Board, designated by the governor, that carries out a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive multimodal transportation planning process, including the development of long- and short-range plans such as the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

Time was allocated at the signing ceremony for remarks from each of the government entities including the governor or his representative, the mayors of the three local governments, and tribal officials to share their remarks about the formation of MVP for Transportation and the benefits the MPO will bring to the community related to transportation infrastructure.