The Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency (TPA) serves as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Palm Beach County, Florida. The TPA is a federally-mandated public agency that works with partners across Palm Beach County, Florida and the United States to plan, prioritize and fund the transportation system.
The TPA’s mission is to plan, prioritize and fund the transportation system with a vision of a safe, efficient and connected multimodal transportation system for users of all ages and abilities.
The Palm Beach TPA consists of a 21-member Governing Board, which prioritizes more than $3.6 billion of federal and state transportation dollars to implement projects that advance our regional vision for the nearly 1.5 million Palm Beach County residents. The Governing Board is supported by staff, has a five-member Executive Committee and three advisory committees:
- Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
- Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)
- Vision Zero Advisory Committee (VZAC)
What does the Palm Beach TPA do?
The TPA maintains a long range forecast on transportation, while also keeping an eye on today’s needs in transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, roadways, railways and more. Hundreds of millions of dollars are prioritized each year to keep these projects moving. Learn more about the TPA’s Mission and Vision and how we collaboratively plan, prioritize and fund the transportation system.
How is the TPA Funded?
The TPA is funded through federal, state and local sources. Check out the graphic below to see how the funding shapes projects each year.
How Long Does a Project Take from Start to Finish?
Some transportation projects can be completed quickly, while others may take many years to complete, from planning to construction. The TPA is involved with projects from the very beginning, seeing them through all the way to completion. We work with many partners from FDOT, Palm Beach County, our local municipalities, transit agencies, the public and more in order to create the best transportation system for users of all ages and abilities. Click to see the Life Cycle of a Project.
Federal and State Regulations
Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) are federally mandated and federally funded transportation policy-making organizations in the United States made up of representatives from local government and governmental transportation authorities. The United States Congress passed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1962, which required the formation of an MPO for any urbanized area (UZA) with a population greater than 50,000. Federal funding for transportation projects and programs are channeled through this planning process.
Statewide and metropolitan transportation planning processes are governed by federal law (23 U.S.C. §§ 134–135). MPOs were mandated by the Federal Highway Act of 1973 to provide a cooperative, comprehensive and continuing transportation planning and decision-making process. The process encompasses all travel modes and covers both short-range and long-term transportation planning.
The Florida Statutes also have language addressing Metropolitan Planning Organizations. Florida Statute 339.175 includes the size and membership makeup of MPO Boards and requirements that address the process for the development of transportation plans between the State of Florida – through the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) – and Florida MPOs.
Federal and State Agency Resources:
The Palm Beach TPA is established via Interlocal Agreement dated October 9, 2015.
