It shall be the purpose of the St. Joseph Area Transportation Study, in cooperation with the States of Missouri and Kansas, to develop transportation plans and programs for the St. Joseph, Missouri Urbanized Area (UZA), in order to:

• ...encourage and promote the development of a transportation system embracing various modes of transportation in a manner which will efficiently maximize mobility of people and goods within and through the urbanized area, and minimize transportation-related fuel consumption and air pollution.
• Such plans and programs shall provide for the development of transportation facilities (including pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities) which will function as an intermodal transportation system for the St. Joseph Metropolitan Area, and the Nation.
• The process for developing such plans and programs shall provide for consideration of all modes of transportation and shall be continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive to the degree appropriate, based on the complexity of the transportation problems.

Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO’s) are agencies which administer the federal required transportation planning process in urbanized areas greater than 50,000 population. The plans and programs shall provide for the development of an integrated, intermodal transportation system that facilitates the efficient movement of people and goods, considers all modes of transportation, and supports community development and social goals. One of the major “tools” for developing this intermodal transportation system is through the Long Range Transportation Plan. For the St. Joseph area, the MPO is called the St. Joseph Area Transportation Study Organization (SJATS). Its member governments include in Missouri: Counties of Buchanan & Andrew, Cities of St. Joseph & Savannah, and the Village of Country Club; in Kansas: County of Doniphan, Cities of Wathena & Elwood.

Any project funded by federal U.S. Department of Transportation, within the boundaries of the MPO, must be consistent with the overall intent of the Long Range Transportation Plan and programmed in the Transportation Improvement Program.

MPO By-Laws

Access/Corridor Studies