Black Hawk County MPO

INRCOG is designated by the State of Iowa as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Black Hawk County Metropolitan Area consisting of the cities of Cedar Falls, Elk Run Heights, Evansdale, Gilbertville, Hudson, Raymond, and Waterloo. The role of the Black Hawk County MPO is to oversee transportation planning and programming to ensure that existing and future federal expenditures on transportation projects are based on a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive planning process and as a link between the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) and our cities, counties and public transit systems.

The MPO is governed by a Policy Board with a Transportation Technical Committee serving as the advisory body on technical matters and transportation planning. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee provides guidance and strategies to the Policy Board on planning and implementation of projects related to bicycle and pedestrian planning.

INRCOG, on behalf of the Black Hawk County MPO, is responsible for ensuring the following core requirements:

Transportation Planning Work Program (TPWP) documents the transportation-related activities and projects that are proposed to occur over the next one-year period by major activity and task.
FY 2026 MPO Transportation Planning Work Program

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) identifies funding for transportation improvements, including highway, bridge, and transportation alternatives projects, proposed to receive federal aid in the next four fiscal years.
FY 2026-2029 Black Hawk County MPO Transportation Improvement Program

Long Range Transportation Plan reviews current conditions and future needs across relevant modes of transportation, including highway, rail, air, non-motorized, and freight, for the next 20 years with plan updates made every five years.
2050 Black Hawk County MPO Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)

Passenger Transportation Plan promotes joint, coordinated passenger transportation planning programs that further the development of the local and regional public transportation systems; done in cooperation with the Iowa Northland Regional Transportation Authority.

Public Participation Plan details the processes the MPO will follow to involve the public in the transportation planning and decision-making process.
Black Hawk County MPO Public Participation Plan

In addition, INRCOG actively works to improve and expand Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning including trail and bikeway development, pedestrian planning, trail wayfinding projects, on-road improvements and safety improvements. Related projects include:

INRCOG administers the following federal programs that are passed through the Iowa Dept. of Transportation:

• Carbon Reduction Program (CRP): funds projects designed to reduce transportation emissions
• Surface Transportation Block Group (STBG): addresses issues to preserve or improve the condition and performance of several transportation facilities including any federal-aid highway or public road bridge
• Iowa’s Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside funds for the MPO planning area: provides funding to expand travel choices and improve the transportation experience.

We are responsible for travel demand modeling for the Black Hawk County MPO and can provide additional data for corridor studies and other scenarios including future traffic estimates, population and employment projections, and select link analysis.

Visit the Black Hawk County MPO website for detailed information on transportation-related projects and services.

We can help!