Vinny Gallegos, executive director of the Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization, told the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors on June 4 that the MPO has expanded its planning boundary to cover the greater Yavapai region and is asking local elected officials to act as project champions to help secure large funding awards.

The update explained why the MPO’s new Move 2050 long-range transportation plan matters to the county: it guides project selection, multimodal priorities and grant applications for the next 20–25 years.

“The thing that we’re gonna focus on today is how we work together as a region, and we exercise that leadership to plan our transportation system,” Gallegos said. “If you include Western Yavapai, we have a population of around a 175,000 folks.”

The MPO said its Executive Board voted to expand the boundary from roughly 400 square miles to about 6,000 square miles; that expansion increased the MPO service-area population by roughly 25,000 people. The move folds more of Yavapai County into MPO planning and is intended to streamline regional funding and project prioritization.

Why it matters: Simpo (the MPO) said it has helped deliver about $77 million in regional projects over the past decade by using planning documents to leverage state and federal funding. As one example, a $900,000 safety plan led to about $9.1 million in projects, the organization said.

Key projects and findings presented
- Highway 69: The MPO led an 18-mile study of State Route 69 and presented a recommended corridor investment package with a planning-level cost of about $147 million. Gallegos said fixing Highway 69 is a high regional priority and stressed that local champions will be needed to pursue state and federal funding.
- Iron Springs Road: Cited as a county project with roughly $7 million in improvements; the county’s local share is approximately 5 percent of that total, the MPO said.
- Move 2050: Planning manager Brynn Stottler described Move 2050 as the MPO’s new long-range transportation plan, integrating the expanded boundary and multimodal priorities. “Move 2050 is our new RTP,” she told the board, and the MPO invited public comment on a draft plan posted on simpo.org.
- Yaviline microtransit: The MPO reported Yaviline has provided nearly 60,000 rides since September 2022 and said demand outstripped supply by about 20,000 requested rides. The MPO plans to assume ownership of the system on July 1 and to update transit implementation plans.
- Trails and conservation work: The MPO has run a yearlong series of conservation and regional trails planning meetings to align trail planning, open-space stewardship and IIJA-funded project opportunities.

Board reaction and next steps
Supervisors praised the MPO’s record of regional cooperation and urged continued emphasis on Highway 69 and other large projects. Gallegos asked county supervisors to serve as local champions at state transportation board meetings and in grant-seeking efforts.

The MPO said it will continue outreach on Move 2050, finalize the Highway 69 study recommendations and pursue federal, state and local funds for priority projects. The MPO asked supervisors to circulate the draft Move 2050 materials to constituents and to work with MPO staff to identify political and grant strategies.

Ending: The MPO asked supervisors to consider the projects and funding strategies as part of the county’s capital planning; staff offered to provide follow-up briefings and to work with county departments on grant applications and funding packaging.