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Kingsport MTPO approves updated metropolitan planning area boundary after census-driven changes
Summary
The Kingsport MTPO executive board approved updates to the Virginia Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA) boundary that reflect the decennial census urban-area delineation and coordination with neighboring MPOs and TDOT.
The Kingsport Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization executive board approved an updated Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA) boundary for the Virginia portion of the MPO after staff summarized changes driven by the decennial census and coordination with neighboring jurisdictions.
Leslie (MPO staff) explained that the U.S. Census Bureau’s new urban-area criteria changed the urban footprint and that federal regulations permit states and local officials to adjust urban-area boundaries for transportation planning purposes. She said the board previously approved an adjusted urban area in February 2024 and that the next step was to update the MPO planning area to ensure it “at a minimum, has to encompass the entire urban area and then the contiguous geographic area likely to become urbanized within the 20-year forecast period.”
Staff showed a map distinguishing the new urban area (green) from the prior planning area (gray) and noted several local changes: Gate City and Weber City were left in the planning area at VDOT’s request to preserve eligibility for certain funds; portions of Greene County were removed because the urban area shrank there; and some corridor functionally classified roads near jurisdictional borders were reassigned so that routes are not split down the center line between MPOs. Leslie also said joint coordination took place with Bristol and Johnson City MPOs and with TDOT to avoid splitting functionally classified roads and to update written agreements where needed.
A board member moved to approve the boundary change, another member seconded, and the board approved the updated MPA boundary by voice vote with no recorded opposition. During discussion members praised staff for extensive work over two years and noted the dramatic population change in the Virginia MPO area reflected in the census — Leslie characterized it as “a 97% reduction in the population of the Virginia MPO” based on census data.
The approved boundary will be used for long-range planning and federal metropolitan planning process requirements; staff said they will update written agreements with neighboring MPOs as needed.
