The Transportation Planning staff serves as the staff for the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).  The Metropolitan Development Commission is the designated MPO for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area.  The MPO has the responsibility, together with the state and Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation, for the continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive transportation planning process required of urbanized areas to qualify for federal transportation funds.

The staff provides short- and long-range planning for transportation-related issues, including air emission analysis, technical assistance, and federal funds programming for streets, highways, mass transit and alternative transportation.

Past projects include the ozone education and awareness program, ongoing work with the Transportation Monitoring System, preparation of the Thoroughfare Plan, preparation of traffic impact studies, preparation of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Plan, coordination of specialized transportation services, preparation of grant applications for Transportation Enhancement funds, funding issues related to the I-70/Six Points Road Interchange, preparation of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) update, continuing annual development of the Indianapolis Regional Transportation Improvement Plan (IRTIP), rapid transit study, and other projects.