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The Bristol MPO is setting out to develop the 2050 update to the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). This site will give you access to the important information you need to know to stay in-the-loop as the plan unfolds. Here, you'll learn what an LRTP is, how it affects your future, and how you can be involved in the process. Check back regularly for status updates, upcoming engagement opportunity dates, and launches of digital engagement activities—where you can provide input from the comfort of your own home! Keep scrolling to learn more.

And, to kick off our engagement series, head to the Online Survey tab to tell us your thoughts about the region's transportation priorities!

A Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is a federally mandated regional agency charged with carrying out a region's transportation planning processes. MPOs are required in all urbanized areas with populations over 50,000.

A long range transportation plan (LRTP) is a federally-mandated transportation planning process that identifies current and anticipated transportation needs in the region for the next 20+ years. It considers all modes of transportation, including motorized vehicles, public transportation, bicycles, walking, and freight and goods movement. The plan determines the Bristol region's transportation system needs and matches them with projects to be prioritized for funding. This process results in a comprehensive and realistic blueprint for effective transportation decision-making and investment choices.

The Bristol Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) straddles the Tennessee/Virginia border and is comprised of five jurisdictions: the City of Bristol, TN, the City of Bristol, VA, Abingdon, VA, parts of Sullivan County, TN, and parts of Washington County, VA. The Bristol MPO is part of the larger Tri-Cities region which also includes Kingsport, TN and Johnson City, TN. It is shown in the following map. For an even closer link, head to the About Us section of the MPO supplement.

Good question! The MPO recently developed the Multimodal Transportation Plan (MTP) to act as a precursor to the LRTP. The outcomes of the MTP will inspire the "inputs" of the LRTP and we will intentionally blend the two processes so they are in lockstep with each other. The LRTP will take the recommendations of the MTP one step further through a process called "fiscal constraint," where projects are prioritized and matched with real funding streams.

We're very glad you're here! Your input is vital to ensuring we create a community driven plan that takes into account the public's goals alongside the technical data. We will have a variety of engagement opportunities throughout our process, including:

  • Digital engagement activities here on this site, such as an online survey
  • In-person engagement events like open houses and pop-up events

Share your contact information with us to stay informed about upcoming events and check the website often.

To learn more, click here to visit the MPO's website.

Online Survey

The Bristol MPO Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) sets the vision and priorities for how our region’s transportation system will evolve over the next 20+ years. Because resources are limited, the LRTP is fiscally constrained. This means the list of project recommendations has to be narrowed down to only those we can reasonably afford. This requires balancing trade-offs among important goals like safety, mobility, economic growth, state of good repair, and sustainability. Your input helps us understand which goals and outcomes matter most to you, so we can make informed decisions about where to focus resources.