Schedule - Census Urbanized Areas and MPO/TMA Designation - Census Issues - Planning (2024)

DateActivityFebruary 19, 2021The United States Census Bureau published a Federal Register notice with the proposed criteria for defining urban areas based on the results of the 2020 Decennial Census (86 FR 10237). March 24, 2022The Census Bureau published a Federal Register notice with the final criteria for defining urban areas based on the results of the 2020 Decennial Census (87 FR 16706).December 29, 2022The Census Bureau published a Federal Register notice announcing the qualifying urban areas based on the results of the 2020 Decennial Census (87 FR 80114).January 6, 2023The Census Bureau published TIGER/Line geographic shapefiles for the 2020 urban areas on their website.January 18, 2023FHWA published geographic shapefiles for the 2020 urban areas on HEPGIS with population and housing unit data.June 5, 2023USDOT (FHWA and FTA) published a Federal Register notice designating Transportation Management Areas (TMAs) for urban areas with populations more than 200,000, as determined by the Census Bureau and the results of the 2020 Decennial Census (88 FR 36637).Before October 1, 2023
(Before the first full Federal fiscal year after the Census Bureau published the urban areas based on the results of the 2020 Decennial Census)States should revisit their intra-State distribution formulas for metropolitan planning (PL) funds allocations to MPOs to ensure that the new Census 2020 population figures are being used and that any new MPOs are part of the calculation.Before the next regularly scheduled metropolitan transportation plan update, after October 1, 2023, or within 4 years of the designation of the new urban area boundary (i.e., December 29, 2026), whichever occurs firstExisting MPOs should expand their Metropolitan Planning Areas (MPAs) to include all territory in urban areas with populations more than 50,000, as determined by the Census Bureau and the results of the 2020 Decennial Census (if necessary).December 29, 2023
(1 year after the Census Bureau published the urban areas based on the results of the 2020 Decennial Census)New MPOs should be designated by Governor(s) to represent all new urban areas with populations more than 50,000, as determined by the Census Bureau and the results of the 2020 Decennial Census.

Urban areas that are located within the MPA of an existing MPO do not require designation of a new MPO.

December 29, 2023
(1 year after the Census Bureau published the urban areas based on the results of the 2020 Decennial Census) Adjustments to urban area boundaries should be approved by the State transportation agency and FHWA Division Office.

The April 15th and June 15th Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data submissions should reflect all urban area boundary adjustments approved during the previous calendar year.

For example, if an urban area boundary adjustment was approved in calendar year 2023 (i.e., January 1 – December 31, 2023), the HPMS data submissions on April 15, 2024, and June 15, 2024, should conform to the approved urban area boundary.

Likewise, if an urban area boundary adjustment was approved in calendar year 2024 (i.e., January 1 – December 31, 2024), the HPMS data submissions on April 15, 2025, and June 15, 2025, should conform to the approved urban area boundary.

FHWA will consider all urban area boundaries final as of April 15, 2025, and will use the original 2020 Census boundaries for all urban areas that have not been adjusted.

*UPDATE* Due to unforeseen issues with the HPMS software, the FHWA Office of Highway Policy Information has requested that States withhold urban area boundary adjustments from calendar years 2023 and 2024 from their HPMS data submissions until the April 15, 2025, and June 15, 2025 reporting dates.

December 5, 2024 (Within 18 months of TMA designation)New TMAs must have a Congestion Management Process (CMP), per 23 CFR 450.340(g).December 29, 2025
(3 years after the Census Bureau published the urban areas based on the results of the 2020 Decennial Census)Changes to highway functional classification associated with the Census-defined urban area boundaries (or the FHWA-approved urban area boundaries if adjustments are made) should be approved by the State transportation agency and FHWA Division Office

The April 15th and June 15th HPMS data submissions should reflect all highway functional classification changes approved during the previous calendar year.

For example, if a highway functional classification change was approved in calendar year 2025 (i.e., January 1 – December 31, 2025), the HPMS data submissions on April 15, 2026, and June 15, 2026, should reflect the highway functional classification change.

Likewise, if a highway functional classification change was approved in calendar year 2026 (i.e., January 1 – December 31, 2026), the HPMS data submissions on April 15, 2027, and June 15, 2027, should reflect the highway functional classification change.

December 29, 2026
(4 years after the Census Bureau published the urban areas based on the results of the 2020 Decennial Census)New MPOs should have a formally adopted Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).June 5, 2027 (Within 4 years of TMA designation)USDOT (FHWA and FTA) shall complete a Federal planning certification review for each newly designated TMA, per 23 U.S.C. 134(k)(6).