In 1981, the CWCOG was designated the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Longview-Kelso-Rainier Oregon metropolitan planning area (MPA) by the governor of the State of Washington. The CWCOG Board of Directors fulfills the roles of both the CWCOG and the MPO policy board within the same monthly meeting. The duties of an MPO is to review and approve major, regional transportation network improvements implemented by participating local governments, as well as funding for local area agencies through the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG). The CWCOG, as the MPO, reviews recommendations from the Cowlitz Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC) and CWCOG staff on prioritized plans, projects, reports, and long-range planning documents that are submitted to and funded through the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for the metropolitan urbanized area.

The transportation planning staff works closely with local agencies, ports, and private sector representatives and stakeholders in the development of the long-range transportation planning activities for the urbanized area.

CWCOG staff develops the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), assists in the allocation of federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds, and updates the Metropolitan Transportation Plan. Funding for these activities primarily comes from state and federal sources with a match provided by local jurisdictions. A biannual Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) is developed to guide the MPO and Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Planning Organization (SWRTPO) work program.

The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 47.80.020 and 468.86.060 require that the regional transportation planning program be integrated with the metropolitan planning program, and that the Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO) be the same organization as the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). In alignment with the RCW’s, the Southwest Washington RTPO was established in 1994 by interlocal agreement between the CWCOG and four counties: Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Grays Harbor and Pacific. Lewis County was included by amendment in 1996. A revised and updated agreement was approved in June of 2021. The agreement names the CWCOG, in its role as the MPO, the administrative or lead agency of the RTPO.

It is the responsibility of the RTPO to award funding to agencies within the five-county area for the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program, develop the Regional Transportation Plan, develop a Coordinated Public Transportation – Human Services Transportation Plan and maintain the Regional Transportation Improvement program for the region. The RTPO also works with local agencies to ensure their comprehensive plan transportation elements are consistent with the Regional Transportation Plan.

The CWCOG staff facilitates all reporting to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) in collaboration with all regional stakeholders. Staff also directly facilitates the Cowlitz, Wahkiakum and Pacific Technical Advisory Committees while Grays Harbor and Lewis County advisory committees are managed by planning partners reporting to CWCOG.

Each of the five counties have a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) that oversees, prioritizes, and reports to the Regional Transportaiton Planning Orgranization (RTPO) for its region. TACs are comprised of engineers and planners representing local jurisdictions, ports, special purpose districts, tribes, multi-modal stakeholders (i.e. rail, air, trails), and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The TACs provide a level of technical review and guidance for transportation planning and programs being undertaken within each region. The Cowlitz County TAC is accountable to the CWCOG/Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) but reports to the RTPO also.

The Regional Freight Advisory Committee is a group of stakeholders interested in improving freight transportation and economic development within the five-county Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Planning Organization and the Longview-Kelso-Rainier Metropolitan Planning Organization. This committee meets once a year to learn, engage in, and discuss current freight issues impacting the region and Washington State. The committee also provides guidance on regional transportation policies and strategies and provides feedback from the freight perspective on plans being developed. Stakeholders on this committee represent the Federal Highway Administration, Washington State and Oregon Departments of Transportation, cities, counties, port districts, and private business.

If you are not currently receiving information about this committee and would like to, please contact CWCOG to be added to our list of freight stakeholders. Anyone interested in freight transportation and economic development is encouraged to participate.

The Public Transportation Stakeholders Committee consists of human service transportation providers, transit agencies, and other interested stakeholders who meet to discuss mobility in the region and how it can be improved, especially for people with disabilities, low-income, young, and elderly individuals, veterans, and rural residents. They assist in the creation and updates of the Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan (CPT-HSTP) and assist with regional project rankings for the Consolidated Grant Program. The CPT-HSTP covers existing mobility services; additional needs for services identified by transportation providers, human service providers, and the public; and future strategies for meeting those needs in Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Pacific, and Wahkiakum counties.

If you would like to receive  information about this committee or are interested in participating, please contact CWCOG to be added to our list of public transportation stakeholders. Anyone interested in public transportation and mobility is encouraged to participate.