In 1981, the CWCOG was designated a bi-state Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Longview-Kelso-Rainier (Oregon) urbanized area by the Governors of the States of Washington and Oregon. In 2024 the CWCOG’s Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA) was expanded to include all of Cowlitz County, Washington and the City of Rainier urban growth area. 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 are to review and approve major, regional transportation network improvements implemented by participating local governments, as well as providing funds for local area agencies through the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG). The CWCOG, as the MPO, reviews recommendations from the Cowlitz Area Technical Advisory Committee (CATAC) and CWCOG staff on prioritized plans, projects, reports, and long-range planning documents.

Transportation Planning staff works closely with local agencies, ports, transit agencies, private sector representatives, and other stakeholders in the development of 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 Block Grant Program (STBGP) funds, and updates the Metropolitan Transportation Plan. Funding for these activities primarily comes from state and federal sources with a match provided by local member agencies. A Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) is developed annually to guide the work completed by the CWCOG as the MPO.

The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 47.80.020 and Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 468.86.060 require that regional and metropolitan transportation planning be integrated, and that a Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO) be the same organization as the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). In alignment with the RCW, the Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Planning Organization (SWRTPO) 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 2021. The agreement names the CWCOG, in its role as the MPO, the administrative or lead agency of the SWRTPO.

It is the responsibility of the SWRTPO to administer federal funding provided through the Transportation Alternatives (TA) program for the five-county area, develop the Regional Transportation Plan, develop a Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan, and maintain the Regional Transportation Improvement Program. The SWRTPO 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 facilitate the Cowlitz Area Technical Advisory Committee in the one MPO county of the SWRTPO, as well as holds informal, smaller group listening sessions throughout the four non-MPO counties.

The Cowlitz Area Technical Advisory Committee (CATAC) is accountable to the CWCOG/Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) but reports to the SWRTPO as well. A technical advisory committee is comprised of engineers and planners representing local jurisdictions, ports, transit agencies, special purpose districts, tribes, multimodal stakeholders (i.e. rail, air, trails) and state Departments of Transportation. The CATAC provides a level of technical review and guidance for transportation planning and programs undertaken within the MPO and the Cowlitz County portion of the SWRTPO.

Note the CWCOG staff does not facilitate a technical advisory committee in the four non-MPO counties of the SWRTPO (Grays Harbor, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum) but rather holds informal, smaller group listening sessions with elected officials and staff to stay current on transportation needs around the region and to gather feedback and guidance on transportation planning activities prior to SWRTPO Board consideration.

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.