Introduction

The purpose of the Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization Monitoring Report is to provide a comprehensive understanding of existing conditions and recent trends influencing transportation within the region. The geographic scope of this document generally includes the five member jurisdictions of the Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), including Bismarck, Lincoln, Mandan, and Burleigh and Morton Counties. View Map

The Monitoring Report is updated on a regular basis and reflects changes in various topics which impact the transportation system. This document considers four topic areas including: people, housing, employment, and travel.

The Monitoring Report is considered a "living document". Each chapter of the Monitoring Report lists the month and year of its last revision. You can view these chapters here:
 
Chapter 1: People (updated March 2019)
Chapter 2: Housing (updated June 2016)
Chapter 3: Employment (updated July 2016)
Chapter 4: Travel (updated March 2016)


The MPO is responsible for the transportation planning and programming of projects, utilizing federal transportation funds, within the region. The MPO is approximately 394 square miles with the geographic coverage including the cities of Bismarck, Lincoln, Mandan, and portions of Burleigh and Morton Counties.

The Highway Act of 1962 required the formation of MPOs for urbanized areas with populations of 50,000 or more in the United States in order to receive federal transportation funds. The intent of MPOs are to provide a continuing, comprehensive, and cooperative planning process. As transportation needs extend beyond jurisdictional boundaries and captivate interest from multiple levels of government (local, state, and federal) MPOs serve an important role in conducting and facilitating transportation planning and programming within an urbanized area. The MPO is one of three MPOs in the state of North Dakota.

The MPO receives direction from the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Policy Board. The TAC is comprised of planning and engineering staff members from the MPO's member jurisdictions, as well as, the public transit provider, North Dakota Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and an individual representing freight interests. The TAC provides recommendations based on professional judgment for the MPO's Policy Board. The Policy Board is a five member board comprised of the Mayors of Bismarck, Lincoln, and Mandan, as well as, a commissioner from Burleigh and Morton Counties. The Policy Board is the decision making body of the MPO.

*Editor’s Note
Census: The previous Monitoring Reports have relied heavily on US Census Data, including statistics for the Bismarck-Mandan MSA. An MSA, or Metropolitan Statistical Area, is established to reflect areas of urban population along with surrounding areas, which contribute to the local workforce and economic vitality of the urban center. Population statistics are estimated for an MSA area by the US Census Bureau based on American Community Survey responses.

In 2012, the Bismarck-Mandan MSA was composed of Burleigh and Morton County.

Note: The MSA boundary was expanded to include Sioux and Oliver County in 2013. Population statistics for the updated MSA boundary now include all four counties, an area far beyond the MPO area. In an effort to maintain consistent and relevant growth statistics for communities within the MPO area, staff has decided to utilize county data instead of MSA data. Both data sets are supplied by the US Census Bureau, but differ in coverage area. Using county population data preserves the statistical area introduced in the 2012 report and more accurately shows population changes within the Bismarck-Mandan MPO.

All references to an MSA boundary in the current document indicate the older MSA (Burleigh and Morton County), not the 2013 extended boundary. Data referenced in any other way denotes county boundaries.

Format and Release: In 2016, the MPO moved away from a once annual printed Monitoring Report and adopted a new process which delivers a timely report. The Monitoring is no longer titled by year and timely updates of each chapter are made as soon as data becomes available.