What does the Metropolitan Planning Area Boundary encompass?

The Metropolitan Planning Area Boundary is designed to encompass areas projected to urbanize within a specified time frame, which is typically around 20 years. This boundary reflects not just the currently urbanized areas but also those regions that are expected to experience significant changes in land use, infrastructure development, and population growth over that period.

The rationale for projecting a 20-year horizon is to facilitate long-range regional planning, allowing for thoughtful consideration of transportation, housing, and community services to support future growth while managing resources effectively. By including areas that are projected to urbanize, planners can better prepare and implement policies and investments that ensure sustainable and coordinated development.

This understanding helps in creating effective transportation plans, development strategies, and resource allocation that align with anticipated growth. In contrast, focusing only on current urbanized areas or a shorter 10-year outlook would be inadequate for addressing the long-term challenges and opportunities that arise from urban expansion.