A Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is an agency created by federal law to provide local input for urban transportation planning and allocating federal transportation funds to cities with populations of greater than 50,000.

The MPO's mission is to provide comprehensive, coordinated and continuous ("3C") transportation planning for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods consistent with the region's overall economic, social and environmental goals.

Special emphasis is placed on providing equal access to a variety of transportation choices and effective public involvement in the transportation planning process.

There are over 300 MPOs across the country. Most MPOs are part of a city, county or area council of governments. The San Antonio-Bexar County MPO, however, is an independent agency.

MPOs were first required by the Federal Highway Act of 1962 to provide a "3C" transportation planning process by local, state and federal officials. In 1963, the City of San Antonio, Bexar County and the Texas Department of Transportation agreed to establish the San Antonio-Bexar County Urban Transportation Study (SABCUTS).

In 1977, the Governor of Texas designated the SABCUTS Steering Committee as the official MPO for the urbanized area. In 1978, VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority joined the agreement and the MPO designation continues to this day.