My First Grand Valley Metropolitan Council (GVMC) Meeting
This week, I had my first GVMC meeting as a member of the technical committee. It was a quick, 30-minute session, but I met a lot of folks from around the area and learned some valuable information.
So, what exactly is the Grand Valley Metropolitan Council (GVMC)?
Who GVMC is…
The Grand Valley Metropolitan Council (GVMC) is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Greater Grand Rapids area. MPOs were established under the Federal Highway Act of 1973 to ensure a cooperative, comprehensive, and continuous transportation planning and decision-making process. This process covers all modes of transportation and includes both short- and long-range planning.
What They Do...
As the MPO for Greater Grand Rapids, the GVMC is responsible for transportation planning and programming in the area. Every urban area in the U.S. has an MPO that serves as a liaison between local communities, citizens, and state Departments of Transportation (DOTs). The role of MPOs is crucial, as they determine how state and federal transportation funds are allocated for local improvements. Currently, they operate under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).
During the meeting, item 5 on the agenda was about seeking Township representation on the Transportation Programming Study Group (TPSG) Subcommittee for the FY2026-2029 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) development process. Historically, this committee had been represented by Grand Rapids Township, but they were open to new townships joining.
When I asked about the time commitment, Scott Conners shared it’s not a lot of time, but it’s a great learning experience. This committee is the first step in determining how federal and state funds are allocated for local projects. If you know me, you know I love learning and understanding how things work. So there I was, at my very first meeting, volunteering to join the subcommittee alongside Justin Stadt from Georgetown Township in Ottawa County.
I’m excited to learn and represent all the townships in Kent County. I firmly believe that you learn more by doing, and I’m ready for the challenge. I’ll keep you posted on this new journey!
Lastly, a big kudos to the team at GVMC. They sent me a handbook detailing everything they do, complete with a glossary of terms and acronyms. WOW! Just wow!
Stay tuned for more updates as I dive deeper into this process!
