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Effective transportation planning requires an organization with a regional focus and the ability to operate independent of city, county or state boundaries.  The United States Congress first officially recognized this need in 1962, when the Federal-Aid Highway Act was enacted.  This legislation required that all urbanized areas over 50,000 in population establish a “3-C” (continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive) planning process in order to receive federal highway planning and improvement funding (233USC 134; 49 USC 1603a).  In 1969, metropolitan planning organizations (MPO’s) were created to conduct the 3-C transportation planning process within census designated urban areas.

The Evansville Urban Transportation Study (EUTS) was created as the planning agency responsible for conducting the 3-C transportation planning process.  EUTS is a transportation planning only agency and the designated as the MPO since 1986.  The EUTS Study Area contains approximately 308 square miles in Indiana, including the City of Evansville, all of Vanderburgh County (with the exception of Union Township), and a portion of Warrick County (including all of Ohio Township, Newburgh and Chandler, a segment of Boon Township, including Boonville, and a segment of Anderson Township).  In Kentucky, the Study Area encompasses approximately 440 square miles, which includes the City of Henderson and all of Henderson County.   Recently, the rural counties of Posey and Gibson have been included in the EUTS TRANSCAD simulation model.  The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and EUTS have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that stipulates the rural planning activities to meet the requirements of TEA 21.

A Policy and Technical Committee guide and assist EUTS in its regional planning activities.  Both committees are required elements of the MPO federal mandate.  Committee members are elected and or appointed officials that formulate policy, guide the transportation decision-making process and coordinate administrative activities.

EUTS is involved in the most important transportation improvement project for southwestern Indiana; the NAFTA corridor, I-69, the missing link in the interstate system.  Recently, the INDOT announced a preferred corridor that would locate I-69 between Evansville and Indianapolis.  As INDOT moves forward with the next phase of the environmental document, EUTS will continue to play a vital role in supporting INDOT in its effort to complete this critical economic development link in the transportation system.  Funding for this project will be the responsibility of many agencies and those dedicated to making this project a reality.

The EUTS web site was launched in 1999 and includes project updates, an online version of The Metropolitan newsletter, recommendations from the current 2025 Transportation Plan, meeting agendas, and archived information from the previous transportation improvements programs.  The web address is http://www.eutsmpo.com.  Members of the public may email the EUTS office with questions or comments at:  euts eutsmpo.com.