Since 1969, the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission (BHJ) has been the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Greater Steubenville, OH – Weirton, WV Metropolitan Area by joint agreement of the governors in Ohio and West Virginia.  BHJ is an association of governmental units in Brooke and Hancock counties, West Virginia and Jefferson County, Ohio organized to provide a public forum for local elected officials and interested citizens the opportunity to coordinate transportation planning and decision-making issues that meet the needs of the metropolitan area.  Codified federal regulations (23 USC 134 and 135) govern the Metropolitan Planning.

“The MPO, in cooperation with the State Highway
Agency, and with the operators of publicly owned transit
 services shall be responsible for carrying out the
 metropolitan planning process.”

BHJ’s mission is to:

Develop plans and policies necessary to maintain a safe, secure, and environmentally friendly transportation network; and

Provide a “3-C” (Continual, Comprehensive, and Coordinated) planning process that considers all modes of transportation services.

“Continual”

·         Routine Transportation Improvement Program Reviews

·         Four Year Long-Range Transportation Plan Updates

“Comprehensive”

·         Twenty Year Planning Horizon

·         Address the Metropolitan Planning Factors

·         Fiscally Constraint Financial Plan

“Coordinated”

• Open and Transparent Public Involvement Process Engaging Transportation Decision Makers and Stakeholders (e.g. elected officials, public interest groups, private industry, and state and federal highway officials).