Metropolitan Planning Group Elects Joseloff Vice Chairman

 The South Western Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (SWRMPO) — the transportation policy-making organization for eight southwest Connecticut communities — elected Westport First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff as its vice chairman today, according to a news release.

At its monthly meeting in Norwalk, the group elected New Canaan First Selectman Jeb Walker chairman.

The new MPO leadership team takes over from chairman Woody Bliss, the outgoing first selectman of Weston, and Evonne Klein, the outgoing first selectman of Darien.

The SWRMPO is composed of the chief elected officials of the cities of Norwalk and Stamford and the towns of Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Weston, Westport and Wilton.

The policy-making organization was formed as the result of 1962 federal legislation that required there be an MPO for any urbanized area with a population greater than 50,000.

Congress created MPOs in order to ensure that existing and future expenditures for transportation projects and programs are based on a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive planning process.

Federal funding for transportation projects and programs are channeled through this planning process, according to the release.