AMPO is the transportation advocate for metropolitan regions and is committed to enhancing MPOs’ abilities to improve metropolitan transportation systems. AMPO IS A NONPROFIT, MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED IN 1990 TO SERVE THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF "METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS (MPOS)" NATIONWIDE. FEDERAL HIGHWAY AND TRANSIT STATUTES REQUIRE, AS A CONDITION FOR SPENDING FEDERAL HIGHWAY OR TRANSIT FUNDS IN URBANIZED AREAS, THE DESIGNATION OF MPOS, WHICH HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PLANNING, PROGRAMMING AND COORDINATION OF FEDERAL HIGHWAY AND TRANSIT INVESTMENTS. AMPO OFFERS ITS MEMBER MPOS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING, CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS, FREQUENT ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS, RESEARCH, A FORUM FOR TRANSPORTATION POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND COALITION BUILDING, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER SERVICES.