The Transportation Planning Division is charged with fulfilling the federal requirements of the 3-C transportation planning process. This process is required of all urbanized areas to maintain eligibility for grant programs of the Federal Transit Administration and Federal Highway Administration.

The 3-C transportation planning process consists of a comprehensive, coordinated and continuing planning effort for all modes of transportation. In addition to planning projects which are required by Iowa DOT and U.S. DOT, each year the Transportation Planning Division assembles a work program of projects requested by MPOJC members. These projects include short- and long-range transportation development plans, corridor studies, intersection analyses, survey reports, and review of development projects. The Transportation Planning Division also prepares state and federal transportation grant applications and fulfills the associated administration and regulation compliance.