GPATS Area Expands With Census Growth

The Greenville-Pickens Area Transportation Study, the local organization tasked with planning and prioritizing federally funded transportation improvements, has expanded its boundaries as the Upstate continues to urbanize.

In a recent vote, the GPATS Policy Committee agreed to the expansion based on results of the 2010 Census, which showed the Greenville Urbanized Area grew significantly from the previous census. GPATS is the official transportation planning body for the Greenville Urbanized Area.

In addition to the existing municipalities, GPATS has extended farther into Anderson County and now includes Pelzer, West Pelzer, and Williamston. GPATS also has expanded farther into Pickens County to include Central, Clemson, Norris, and Pendleton.

The new areas covered by GPATS are in addition to existing areas that include Mauldin, Easley, Simpsonville, Fountain Inn, Greer, Liberty, Pickens, Travelers Rest, and Greenville. All together, GPATS' area includes portions of Greenville, Pickens, Anderson, Laurens, and Spartanburg counties which make up the Greenville Urbanized Area.

Urbanized Areas are determined by the Census based on a number of factors, including population and commute patterns. According to current federal law, all Urbanized Areas must be included within a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), such as GPATS.

In addition to the expanded boundary, the changes will increase the number of voting seats on the Policy Committee to 29.

MPOs such as GPATS were created in the 1960s and required for any Census-defined Urbanized Area with a population of 50,000 or more. MPOs were created to ensure that transportation planning is carried out on the regional scale, in order to allocate federal and other transportation funding most efficiently, according to GPATS.

The primary role of GPATS is to be the designated recipient of all state and federal funds for transportation projects. The GPATS Policy Coordinating Committee approves the scheduling of projects, the allocation of funds, and helps to guide the development of the region’s transportation infrastructure. This includes, but is not exclusive to, roads and highways, mass transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and freight.