About Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Solutions (AMATS)

AMATS coordinates transportation improvements in Anchorage, Chugiak/Eagle River and Native Village of Eklutna areas. In communities with 50,000 people or more, federal rules require a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to coordinate transportation planning and direct federal transportation funding. AMATS serves as the MPO for this region and is guided by a Policy Committee with both state and city representatives. Around the country, some MPOs operate as independent nonprofits, like FAST Planning in Fairbanks, while others are housed within a local or state agency. AMATS follows the latter model and is located within the Municipality of Anchorage Planning Department.

AMATS brings together the Municipality of Anchorage, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), People Mover, community organizations, elected officials, and the public to set transportation priorities that reflect real community needs and realistic funding expectations. The planning process is intentionally collaborative. By working across agencies and directly with the public at every stage, AMATS ensures that the decisions shaping Anchorage's transportation future are grounded in local values, not just federal requirements.

The Public Participation Plan

The Participation Plan explains AMATS’s role in transportation planning for the region. It describes how projects are planned and funded and how people can get involved.The development of both the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) and the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), key federally required documents that AMATS staff manage, are outlined in the plan. AMATS uses the Public Input platform to host project pages, manage AMATS committee meetings, and centralize all public participation opportunities.