60 years of shaping the region’s future together
The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission was established in 1964, so 2024 marks 60 years of shaping the region’s future together. MVRPC promotes collaboration among communities, stakeholders, and residents to advance regional priorities. MVRPC is a forum and resource where the Board of Directors identifies priorities and develops public policy and collaborative strategies to improve the quality of life throughout the Miami Valley region.
MVRPC performs planning and research functions for our region that ensure livable and equitable communities; clean air and water; robust roadway, transit, and active transportation options; and strategic community plans that chart the course for member communities and partners. MVRPC’s geographic area includes Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Shelby, and northern Warren counties in Southwest Ohio.
Here is a small sample of notable projects and milestones for MVRPC over the past 60 years by decade.
The 1960s
Leaders recognized the importance of regional coordination to help navigate this growth. On March 7, 1960, the second regional meeting concluded with an agreement that each chamber, each municipality, and each county would appoint a representative to a regional planning study committee, with the purpose of exploring the advisability of creating a regional planning commission. After diligent research, findings and cooperation, the committee acted with the official creation of the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission in February of 1964.
The 1970s
In 1970, MVRPC published “The Dayton Plan”, a regional fair-share housing plan that became a national showcase. The plan won several awards and recognition, Selected for HUD “Horizons on Display” Bicentennial Program, 1991 Ohio Planning Landmark, awarded by Ohio Planning Conference, 2001 National Historic Planning Landmark, awarded by American Institute of Certified Planners.
In 1973, MVRPC developed the “Bikeways—Miami Valley Regional Bikeway Plan” for the Miami Valley Regional Bikeway Committee.
In 1978, MVRPC adopted an Overall Economic Development Program to increase long-term job opportunities in the area and coordinate the economic development efforts in the region.
The 1980s
In 1982, MVRPC and the Montgomery-Greene County Transportation Coordinating Committee (TCC) merged. MVRPC began providing transportation planning for Montgomery and Greene counties.
In 1986, MVRPC became the lead agency responsible for development of a groundwater protection and management program for the Great Miami/Little Miami Buried Valley Aquifer System in a fivecounty area. MVRPC’s groundwater protection strategy included wellhead protection area designations, and the development of model regulations to protect drinking water.
The 1990s
In 1990, MVRPC assembled data for the State Implementation Plan for transportation and emissions requirements of the Federal Clean Air Act Amendments.
In 1993, the transportation planning area was expanded to cover Miami County in addition to Greene and Montgomery counties.
In 1996, The Regional Ozone Action Program wins the Governor’s “Award for Outstanding Achievements in Pollution Prevention” in the category of Education Awareness and Outreach.
The 2000s
In 2007, Going Places, a regional land use initiative, began. This initiative provides two things: a forum for people living and working in the region to participate in developing a vision for the Miami Valley region and resources for local communities to make decisions with a regional perspective.
In 2008, MVRPC, collaborating with the Miami Conservancy District, Miami County Parks and Five Rivers MetroParks, completed the “Miami Valley Comprehensive Local–Regional Bikeway Plan.”
The 2010s
In 2011, a Complete Streets policy was adopted by the MVRPC Board of Directors. The MVRPC Complete Streets Policy encourages improvements to the transportation network so that all users are able to safely and conveniently reach their destinations along and across a street or road, regardless of their chosen mode of transportation, age or ability level.
In 2016, MVRPC adopted the region’s 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan. The LRTP is a 20-plus-year strategy and capital improvement program developed to guide the effective investment of public funds in multimodal transportation facilities.
In 2019, MVRPC launched the Institute for Livable & Equitable Communities. The Institute convenes critical partners and is the central point of coordination for a long-term, multi-faceted effort to address nine domains proven to enhance livability and equity in communities. The Institute places an intentional focus on livability and equity, launching programs and transforming systems that create a community where all people can thrive.
The 2020s
In 2020, in response to the 2019 Memorial Day tornadoes, MVRPC along with The Dayton Foundation, Montgomery County and other leaders formed the Disaster Recovery Leadership Board to provide strategic leadership, oversight and transparency regarding the recovery efforts for the region.
In 2022, eight MVRPC member communities received the Livable, age-friendly, Community grants from the DMH-Dayton Fund at The Dayton Foundation. These communities formed the Miami Valley Age-Friendly Network, becoming Ohio’s first age-friendly region.
In 2024, MVRPC developed a Regional Transportation Plan for Shelby, Darke and Preble counties, pending adoption by the Board of Directors. The plan strives to improve the multimodal transportation system in a manner that supports enhanced accessibility and mobility for all people and freight resulting in a higher quality of life and economic development opportunities for the region.
The future
As we look ahead to the future for the region and MVRPC, we hope to continue the great collaboration that has created the progress over the last 60 years. The MVRPC Board of Directors is comprised of close to 90 member jurisdictions and organizations who are working together to better the region. MVRPC staff is growing each year with currently 29 on staff to serve the MVRPC members. To learn more about the history of MVRPC, its members or projects and programs, visit mvrpc.org or call (937) 223-6323.
In March of 2024, The MVRPC Board of Directors approved $26.7 million in federal transportation funds for 29 roadway, bikeway/ pedestrian, transit, and planning projects that will benefit the Miami Valley region. MVRPC’s regionally-controlled Surface Transportation Program, Transportation Alternatives and Carbon Reduction funds will finance over $41.3 million in transportation projects when matched with local dollars. The projects are located throughout MVRPC’s Metropolitan Planning Organization area, which includes Greene, Miami, Montgomery, and northern Warren Counties.
Projects that were approved for the region can be found at mvrpc. org/transportation-financing/.