The Gaston Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is a multi-jurisdictional of twelve local governments, NCDOT, USDOT, and other providers of transportation services. The Gaston MPO currently comprises the following member governments: Belmont, Bessemer City, Cramerton, Dallas, Gaston County, Gastonia, Lowell, McAdenville, Mount Holly, Ranlo, Spencer Mountain, and Stanley.

The City of Gastonia is the Lead Planning Agency for the Gaston MPO. The City’s Transportation Planning Division serves as the MPO staff. Responsibilities of the staff include conducting planning studies, forecasting travel demand and patterns, and preparing meeting materials for and implementing directives of the Transportation Advisory Committee, Technical Coordination Committee, and the Transportation Steering Committee. In addition, Staff provides technical expertise to all of the member MPO jurisdictions.