The Charlotte County-Punta Gorda MPO is the regional transportation organization responsible for transportation planning for the Charlotte County and the part of the Southeast portion of the DeSoto County .The Charlotte County-Punta Gorda MPO was established
bythe Governor in 1992. As a result of the 1990 census, The Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte urbanized area was determined to exceed 50,000 in population, triggering the requirement for an MPO. Activities of the MPO are funded from state and federal sources along with a small local match.

The MPO is responsible for transportation planning and programming in Charlotte County area. Each urban area in the United States has a MPO which acts as a liaison between local communities, their citizens, and the state departments of transportation (DOTs).  MPOs are important because they direct how and where available state and federal dollars for transportation improvements will be spent. MPOs currently operate under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users signed into law on August 10, 2005 by President Bush.

Federal law requires that the Charlotte County-Punta Gorda  MPO provide continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (3-C) transportation planning process in order to receive federal funds for transportation projects.