| County: | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region |
| Official Name: | Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG) |
| Type: | Planning region |
| State: | Connecticut |
| Ex Image Cap: | From top left: Beardsley Zoo, Fairfield County Courthouse in Bridgeport, Stratford Point Light, Southport Harbor, Bridgeport Downtown South Historic District |
| Logo Size: | 250 |
| Founded Year: | 2013 |
| Leader Title: | Executive Director |
| Leader Name: | Matthew Fulda |
| Largest City Wl: | Bridgeport |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 140.2 |
| Census Yr: | 2020 |
| Pop: | 325,778 |
| Web: | ctmetro.org |
| District: | 3rd |
| District2: | 4th |
| Time Zone: | Eastern |
The Greater Bridgeport Planning Region is a planning region and county-equivalent in Connecticut. It is served by the coterminous Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG). In 2022, planning regions were approved to replace Connecticut's counties as county-equivalents for statistical purposes, with full implementation occurring by 2024.[1] [2]
MetroCOG is a council of governments and a regional planning organization serving Bridgeport, Fairfield, Easton, Monroe, Stratford, and Trumbull. It regulates economic development, transportation, and environmental quality in the region. MetroCOG also serves as a "host agency" for the Greater Bridgeport and Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization.[3] [4] Mike Tetreau, a Fairfield First Selectman, has served as Executive Director since 2018.[5] The headquarters of MetroCOG is located at 1000 Lafayette Blvd. in Bridgeport.
As of 2018, MetroCOG is looking into initiating a bike-sharing system that would service Bridgeport, Fairfield and Stratford and perhaps Trumbull, Monroe and Easton.[6]
Another priority of the council was to gain a "county government equivalence designation" from the United States Census in order to be able to apply for many federal programs as since 1960, Connecticut has no county governments.[7] This change was made official by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2022.
In 2017 the council worked to secure a $2,050,000 state grant to improve the Pequonnock River trail.[8]
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 325,778 people living in the Greater Bridgeport Planning Region.
The following municipalities are members of the Greater Bridgeport Region:[9]