Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, Connecticut

For the metropolitan statistical area, see Greater Bridgeport.

Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
Planning region
Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG)
From top left: Beardsley Zoo, Fairfield County Courthouse in Bridgeport, Stratford Point Light, Southport Harbor, Bridgeport Downtown South Historic District
Logo
Location within the U.S. state of Connecticut
Connecticut's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°11′N73°11′W / 41.18°N 73.19°W / 41.18; -73.19
Country	United States
State	Connecticut
Founded	2013
Largest city	Bridgeport
Government
• Executive Director	Matthew Fulda
Area
• Total	140.2 sq mi (363 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	325,778
• Estimate  (2024)	335,666
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts	3rd, 4th
Website	ctmetro.org

Interactive map of the Greater Bridgeport Planning Region

The Greater Bridgeport Planning Region is a planning region and county-equivalent in the U.S. state of 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 policies and activities

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]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	325,778		—
2024 (est.)	335,666	[9]	3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [2]

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 325,778 people living in the Greater Bridgeport Planning Region. ^[2]

Municipalities

Bridgeport is the largest city within MetroCOG's boundaries

The following municipalities are members of the Greater Bridgeport Region: ^[10]

• Bridgeport
• Easton
• Fairfield
• Monroe
• Stratford
• Trumbull

References

1. "Governor Lamont Announces U.S. Census Bureau Approves Proposal for Connecticut's Planning Regions To Become County Equivalents". CT.gov. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
2. "Change to County-Equivalents in the State of Connecticut". Federal Register . June 6, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
3. http://www.ctmetro.org/ Metropolitan Connecticut website
4. ct.gov Regional Councils of Governments (RCOGs) in Connecticut
5. Guinness, Meredith (January 24, 2018). "Fairfield's Tetreau To Lead Regional Metro Council". Bridgeport Daily Voice. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
6. Burgeson, John (October 9, 2018). "Area municipalities consider bike-share options". ctpost. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
7. Reilly, Genevieve (February 15, 2018). "'County-equivalent' designation could mean more federal money for towns". Fairfield Citizen. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
8. Zimmerman, Kevin (February 6, 2017). "Trumbull to receive $2M grant to connect river trail to commercial centers". Westfair Communications. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
9. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
10. "About Us". MetroCOG. Retrieved March 24, 2023.

External links

• Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments