Rural Planning Organizations (RPOs) were established in North Carolina beginning in 2001 to assist the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) in transportation planning for rural areas outside of Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) boundaries. There are currently 20 RPOs across the state, each made up of 3-15 contiguous counties with a population over 50,000. RPOs are responsible for developing regional transportation plans, prioritizing projects for the State Transportation Improvement Program, and providing a public forum for transportation issues. They receive annual planning funds from NCDOT and are governed by a Transportation Advisory Committee that includes local elected officials. Two examples of projects undertaken by RPOs are a NC 107 corridor study in South
2. What is an RPO?
What areas do they cover?
Why were they established?
How are they structured?
What are their duties and responsibilities?
What does it mean to stakeholders?
What are Issues RPOs are facing in NC?
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4. 2000 - GS 136-210 through 213 directed NCDOT to study RPOs
2001 – Based on results of study, NCDOT began forming RPOs
◦ Between 2001 and 2003, 20 RPOs were established
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5. Contiguous areas of three to fifteen counties or a total population of
the entire area represented of at least 50K.
◦ Metropolitan Planning Organizations areas shall not be included
◦ Not all municipalities in a proposed RPO must join the organization but the county
must be a member in the RPO.
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6. The RPOs assist NCDOT and local governments in the transportation planning process
through four core duties as defined by North Carolina General Statutes:
◦ Assist the Department in developing Comprehensive Transportation Plans (CTPs)
◦ Provide a forum for public participation in the transportation planning and project
development processes
◦ Develop and prioritize projects the organization believes should be included in the STIP
◦ Provide transportation related information to local governments
◦ Other duties as determined.
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7. Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)
◦ Local Elected Officials
◦ BOT Area Representative
◦ FHWA advisory non-voting member
◦ Tribal Governments
◦ Other members designated by the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)
Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC)
◦ Member Government(s) Staff Representatives
◦ NCDOT
◦ FHWA
◦ Transit Providers
◦ Other Agencies
LPA
◦ Designated Staff (City, County or COG)
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8. Federal State Planning And Research Funds with 20% local match
Total $1.9 million/year; ~$84k-$104k per RPO
Census 2010 Results (2012)
◦ Changes in planning organization boundaries
Expanding MPO boundaries and formation of two new MPOs – Grand Strand
MPO and New Bern MPOs – RPO Funding Level Change
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9. Examples of products and services provided by the RPOs include but are not limited to:
◦ Data Collection & Assessment (Highway, Rail, Bike/Ped, Transit, Freight);
◦ Environmental & Land Use Data Inventory and Assessment;
◦ Demographic Data Collection and Assessment;
◦ Socioeconomic Data Inventory;
◦ Demographic Data Collection and Assessment
◦ Comprehensive Transportation Plans Development Assistance;
◦ Local TIP Prioritization and Program Development;
◦ Regional and Statewide Planning;
◦ Special Studies;
◦ CMAQ Planning Assistance;
◦ Research and identification of alternative funding opportunities, grant writing
assistance;
◦ TITLE VI & Environmental Justice Assessment;
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10. Updated Annually:
◦ Yearly Planning Work Program;
◦ Five-Year Calendar;
◦ Quarterly Report Packages;
◦ Final Yearly Narrative;
◦ CTP List of Study Needs;
◦ TIP Project Prioritization List.
Updated on as-needed basis:
◦ Memorandum of Understanding (MOU);
◦ Funding Agreement;
◦ Bylaws;
◦ Prospectus;
◦ Public Involvement Plan or Policy (PIP).
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11. All work products are subject to review on the basis of quality and recipient satisfaction.
o The purpose of program evaluation is to ensure that high quality RPO services are being
provided and to identify areas for potential improvement.
o Concerns identified through the survey process are tracked yearly by RPO and TPB staff to
ensure adequate progress is made toward resolving related issues.
o Consistently poor evaluation results or inadequate progress on identified issues may result in
a request by NCDOT for alternate staffing or a change of the LPA.
Products are:
Differentiated Between: Technical & Non-Technical
AND
Rated in Two Categories: Quality & Timeliness
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12. Technical Products
◦ Expectations: The RPO pursues excellence in delivering projects, programs, services, and initiatives
and produces products that possess accurate information, require minimal redo iterations, and contain
complete elements useful in decision-making.
◦ Examples: Data Collection, GIS Layers, Maps, Technical Reports, CTP Technical Support, etc.
◦ Delivery Rating (Quality)
3 Best practice, sets new standard or innovative
2 Stands by itself, contains appropriate/required information/data, is clearly presented and is accurate
1 Contains missing, inaccurate, and/or unusable information/data
◦ Delivery Rating (Timeliness)
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13. Non-Technical Products
◦ Expectations: The RPO pursues excellence in delivering projects, programs, services, and initiatives
and produces products that possess accurate Information, require minimal redo iterations, and contain
complete elements useful in decision-making.
◦ Examples: Meeting Minutes, Meeting Agendas, Public Notices, Press Releases, Grant
Applications, Website Development/Maintenance, etc.
◦ Delivery Rating:
Received
Not Received
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14. Southwestern RPO: NC 107 Corridor Study
This study is examining existing conditions along NC 107 in order to
assist the community with developing a unified vision of the corridor and
to create a list of strategies and recommendations that will improve the
overall quality of transportation, enhance economic viability, and preserve
the natural resources.
http://www.regiona.org/transportation-planning-rpo/jackson-county/
Kerr-Tar RPO: North Carolina Lakes District Blueways
This Plan is intended as a guide advocates may use to further expand the
development of a formal network of blueways in the Kerr-Tar region to
complement other tourism and recreation initiatives. It focuses on
combining a regional Bike and Pedestrian plan through the Lakes Region
with a Blueways Plan that utilizes recreational routes through the Lakes
and Rivers of the region. It promotes use of multi-use and multi-modal
facilities and doubles as a marketing initiative for regional tourism.
http://www.nclakesdistrict.com/blueways-plan.html
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15. ◦ NCDOT-MPO-RPO Coordination;
◦ Doing More With Less;
◦ Regional Project Coordination;
◦ NCDOT Division Planning Engineers;
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