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13 <br />What is a Rural Planning Organization (RPO)? <br />RPOs are a counterpart to the MPOs. In July, 2000, Senate Bill 1195 became part of <br />Article 17 General Statute 136-210 through 213, which instructed the NCDOT to <br />develop a plan to establish RPOs. The purpose of these organizations is to work <br />cooperatively with NCDOT to develop Comprehensive Transportation Plans (CTP) <br />in non-metropolitan areasand assist the Department in carrying out other transportation <br />planning activities. RPOs consist of groups of counties, between 3-15 counties, and <br />must have at least 50,000 in population. MPOs cannot be a member of RPOs. Not all <br />municipalities in an RPO must be a member, but the county must be a member. There <br />are currently 20 RPOs in North Carolina. <br />The RPO administrative structure has threemain components: <br />1.Lead Planning Agency (LPA) – The LPA serves as the administrative entity for <br />an RPO. Eligible administrative entities include a regional council of <br />governments, regional economic development agencies, chambers of commerce <br />and local governments. The LPA receives and expends funds on behalf of the <br />RPO. The LPA provides at least one full time equivalent professional staff <br />member to carry out the duties of the RPO within the context of an adopted plan <br />of work. The LPA is defined within the adopted Memorandum of Understanding <br />(MOU), and may be changed based on the agreement of the RPO member <br />governments and NC DOT. The LPA for the Triangle Area RPO (TARPO) is the <br />Triangle J Council of Governments(TCOG). <br />2.Rural Technical Coordinating Committee (RTCC) – The RTCC is responsible for <br />the general review, guidance and coordination of the transportation planning <br />process for the RPO and for making recommendations to the respective local, <br />state, and federal governmental agencies and the Rural Transportation Advisory <br />Committee (RTAC) regarding any necessary actions relating to the continuing <br />transportation planning process. RTCC responsibilities include developing, <br />reviewing and recommending the Transportation Planning Work Program for the <br />RPO; developing reviewing and recommending the RPO Transportation <br />Improvement Plan (TIP); and revisions to the RPO TIP. <br />3.Rural Technical Advisory Committee (RTAC) – The RTAC is responsible for <br />keeping the policy boards informed of the status and requirements of the <br />transportation planning process; assisting in the dissemination and clarification of <br />the decisions, inclinations, and policies of the policy boards; and helping to <br />ensure meaningful public participation in the transportation planning process. <br />RTAC responsibilities include establishing goals and objectives for the <br />transportation planning process; review and recommending changes to adopted <br />transportation plans within the RPO planning area; reviewing and recommending <br />a work program for transportation planning which defines work tasks and <br />responsibilities for the various agencies participating in the RPO; and reviewing <br />and recommending transportation improvementprojects which support and <br />enhance transportation within the RPO planning area. <br /> <br />