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15 <br />' MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING <br />FOR <br />COOPERATIVE, COMPREHENSIVE AND CONTINUING <br />TRANSPORTATION PLANNING <br />AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF <br />A RURAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION <br />FOR <br />The Counties of Chatham, Lee, Moore, and Orange and the participating municipalities contained therein <br />and the North Carolina Department of Transportation. <br />WITNESSETH <br />Whereas, section 135 of Title 23, United States Code, declares that it is in the national interest to <br />encourage and promote the development of transportation systems embracing various modes of <br />transportation in a manner that will serve all areas of the State efficiently and effectively; and <br />Whereas, North Carolina General Statute 136-18 was amended by the North Carolina General <br />Assembly by ratification of Senate Bill 1195 on July 6, 2000, and this same bill was signed by the <br />Governor on July 14, 2000, and subsequently Chaptered, and which Chaptered statute provides for the <br />establishment of Rural Transportation Planning Organizations (RPOs), similar in concept to Metropolitan <br />. Planning Organizations (MPOs) for transportation planning in North Carolina's urban areas; and <br />Whereas, the establishment of a Rural Transportation Planning Organization (RPO), similar in <br />concept to the Urban Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organizations (MPOs), would provide rural <br />areas the opportunity to work in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation toward <br />development of sound, short and long-range transportation planning for rural areas; and <br />Whereas, the establishment of a Rural Transportation Planning Organization for the Research <br />Triangle Rural Transportation planning area would assist the North Carolina Department of <br />Transportation in complying with the provisions of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21S` Century <br />(TEA 21), enacted June 9, 1998, relative to the participation of local officials and the public in the <br />transportation planning process; and <br />Whereas, It is the desire of these local governments and agencies to establish a Continuing, <br />Comprehensive, Cooperative Transportation Planning Process with the establishment of a Rural <br />Transportation Planning Organization for-the Research Triangle Rural Transportation Planning Area; <br />Now, therefore, the following memorandum of understanding is made. <br />Section 1. Establishment of Rural Transportation Planning Organization. It is hereby agreed, that <br />the Counties of Chatham, Lee, Moore, and Orange and the participating municipalities contained therein, <br />and the North Carolina Department of Transportation intend to establish and participate in a Rural <br />Transportation Planning Organization created for the general purposes and responsibilities outlined in the <br />following: <br />1. Develop long-range local and regional multimodal transportation plans in cooperation with the North <br />Carolina Department of Transportation. <br />2. Provide a forum for public participation in the transportation planning process. <br />3. Develop and prioritize suggestions for transportation projects the Rural Transportation Planning <br />Organization believes should be included in the State's Transportation Improvement Program. <br />• 4. Provide transportation-related information to local governments and other interested organizations <br />and persons. <br />:{ :- <br />