Trends in Rural Transportation Planning John Marshall Western Piedmont Council of Governments Hickory, NC

► Regional-level rural transportation planning began after ISTEA in 1991 ► 2003 FHWA/FTA planning regulations ► Today, no federal requirement for sub-state non-metro planning, but trend of using RPOs is growing Rural Transportation Planning

States with at least one RPO shown in dark blue

► No single RPO structure ► Varied responsibilities and funding levels ► Many housed in and staffed by Economic Development Districts, Councils of Government, or Regional Planning Commissions Rural Transportation Planning

► Assist State DOT with conducting rural local official consultation ► Assist State DOT with public outreach ► Coordinate transportation priorities with economic development goals Common RPO Tasks

► Coordinated Human Services Transportation Planning  Data gathering  Mapping over- and underserved areas  Developing strategies to provide mobility options with wide range of partners  Meeting federal requirements for 5310, 5311, JARC, New Freedom programs ► Collaborating with Neighboring Regions Common RPO Tasks

► Rural Safety Planning  Strategic Highway Safety Plans  Addressing rural traffic fatalities  Mapping crash locations ► Adapting to and Mitigating Environmental Impacts  Responding to stronger AQ standards  Climate change  Future of transportation energy Common RPO Tasks

► Established in June 2006 by the NADO Board of Directors ► Program affiliate of NADO consisting of all existing dues-paying members of NADO ► Serves as the national professional association for rural transportation planners, practitioners and stakeholders RPO Resources: RPO America

► Provide information, education, peer networking and research services for rural transportation planners and stakeholders ► Serve as national clearinghouse and forum for exchange of information on transportation issues impacting rural regions ► Create opportunities for peer learning, including through national and regional conferences, reports and online communications Purpose and Duties

► Consists of all existing dues-paying members of NADO without additional charge ► Each NADO member is allowed to designate a “point-of-contact” to receive RPO America information and communications ► Target Audience: Rural Planning Staff and/or Related Professional Staff Membership Structure

Center for Transportation Advancement & Regional Development ► Established under Sec of 2005AFETEA-LU Four-year cooperative agreement with FHWA ► MISSION: Provide research, training and professional resources aimed at enhancing the transportation networks of small metro and rural regions to support their economic competitiveness and growth

► National Rural Transportation Peer Learning Conference, October 28 – 30, 2009, Savannah, GA ► Special Reports ► NADO’s Rural Transportation Listserv and Web site, RuralTransportation.org Resources

NC RPO Overview ► RPOs formed through legislative action in 2000 in response to federal requirements to address rural concerns ► RPOs represent all or part of 78 counties in NC ► NC is rapidly urbanizing - but still rural in many areas of the state ► RPOs provide link between local priorities and statewide transportation planning process ► RPOs facilitate communication between NCDOT and rural counties and municipalities through their TCC and TAC meetings

Areas Represented ► Contiguous Areas of three to fifteen Counties  Must have at least 50,000 population according to Office of State Planning  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.

Structure ► Planning Work Program based on MPO work program and prospectus structure work program and prospectus structure ► Local and State funding sources only ► NCDOT – 80%; Local – 20% ► $100,000 Average

How many are there? There are twenty organized RPO’s throughout North Carolina.  Isothermal RPO  High Country RPO  Lake Norman RPO  Northwest Piedmont RPO  Piedmont Triad RPO  Eastern Carolina RPO  Down East RPO  Southwestern RPO  Albermarle RPO  Kerr-Tar RPO  Upper Coastal Plain RPO  Rocky River RPO  Triangle Area RPO  Lumber River RPO  Mid-East RPO  Peanut Belt RPO  Land-of-Sky RPO  Mid-Carolina RPO  Cape Fear RPO  Unifour RPO

Rural Planning Organization Four Core Duties ► Developing long range local and regional transportation plans. ► Providing a forum for public participation in the transportation planning process. ► Developing and prioritizing projects the organization believes should be included in the TIP. ► Providing transportation related information to local governments. These are the core duties that must be provided but the organization is not limited to only these and can provide other duties

NC RPO Work Programs ► Deliverables Are Required By NCDOT  Maps  Traffic counts  Public outreach materials  TIP project priority list  Transportation Plan priority list  Meeting agendas/minutes  Planning documents  CTP data

Primary Roles ► Develop and communicate local priorities to NCDOT ► Provide comments on the STIP ► Conduct local community and public involvement activities ► Assist in, and/or develop CTPs in coordination with NCDOT ► Prioritize CTP study needs for the region

Primary Roles ► Provide support to the project development process through local input, data and Serve as a key stakeholder in the development, implementation and update of the STP ► Provide overall needs to NCDOT for use in preparing STIP updates ► Provide feedback on pending policy issues that affect all partners ► Conduct, partner or request specific studies

Coordination ► There has been coordination between RPOs and MPOs  Serve on each other’s boards  More highway corridor planning consistency between rural and urban areas (major purpose of strategic highway corridor system identified by NCDOT)  After 2010 Census expansion of MPOs will be smooth because of RPO project planning and prioritization  Annual MPO/RPO Conference  NCDOT Study

RPO Association ► Network of RPO Planners ► Quarterly meetings ► Subcommittees: Legislative, GIS ► Professional and educational network network ► Work with MPO Association

Funding Website ► Worked for more than a year to develop a database of mostly non-TIP transportation funding options and projects in North Carolina ► The goal was to create a brochure of all of these programs and sources, with contacts and application forms for local staff and elected officials to use ► Became more complex and comprehensive it because apparent that a strategy to guide users to the appropriate information was needed ► Website was developed ►

Key Issues ► Where will the future money it come from? Administrative section of the highway trust fund ► Initially funded for five years. NC RPOs are in seventh year of existence ► Evaluation by ECSU ► New RPO Boundaries? ► Will RPOs continue in NC?

Reauthorization Issues ► Rural areas need the support of the Federal Government to provide meaningful transportation planning services and input into the state process ► The issue of rural consultation does not appear to be adequately addressed in recently proposed changes to the federal transportation bill

Contact Information Carrie KisselJohn Marshall NADOWPCOG (202) (828)