NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF RURAL PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS / NCARPO
  NC Association of Rural Planning Organizations
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Rural Regional Transportation Planning Organizations

Since 2002, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has implemented a major re-engineering of its consultation process with rural local officials. The change was mandated under a new state law passed in July 2000 that required the establishment of rural regional transportation planning organizations (RPOs) to work cooperatively with the state to plan rural regional transportation systems and to advise the department on rural transportation policy (Senate Bill 1195. Covered under Article 17 General Statue 136-210 through 213.).  North Carolina's RPOs are nationally recognized for their innovative and ground-breaking work.

State officials worked with local officials and the existing network of regional development organizations (known locally as regional councils of government) to create 19 RPOs that serve all counties outside of the existing 17 metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs). Under the law, RPOs were required to serve contiguous areas of 3 – 15 counties and must have a combined minimum population of 50,000. MPOs cannot be a member of RPOs. In forming the RPOs, not all of the municipalities in the region were required to join, but each county must be a member.  Currently, our RPOs serve nearly 4,000,000 North Carolinians, or almost half the population of the state.  

Funded by the state at $80,000 to $150,000 each year and with a 20 percent local match, RPOs provide these core services:

• Coordinate, assist and develop local and regional plans
• Provide a forum for public participation in the transportation planning and implementation process
• Develop and prioritize projects the organization believes should be included in the state transportation improvement program
• Provide transportation related information to local governments

The process has provided local officials with an enhanced framework to participate in the statewide and regional planning processes. It has also provided a forum for state and local officials to discuss and address issues requiring regional solutions.

NCARPO Agencies

​Albermarle RPO
Cape Fear RPO
Down East RPO
Eastern Carolina RPO
High Country RPO
Isothermal RPO
Kerr-Tar RPO
Land of Sky RPO
Lumber River RPO
Mid-Carolina RPO
Mid-East RPO
Northwest Piedmont RPO
Peanut Belt RPO
Piedmont Triad RPO
Rocky River RPO
Southwestern RPO
Triangle Area RPO
Upper Coastal Plain RPO



Infographic below courtesy of Lauren Tuttle, Community Planner, Eastern Carolina Council
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NCARPO Officers

Matt Day
Chair
Triangle Area RPO
(919) 558-9397

Vicki Eastland
Vice-Chair
​Land of Sky RPO
(828) 251-6622

Rose Bauguess
Secretary 
Southwestern RPO
(828) 586-1962 x 213 

NCARPO Boundaries

NCARPO Committee and Workgroup Appointments
Latest Appointment List (October 2018) 

NCARPO Documents

​RPO Manual January 2020

RPO Prospectus

NCARPO Bylaws

NEW*** RPO TAC/TCC Member Training Manual

Past NCARPO Meeting Minutes

July 2018

January 2018
July 2017
​April 2017

January 2017
October 2016

​July 2016
May 2016

January 2016
October 2015
July 2015
April 2015
January 2015
October 2014
July 2014
May 2014


Connect NCDOT
-Information about Metropolitan and Rural Planning Organizations in North Carolina
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