Rural Planning Organization (RPO)
In 2000, the North Carolina General Assembly ratified the Board of Transportation Reform Bill (House Bill 1304). This bill mandated the North Carolina Board of Transportation to develop a plan to establish Rural Transportation Planning Organizations (RPOs) as counterparts to the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPOs). RPOs were intended to provide a cooperative unified voice for rural entities to request projects and the funding needed for local and regional transportation projects. RPOs are voluntary, not mandated, and serve in an advisory role. a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is used to form and develop a RPO and establishes the proposed area, membership, functions, and the responsibilities of the RPO. As outlined in the law, the RPO has four core functions:
- Developing, in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, long-range local and regional multi-modal transportation plans
- Provide a forum for public participation in the transportation planning process
- Developing and prioritizing suggestions for projects that the organization believes should be included in the State's Transportation Improvement Program
- Providing transportation-related information to local governments and other interested organizations and persons.
RPOs should include representatives from contiguous areas with three to fifteen counties as members. The total population of the area must be at least 50,000 people and should not be part of a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). More information regarding RPOs can be found on the DOT website: 
http://www.ncdot.org/planning/rpo
The Mid East RPO is comprised of areas within Pitt, Beaufort and Martin Counties. Governing Boards from Martin and Beaufort Counties adopted the MOU in January 2002. The Pitt County Board of Commissioners adopted the MOU in February 2002. The Mid East RPO is approximately 2000 square miles and has a population of approximately 117,500 people.
Rural Transportation Planning Organization
The Rural Transportation Advisory Committee (RTAC) serves as the decision-making body for the RPO. It is comprised of one County Commissioner from each County, one elected official from each municipality, one member from the North Carolina Board of Transportation, the Division Administrator from the Federal Highway Administration, or his representative, which will serve as an advisory and non-voting member, and the Chairman of the Greenville Urban Area MPO, as ex officio. The RTAC is responsible for carrying out the following:
- Establishment of goals, priorities, and objectives for the rural transportation planning process
- Review and approval of the Planning Work Program
- Review and approval of the area's Rural Transportation Improvement Plan which ensures coordination between local and state governments
- Review of the National Highway System, review the Functional Classification Designation (as it pertains to the Surface Transportation Program) and review and approval of the Rural Planning Boundary
- Provide guidance on transportation goals and objectives
- Review and approval of changes to the adopted RPO's Long-Range Transportation Plan
The Rural Technical Coordinating Committee (RTCC) is responsible for supervision, guidance, and coordination of the transportation planning process for the RPO and for making staff-level recommendations to the respective local, state, and federal government agencies and the RTAC regarding any actions relating to continuing the transportation planning process. The RTCC shall be responsible for the review of the National Highway System and for the development, review, and recommendation for approval of the Planning Work Program, Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), Functional Classification Designation, RPO revisions and technical reports of the transportation study. Membership of the RTCC consists of, but is not limited to, key staff from the NCDOT, the Mid-East COmmission/Region Q Council of Government, Federal Highway Administration, the Counties, transit operators, and the municipalities. comprised of the Pitt County Manager and Planning Director and makes staff level recommendations to the RTAC.
