What is an MPO?
MPO is short for Metropolitan Planning Organization. MPOs were formed in 1962 when Congress enacted federal law that initiated a requirement that a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (3-C) transportation planning process be established for all urban areas over 50,000 in population in order to qualify for federal transportation funds.  It is entitled Section 134(a) of Title 23 United States Code. It has since been updated in the federal highway bill of 1991 known as ISTEA, establishing federal law requiring MPOs to have a transportation plan.  The most recent update is TEA-21 (Transportation Equity Act for the 21st century.  There are 17 MPOs in North Carolina.

What is an RPO?
RPO is short for Rural Planning Organizations. RPOs are a counterpart to the existing MPOs (Metropolitan Planning Organizations).  In July 2000, Senate Bill 1195 became part of Article 17 General Statue 136-210 through 213, which stated that the NCDOT will develop a plan to establish RPOs.  The purpose of these organizations is to work cooperatively with NCDOT to plan rural transportation systems and to advise the department on rural transportation policy.  An RPO were established with contiguous areas of 3-15 counties, and must have at least 50,000 population.  MPOs cannot be a member of RPOs.  Not all municipalities in an RPO must be a member, but the county must be a member.  There are currently 20 RPOs in North Carolina.

What are the core duties of an RPO?
1) Develop in cooperation with NCDOT,  transportation plans
2) Provide a forum for public participation in the transportation planning process
3) Develop and prioritize suggestions for projects to be included into State TIP
4) Provide transportation related information to local governments and other interested organizations and persons.

What is an MPO?s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)?
The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) required Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to have a multimodal network of transportation. The Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21) builds on initiates established in ISTEA. As a result of these two acts, MPOs are now required to develop a long range transportation plan (LRTP). It incorporates all modes of transportation, including transit, bicycle, pedestrian, rail, aviation, ports and ferries. The plan may be viewed as a layer of fiscally constrained plans with each layer equating to a separate, but integrated, mode of transportation. Therefore, only projects that can reasonably be expected to be funded within the planning period are included in the LRTP.

Why does it take so long to build a project after it is identified in the comprehensive transportation plan or thoroughfare plan?
After a plan alignment is shown on the thoroughfare plan, it may take many years for the project to be needed and funded. Here are some of the steps involved in the highway construction process:

• Congestion and need are evaluated by NCDOT.
• Traffic studies and other planning is conducted.
• Alternate route studies are collected.
• Preliminary relocation studies are collected and evaluated.
• An environmental impact study is prepared.
• Preliminary engineering is accomplished and public hearings are held.
• Location of the corridor is approved.
• Design and detailed plans are prepared.
• Right of Way personnel contacts property owners.
• Real estate market studies, evaluations, appraisals and detailed relocation studies are conducted.
• Comprehensive appraisal and evaluation review by Right of Way representatives is conducted.
• Negotiations begin. Needed property is acquired by agreed settlement with the owner. Relocation assistance is provided when applicable.
• Payment is made to the property owner and the title is transferred.
• Condemnation of property is instituted, if necessary.
• Appeals are made, if necessary, with regard to real property tax reimbursement.
• Appeals are made, if necessary, with regard to relocation benefits.
• The highway project is advertised to contractors to submit their bids.
• The bids are reviewed by department members and contracts are awarded by the North Carolina Board of Transportation.
• The highway is built.
• The highway is opened for public use.

What is the difference in a major or minor thoroughfare on a thoroughfare plan?
(The Transportation Planning Branch is in transition from a thoroughfare plan to a comprehensive transportation plan.) Municipal thoroughfare plans were based on major and minor thoroughfares. The underlying concept of a thoroughfare plan is that it provides a functional system of streets which permits travel from origins and destinations with directness, ease, and safety. Major thoroughfares are the primary traffic arteries of the municipality. Their main function is to move traffic in and around the area. Minor thoroughfares are more important streets on the municipal system. They collect traffic from local (like neighborhood) streets and carry it to the major thoroughfares. There is no set amount of traffic that makes a road a major or a minor, it is based on the function, outlined above. Routes on county thoroughfare plans were designated according to their functional classification.

Has NCDOT Transportation Planning Branch developed a plan for my area?
A complete status report of all the studies started or completed in the branch is located here. If the area is not listed, either a plan has not been cooperatively developed, or, in the case of smaller municipalities, it may be incorporated with a county plan. If you have a question about a particular study, we recommend that you contact the assigned TPB geographic unit head by phone or e-mail, and they will direct you to the appropriate staff member.

How do I request that a comprehensive transportation plan be developed for my (non-MPO) area?
Any area may request a comprehensive transportation plan to be cooperatively developed at any time by simply requesting the study, by letter, to the appropriate TPB geographic unit head. However, the study priority is based heavily on priority lists and needs from the Rural Planning Organizations (RPOs), so we recommend coordinating with your local RPO, if the municipality or county is a member. Studies are assigned to staff based on resources available.

How often does the Transportation Planning Branch fully update comprehensive transportation plans?
A full update is generally every eight to ten years, unless circumstances warrant a faster reevaluation (high growth, etc.). Studies usually take 18-24 months after it is assigned to a TPB engineer or planner. This time frame could be longer or shorter depending on the type and complexity of the study.

How often does the Transportation Planning Branch make minor revisions to comprehensive transportation plans?
A minor revision to any plan based on changing needs can be requested at any time, in writing, to the appropriate TPB geographic unit head. If the revision is accepted by the Transportation Planning Branch, a map will be prepared to show the revision. The local area adopts the revised map, and then it is mutually adopted by the NC Board of Transportation.

Do municipalities or counties have to pay for comprehensive transportation plans?
If an area has a planning area population greater than XXXX, there may be some cost sharing due to the complexities and staff resources of developing plans for larger areas. This cost sharing agreement will be worked out prior to TPB starting the study. Minor revisions to plans are considered and processed at no charge.

What happens if a municipality or county does not adopt the latest cooperatively developed comprehensive transportation plan?
The older plan, if any, remains in force until the older plan is revised or a new plan is adopted.