Resources: FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Rural Transportation

Q: What is a Rural Planning Organization (RPO)?
A: An organization of primarily rural local elected officials that provides a forum for local input on transportation issues impacting non-metropolitan communities with a population below 50,000. RPOs serve as a link between state Departments of Transportation (DOTs), local elected officials and citizens in ensuring their involvement in the transportation planning and decision-making process. In the almost 30 states with RPOs, these entities are typically managed and coordinated by regional development organizations.

Q: What is a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)?
A: An organization of primarily local elected officials that provides a forum for local decision-making on transportation issues impacting metropolitan areas with a population above 50,000. Each MPO has a policy board that is generally comprised of chief elected officials who represent different parts of the region served by the MPO. This board is often advised by a technical committee that consists of planning and engineering staff from jurisdictions within each region.

Q: What is a Regional Development Organization (RDO)?
A: Also known as area development districts, councils of governments, economic development districts, local development districts, planning and development districts and regional planning commissions – regional development organizations provide valuable administrative, professional and technical assistance to over 2,000 counties and 15,000 small cities and towns. They also administer and deliver numerous federal programs on a regional basis and depending on local needs. Programs include aging, community and economic development, housing, business development finance, transportation and emergency management. RDOs typically administer and/or serve as the RPO.

Q: What is the rural consultation process?
A: A formal and documented process – separate and discrete from the public involvement process – for states to involve rural local officials in the development and implementation of statewide transportation plans and project investment decisions.

Q: What is a non-metropolitan local official?
A: Under new federal transportation regulations, a non-metropolitan local official is defined as an elected or appointed official of general-purpose local government.

Q: What are the new Federal Highway and Transit Administration rules on rural consultation?
A: In August 2005, Congress enacted SAFETEA-LU, which retained the language contained in TEA-21 (1998) for enhanced consultation for non-metropolitan local officials. In February 2007, the Federal Highway and Federal Transit Administrations issued the final rule regarding statewide and metropolitan transportation planning. The final rule is available here.

Q: Where can I learn more about the federal rules on state transportation consultation with non-metropolitan local officials?
A: For more information on legislation and regulations governing planning, view the Federal Highway Administratin's Web site on legislation, regulations and guidance.

Q: How can local officials get involved in transportation planning?
A: Become familiar with the state’s rural consultation plan by:

• Contacting your state DOT for a copy of the rural consultation process
• Contacting your regional planning and development organization to find out how you can be involved
• Serving on your region’s rural transportation advisory committee. Or, if your region lacks a regional or local planning process for areas outside of the metropolitan planning area, take the initiative to establish a process

Q: How do states manage the rural consultation process?
A: Visit Rural Transportation.org for examples and models and to join the interactive listserv for rural transportation planners and stakeholders.

Q: How do I share my ideas with the RPO, RDO and state?
A: There are many actions you can take to share ideas, such as:

• Identifying transportation needs in your area and provide input to the state on regional and local issues and priorities
• Attend public transportation meetings and share your ideas and concerns
• Engage local citizens and get them to attend planning meetings
• Work with your peers to prepare a unified transportation needs plan
• Advocate area transportation issues to neighboring regions, area legislators and other interested parties

Q: What is a Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)?
A: The STIP is a staged, multi-year, statewide, intermodal program of transportation projects, funded or requiring action by the Federal Highway Administration or Federal Transit Administration. The STIP must be consistent with the statewide long-range transportation plan and its planning processes including policy plans. The STIP must cover a period of no less than three years.

Q: What is a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)?
A: The TIP is a three-year priority list of transportation projects to be implemented within a metropolitan area of the state. In addition to federally funded transportation projects, the TIP includes a listing of all other transportation projects that use state and/or local funding sources.

Q: How do I interact with my peers?
A: Through the rural transportation listserv and upcoming regional and national rural transportation meetings and conferences, found at Rural Transportation.org

Q: What is the Research Center?
A: The Center for Transportation Advancement and Regional Development, or Research Center, provides training, information and professional resources for small metropolitan and rural regions to pursue innovative strategies that expand the capabilities, capacity and effectiveness of a region’s transportation network.

The Center is funded under a four-year cooperative agreement with the Federal Highway Administration. Learn more about FHWA's work in economic development at www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/econdev/index.html.