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Rural Consultation Practices
Connecticut RPOs Provide Forum for Rural Officials

Transportation shapes our communities and touches most aspects of our lives. In Connecticut, New England’s second smallest and southernmost state, this idea has crafted a transportation planning process that has been far ahead of its time.

Better known today for its insurance companies, Connecticut’s farming is still important to the state. With its small New England flavor and vast open-space Connecticut has become ideal for commuters interested in escaping the city life. The demands on the transportation system continue to increase and congestion, especially on the highway system, is a mounting concern.

Since 1959, regional involvement has been a feature in Connecticut’s transportation planning process. The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) have served to formalize relations and assign responsibilities to the fifteen Regional Planning Organizations (RPOs) within the state. Of those fifteen regions, five are considered rural regions.

RPOs are responsible for conducting planning activities for specific geographic areas within the state. RPOs assist the municipalities with planning and administrative services and provide a forum for inter-municipal concerns and representation in relating to state and federal programs.

Each RPO provides input into the short and long-range transportation plans with careful consideration to plans and programs that weigh all transportation modes and community goals. Through an annual contract each RPO receives approximately $50,000 to assist in the planning process.

Rick Lynn, Planning Director for the Litchfield Hills Council of Elected Officials explains that not only do the rural regional agencies provide input but also their suggestions are seriously considered. Lynn adds that "out of the top 12 priorities in the Litchfield region, included in the 1993 long-range plan, 10 have been funded and with the 1997 update 6 more projects have been funded or implemented by the Connecticut Department of Transportation [ConnDOT]."

Lynn feels that "ConnDOT realized early on that using the regional planning organizations was not only good policy but that projects, when supported by local officials, garner more public support and backing." Although the process is not perfect Lynn says "ConnDOT continues to provide open access for the regions and are very accommodating during the transportation planning process."

There still seems to be one area in which the process could be better. Lynn explains, "administrative requirements for federally funded projects can become tedious and siphon off limited funds that could be utilized by the transportation project." Mountains of paperwork are often times redundant and unnecessary leaving staff in rural regions taxed beyond their means.

For further information, contact Rick Lynn, Planning Director for the Litchfield Hills Council of Elected Officials at (860) 491-9884 or email lhceo1@esslink.com.


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