Albemarle Rural Planning Organization The Sound of Progress

Albemarle Rural Planning Organization The Sound of Progress Angela Welsh, CFM, NCLID Director Proudly serving the counties of Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington and their municipalities

Angela Welsh, CFM, NCLID q B. S. Urban Studies and Planning q Certified Floodplain Manager q North Carolina Low Impact Development, Certified Professional q Experience Town Planner- Town of Nags Head Planner- Hyman and Robey Planner- City of Elizabeth City GIS/911 Coordinator- Perquimans County Tax Appraiser- Pasquotank County

Who we are In 2000, the State of North Carolina recognized the need for more coordinated transportation planning in rural North Carolina areas not within a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Rural Planning Organizations (RPOs) were developed in response to Senate Bill 1195 by enacting amended General Statute 136, Article 17 which directed the NCDOT to develop a plan to establish RPOs. 20 RPOs were established between 2001 and 2003. The ARPO was chartered, by the NCDOT, in November of 2001.

Who we serve 10 Counties Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington 15 municipalities Edenton, Gatesville, Hertford, Winfall, Elizabeth City, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Manteo, Roper, Creswell, Plymouth and Columbia

Program Funding The ARPO program is currently funded on a reimbursement basis using Federal State Planning and Research Funds (SPR), with a 20% local match required. Allocations vary based on the population of our member counties. The Albemarle Commission serves as the fiscal agent for the ARPO. The Albemarle Commission receives and expends funds on behalf of the ARPO and provides at least one (1) full time equivalent professional staff member to carry out the duties of the ARPO.

Organizational chart Rural Transportation Advisory Committee (RTAC) Rural Transportation Coordinating Committee (RTCC) Albemarle Commission Board of Delegates The Albemarle Commission serves as the fiscal agent for the ARPO and receives and expends funds on behalf of the ARPO. The ARPO Director provides a monthly report of ARPO activities to the Albemarle Commission Board of Delegates for informational purposes. The RTCC consists of staff members from local government members, agencies and the NCDOT. The RTCC provides guidance and recommendations to the RTAC. The RTAC consists of local elected officials and the NCDOT Division 1 Board of Transportation member. The RTAC is the policy board of the RPO who establishes the goals, priorities and objectives of the RPO and endorses/approves all official documents such as Comprehensive Transportation Plans, resolutions, establishes the ARPO’s annual planning work program and transportation improvement projects for submission to the NCDOT. ARPO Director The ARPO Director reports to the RTAC Board and handles the day to day functions of the ARPO such as completing the work detailed in the PWP, preparing quarterly invoices, helping to determine the list of STIP priorities, attending NCARPO, merger team and transportation related meetings, creating agenda packages for the RTCC and RTAC board meetings, responds to the NCDOTTPD, and 10 county and 15 municipality ARPO member requests.

What we do Develop multi-modal transportation plans for the 10 county region; Develop and prioritize projects for the State transportation Improvement Program (STIP); Provide a forum for public participation; Provide transportation related information to local governments and; Participate in the merger process.

The Merger process Merger is a process to streamline the project development and permitting processes. Stakeholders include the NCDOT, USACE, NCDENR (DWQ, DCM), and FHWA. The Merger process provides a forum for appropriate agency representatives to discuss and reach consensus on ways to facilitate meeting the regulatory requirements of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act during the NEPA/SEPA decision-making phase of transportation projects. The ARPO Director is a member of the merger team.

Contact information Angela M. Welsh, CFM, NCLID Planning Director/RPO Coordinator awelsh@accog. org 252. 426. 5775 The ARPO webpage can be accessed via the address below: www. albemarlecommission. org/planning/ The ARPO Facebook page can be accessed via the address below: www. facebook. com/Albemarle. RPO