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

Angela Welsh, CFM, NCLID B.S. Urban Studies and Planning Certified Floodplain Manager North Carolina Low Impact Development, Certified Professional 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 Rural Planning Organizations were formed in 2000 to provide rural areas the opportunity to work in partnership with the NCDOT toward the development of sound short and long-range transportation planning for rural areas. The ARPO was chartered, by the NCDOT, in November of 2001 and the Albemarle Commission was designated as the Lead Planning Agency (LPA) in May of 2002. RPOs are not federally funded or mandated (We are officially federally funded but not mandated) There are 19 RPOs across the state. Urban Counterpart- Metropolitan Planning Organizations.

Who we serve 10 Counties 15 municipalities 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

Our Mission To serve as an intergovernmental organization of local and State officials for the purpose of developing long-range local and regional multi-modal transportation plans and securing needed transportation improvements for the Albemarle region.

Program Funding 80% of funds are provide by the North Carolina Department of Transportation - Transportation Planning Branch (NCDOT-TPB) 20% of funds are provided by the 10 member counties. Dues are based on County population. The Albemarle Commission serves as the Lead Planning Agency (LPA) for the ARPO. It is reimbursed quarterly by the NCDOT TPB for work completed by the ARPO.

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.

Rural Technical Coordinating Committee Organizational chart RTAC Rural Technical Advisory Committee The TAC consists of one elected official from each County, one elected official from each municipality and the NCDOT BOT member for NCDOT Division 1.  The TAC is the policy making body of the RPO and is currently chaired by Pasquotank County Commissioner Lloyd Griffin. Member responsibilities include establishing goals and priorities for the region, review and comment on STIP projects, review, recommend changes and endorse transportation plans and review and adopt the Planning Work Program (PWP). Per our MOU and Bylaws, voting privileges are limited to the 10 County Commissioners and the NCDOT Division 1 BOT member. RTCC Rural Technical Coordinating Committee The TCC is made up of one planner or county manager from each county. One planner or municipal government manager from each municipality and NCDOT Staff.  The TCC is the advisory committee to the TAC.  They provide review, guidance and technical analysis for the TAC, develop, review and recommend the Planning Work Program, identify and prioritize transportation projects and make recommendations in the planning process as necessary. The TCC is currently chaired by Columbia Town Manager Rhett White. Planning Director Planning Director The RPO Director reports to the TCC and TAC Boards 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 with the Division Engineer and Division Planner, attending all NCARPO, merger team and transportation related public meetings, creating agenda packages for the TCC and TAC and preparing deliverables for the NCDOT. The Director is the Secretary to both ARPO Boards and responds to the TPB, 10 county and 15 municipality ARPO member requests.

Current Projects With grant funds provided by the NCDOT, the ARPO completed the Albemarle Regional Bicycle Plan in 2012. It was adopted by all member counties and municipalities in 2012 and early 2013. In the Spring of 2016, the ARPO completed the first phase of the regional bicycle website project by drafting new bicycle route maps for Elizabeth City, Ocracoke, Manteo, and Columbia. Comprehensive Transportation Plans have been completed, adopted and endorsed for all ten of our member counties. In the late winter of 2018, the ARPO will begin work on a regional bicycle website project.

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. 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. 

Current merger projects NC 12 Hot Spots (Ocracoke Island) NC 12 Hot Spot (Rodanthe, Hatteras Village and Buxton) US 64-Alligator River bridge US 158 Camden and Currituck US 158 Sunbury to Morgans Corner Colington Road US 17 (I-87)

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/AlbemarleRPO