WHAT IS AN MPO?
The Rocky Mount Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is the transportation planning agency serving the City of Rocky Mount, portions of Edgecombe and Nash Counties, and the Town of Nashville. The Rocky Mount MPO covers an area of approximately 198 square miles and 66,000 people.

The City of Rocky Mount has served as the Lead Planning Agency for the MPO, which was established in 1992 as the seventeenth North Carolina MPO. After the 2000 Census the MPO boundary was adjusted to include the Town of Nashville.

Local governments in the MPO are represented by an elected official on the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC), which is responsible for a continuous, comprehensive and cooperative transportation planning process. Staff members from local planning organizations, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration comprise the Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) which reports to the TAC.

The TCC and TAC are responsible for the development of three primary planning documents: "Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)", "Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP)", and "Planning Work Program (PWP)".

Both the TCC and TAC seek the involvement of the general public to create the transportation plans for the multi-modal transportation system. Thank you for visiting the Rocky Mount MPO website. Contact the Transportation Planner for additional information about the MPO: league@ci.rocky-mount.nc.us.

MISSION
The Transportation Planning Group (TPG), part of the City of Rocky Mount Engineering Department, is charged with oversight of the long range transportation planning activities within our area and coordination of the Rocky Mount Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Serving in this capacity, the TPGs primary goal is to develop an integrated, multi-modal transportation network that efficiently moves people and goods and meets the long range transportation needs of the Rocky Mount Urban Area.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The TPG is responsible for the execution of the MPO's Planning Work Program (PWP). This program, prepared annually, seeks to define a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive process by which the MPO can identify, evaluate, and assess local short term and long term transportation related needs within our area.

Due to the long range implications of local transportation planning efforts and the level of investment required to construct and maintain such infrastructure, the MPO is also responsible for insuring that the program includes a proactive and inclusive public involvement process. In addition to soliciting public input and comment on projects and plans through public hearings, the MPOs public involvement policy dictates an ongoing public education program to engage a wide range of diverse interests including local businesses, community groups, private citizens, and other agencies. The information made available through this website, is but one example of the MPOs commitment to this goal.

WORK PRODUCTS
Although the MPO is actively involved in a wide range of work efforts, one of the more significant work products is the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). This plan, which includes a planning horizon of at least 20 years, identifies and prioritizes what types of transportation improvements (roadways, bicycles, transit, pedestrian, and intermodal facilities) are required to meet the anticipated short term and long term needs within the planning area. The current LRTP (Rocky Mount Urban Area MPOs Transportation Plan 2030) was adopted by the MPO on November 15, 2004.