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Project Planning - Regional Planning Rural Office

James K. Polk Building, Suite 900
505 Deaderick Street
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0334
Phone: 615.741.2208
Fax: 615.532.0353

 

Rural Planning Organization (RPO) Coordination

Terry Gladden, Transportation Manager 2
Phone: 615.253.7689

The Regional Planning Rural Office consists of two Sections: Needs Assessment Section and Consultation Section

The Needs Assessment Section
Rusty Staggs, Transportation Manager 1
Phone: 615.253.2438

  • Determines potential projects for study
    The Needs Assessment Section is responsible for evaluating potential projects to determine the appropriate level of study.  This involves an examination of factors that characterize these potential roadway projects, including existing level of service, accessibility and mobility, travel cost, economic development, goods/freight movements, safety, public and community support, and environmental and funding considerations.
  • Identify locations for Rural Planning Organization (RPO) priority listing
    The RPOs inform the Needs Assessment Section of their desired future projects.  This Section reviews these projects, providing level of service analysis, identifying geometric deficiencies, current and projected traffic, as well as crash data.  This information assists the RPOs in prioritizing projects for future study.

The Consultation Section
Paula Strauss, Transportation Manager 1
Phone: 615.253.5061

  • Provides project planning coordination to RPOs and others
  • Identifies and coordinates local and county land use planning in the early stages of project development

The Rural Planning Organization Section is responsible for the coordination of the long range transportation planning process in the state’s 12 RPOs as set forth in TDOT’s long range transportation plan.

The purpose of the RPOs is to involve local officials in multi-modal transportation planning through a structured process. Our goal is to ensure quality, competence, and fairness in the transportation decision making process.

The state's 12 RPO's are Center Hill, Dale Hollow, East Tennessee North, East Tennessee South, First Tennessee, Middle Tennessee RPO, West Tennessee RPO, Northwest Tennessee, South Central East, South Central West, Southeast Tennessee, and Southwest Tennessee.

The RPO will consider multi modal transportation needs on a local and regional basis; review long-term needs as well as short-term funding priorities; and make recommendations to TDOT.