RPO - East Tennessee Development District

East Tennessee South Rural Planning Organization (RPO) 
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The RPO is an organization which makes recommendations to the Tennessee Department of Transportation regarding which roadway and other transportation projects receive state and federal funding for right‐of‐way acquisition and construction. The East Tennessee South RPO planning area includes the following counties: Sevier, Roane, Monroe, Loudon, Jefferson, Cocke, Blount & Anderson. The RPO is comprised of an Executive Committee and Technical Committee. Executive Board is comprised of: 1. The County Mayor or County Executive of each member county. 2. A Municipal Representative from each county who is a City Mayor chosen by all of the City Mayors in the county. 3. A State Senator and a State Representative from the 8 county area. 
Technical Committee is comprised of: 1. County Road Superintendent. 2. A County Representative appointed by the County Mayor or County Executive. 3. A Municipal Representative from each county who is chosen by all of the City Mayors in the county. 4. Modal Representatives from public transportation, aviation, trucking, rail, bike / pedestrian and water. 5. East Tennessee Development District. 6. Citizen Representative. 
The Executive Board typically meets 2 times a year and Technical Committee typically meets 4 times a year. 
Key items produced by the RPO include: 1. A Request for Study list which includes roadway sections identified as in need of improvement. 2. A Needs Assessment Report which evaluates projects based on capacity, geometrics and crash rates. 3. A 3 Year Work Program which prioritizes roadway projects within the 8 county region. 
Program is administered by the East Tennessee Development District in cooperation with the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

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