Glossary

Kerr-Tar Rural Transportation Planning Organization (RPO) – The Rural Planning Organization created in 2001 to facilitate regional transportation planning and public engagement for the five-county region of Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren.

Kerr-Tar Council of Governments (COG) – The planning and development agency for the Region K area of North Carolina serving the local governments of Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren Counties.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) – Agreement of the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments and N.C. Department of Transportation detailing how the Regional Planning Organization will operate.

Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization (MPO) – One of 15 organizations in North Carolina that develop long-range local and regional multi-modal transportation plans for metro areas in cooperation with the state Department of Transportation. MPOs are mandated by the federal government as a condition of receiving federal financial assistance for transportation planning.

North Carolina Department of Transportation (NC-DOT) – The state agency that plans, constructs, maintains and operates the second largest state-maintained transportation system in the nation that includes aviation, ferry, public transportation, rail and highway systems. NC-DOT also licenses and regulates the citizens and motor vehicles that utilize these transportation systems.

Prospectus – Document that details the role and operation of the RPO.

Rural Transportation Advisory Committee (RTAC) – The policy-making board for the RPO.

Rural Transportation Coordinating Committee (RTCC) – The technical assistance arm of the RPO.

Regional Transportation Improvement Plan – A long-range transportation plan for a region, required by state and federal law to ensure the sound, wise investment of transportation resources.

Rural Transportation Planning Organization (RPO) – One of 20 regional organizations in North Carolina that develop long-range local and regional multi-modal transportation plans in cooperation with the state Department of Transportation, facilitate public engagement in the transportation planning process, and provide transportation-related information to local governments and other interested organizations and persons.

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) – The seven-year plan of the state Department of Transportation, updated every two years, that contains funding information and schedules for various transportation divisions (highways, aviation, enhancements, public transportation, rail, bicycle and pedestrians) and the Governor's Highway Safety Program.