Transportation Planning

NACOLG’s Transportation Planning program is responsible for the administration and management of the Shoals Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Northwest Alabama Rural Planning Organization (RPO). 
The MPO is required by federal highway and transit statutes for spending federal highway or transit funds in urbanized areas (population of 50,000 or greater).  MPO’s have a responsibility for planning, programming, and coordination of federal highway and transit investments. 

MPO member governments are the cities and towns of Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Killen, Leighton, St. Florian, and the urbanized portions of Colbert and Lauderdale Counties. 

The RPO is required by federal highway statutes to involve rural local officials in the development and implementation of statewide transportation plans and project investment decisions. 
The RPO is made up of the non-urbanized cities, towns, and counties of the region. The RPO holds meetings throughout the region to discuss transportation issues that affect our counties, cities, and towns. Safety and maintenance issues are documented and passed on to the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT).  Meetings are set up between the affected county or municipality and ALDOT and other involved organizations on an as needed basis.

Department Contacts:

Hayse, Ryan - Program Manager, Transportation Planning & IT Director
rhayse@nacolg.org
256-389-0514

Thompson, Rashad - Transportation Planner I/GIS Mapper
rthompson@nacolg.org
256-389-0513