Rural Regional Transportation Plan

TDOT, in conjunction with the RPO’s across the state, is collaborating in planning efforts for the development of Rural Regional Transportation Plans (RRTP’s.) The purpose of the plans is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the state’s rural transportation infrastructure investments and to increase the economic competitiveness of the state’s rural regions. The Rural Regional Transportation Plan stems from recommendations contained within TDOT's 25-Year Long Range Transportation Policy Plan , as it relates to the RPO’s.

Those recommendations include:

Provide the latest planning data and tools
Increase the responsibility to encompass more multimodal considerations
Create a process that fosters a more needs-based approach including land-use and transportation

Identifying needs and making a range of recommendations for rural Tennessee’s transportation system is a goal of TDOT's Long Range Planning Division. Once completed, the Rural Regional Transportation Plans will be used for additional future studies, identification for county-level transportation plans, as well as any additional needs recognized.

To successfully implement these regional plans, public engagement is crucial and valuable. Much like the TDOT 25-Year Long Range Transportation Policy Plan, the core of the RRTPs will follow the seven guiding principles that further TDOT’s vision of serving the public by providing the best multimodal transportation system in the nation:

Preserving and managing the existing system
Providing for the efficient movement of people and freight
Supporting the State’s economy
Maximizing safety and security
Building partnerships for sustainable and livable communities
Protecting natural, cultural, and environmental resources
Emphasizing financial responsibility

These plans will provide the next steps in supporting and proactively preparing for future growth and development in our state. During this project various methods of public engagement and community input will be utilized. The Office of Community Transportation (OCT) and/or the TDOT Special Projects Coordinator will collaborate with the RPO Coordinators, the counties, and municipalities located within the RPO to evaluate and keep track of the progress and planning activities made.

The MTRPO RRTP was adopted at the December 6, 2023 meeting! The current plan can be viewed here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X1o1SqaIuwziPzGaGBYD6We0hHzCff-8/view?usp=sharing

Timeline of the MTRPO RRTP to completion:

Kick-off meeting – Fall 2021
One-on-one meeting with counties – Spring 2022
Selection of priority locations, concerns – Spring 2022
Stakeholders meeting to review & analyze priority locations, concerns - August 2023
Define Regional Goals - October 2023
Submittal of narrative for Draft creation - October 2023
Presentation of Data, Final Draft at RPO meeting - December 6, 2023
Action taken by RPO to adopt RRTP - December 6, 2023