In late January, City Council authorized a membership with the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) with an eye toward becoming a part of newly formed Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO). The new RTPO will be comprised of communities in Darke, Shelby and Preble counties as well as the counties themselves. MVRPC is nearing completion of membership recruitment for the new organization.
In late February, MVRPC staff met with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to discuss their expectations and a timeline for securing the needed funding. It is anticipated that working through ODOT, federal planning funds for the new organization could be available as early as July 1, 2022.
Once funds are secured, MVPRC staff will increase efforts to get the long range transportation plan and county land use plans scoped for the organization. After those long range transportation plans are completed, ODOT will seek authorization from Governor DeWine for the organization to become an officially recognized RTPO. With this official designation, comes the opportunity for additional funding for transportation planning projects.
A Technical Advisory Committee is currently being formed for the new RTPO.