Albemarle Rural Planning Organization
The Sound of Progress
Angela Welsh, CFM, NCLID
Planning Director/RPO Coordinator
Proudly serving the counties of Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington and their municipalities
Angela Welsh, CFM, NCLID

B.S. Urban Studies and Planning

Certified Floodplain Manager

North Carolina Low Impact Development, Certified Professional

Experience

Town Planner- Town of Nags Head

Planner- Hyman and Robey

Planner- City of Elizabeth City

GIS/911 Coordinator- Perquimans County

Tax Appraiser- Pasquotank County
Who we are
Rural Planning Organizations were formed in 2000 to provide rural areas
the opportunity to work in partnership with the NCDOT toward the
development of sound short and long-range transportation planning
for rural areas. The ARPO was chartered, by the NCDOT, in November
of 2001 and the Albemarle Commission was designated as the Lead
Planning Agency (LPA) in May of 2002.
Our Mission
To serve as an intergovernmental organization of local and State
officials for the purpose of developing long-range local and regional
multi-modal transportation plans and securing needed transportation
improvements for the Albemarle region.
Who we serve

10 Counties


Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hyde, Pasquotank,
Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington
15 municipalities

Edenton, Gatesville, Hertford, Winfall, Elizabeth City, Duck, Southern
Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Manteo, Roper, Creswell,
and Columbia
Program Funding

80% of funds are provide by the North Carolina Department of
Transportation - Transportation Planning Branch (NCDOT-TPB)

20% of funds are provided by the 10 member counties. Dues are
based on County population.

The Albemarle Commission serves as the Lead Planning Agency
(LPA) for the ARPO. It is reimbursed quarterly by the NCDOT TPB for
work completed by the ARPO.
What we do

Develop multi-modal transportation plans for the 10 county region;

Develop and prioritize projects for the State transportation
Improvement Program (STIP);

Provide a forum for public participation;

Provide transportation related information to local governments
and;

Participate in the merger process.
The TAC consists of one elected
official from each County, one
elected official from
each municipality and the NCDOT
BOT member for NCDOT Division 1.
The TAC is the policy making body
of the RPO and is currently chaired
by Pasquotank County
Commissioner Lloyd Griffin. Member
responsibilities include establishing
goals and priorities for the region,
review and comment on STIP
projects, review, recommend
changes and endorse
transportation plans and review and
adopt the Planning Work Program
(PWP)
Technical Coordinating
Committee
The TCC is made up of one
planner or county manager from
each county. One planner or
municipal government manager
from each municipality and
NCDOT Staff. The TCC is the
advisory committee to the
TAC. They provide review,
guidance and technical analysis
for the TAC, develop, review and
recommends the Planning Work
Program, identify and prioritize
transportation projects and make
recommendations in the
planning process as necessary.
The TCC is currently chaired by
Columbia Town Manager Rhett
White.
Planning Director
Technical Advisory Committee
TCC
TAC
Organizational chart
Planning Director
The RPO Director reports to the
TCC and TAC Boards and
handles the day to day functions
of the ARPO such as preparing
quarterly invoices, helping to
determine the list of STIP priorities
with the Division Engineer and
Division Planner, attending all
NCARPO, merger team and
transportation related public
meetings, creating agenda
packages for the TCC and TAC
and preparing deliverables for
the NCDOT. The Director is the
Secretary to both ARPO Boards
and responds to the TPB, 10
county and 15 municipality ARPO
member requests.
Current Projects

With grant funds provided by the NCDOT, the ARPO completed the
Albemarle Regional Bicycle Plan in 2012. It was adopted by all 10
member counties and 13 municipalities in 2012 and early 2013.

Comprehensive Transportation Plans have been completed, adopted
and endorsed for the counties of Hyde, Tyrrell, Currituck, Dare and
Camden.

The development of Comprehensive Transportation Plans for
Pasquotank, Perquimans, Chowan, Washington and Gates counties
began in January of 2014 and the CTP’s should be adopted by their
respective elected Boards in the spring through late summer of 2015.
Merger process

Current merger projects include:

NC 12 Hot Spots (Ocracoke Island)

NC 12 Hot Spot (Rodanthe, Hatteras Village and Buxton)

US 64-Alligator River bridge

US 158 Camden and Currituck

S Bridge in Hertford

US 158 Sunbury to Morgans Corner
Contact information
Angela M. Welsh, CFM, NCLID
Planning Director/RPO Coordinator
awelsh@albemarlecommission.org
252.426.5775
The ARPO webpage can be accessed via the address below:
www.albemarlecommission.org/planning/
The ARPO Facebook page can be accessed via the address below:
www.facebook.com/AlbemarleRPO