THE RURAL PLANNING ORGANIZATION (RPO)
The Rural Planning Organization (RPO) Committee met this past Wednesday at the Baldwin County Central Annex in Robertsdale, Alabama. Items on the agenda included a review and adoption of the Work Program for Fiscal Year 2017, which is the program budget for the transportation planning staff for the rural areas of the SARPC region; an update of the RPO's Transportation Plan and List of Safety Needs; a discussion of ADA Transition Plans for public rights of way, and a presentation of ALDOT's current and future transportation projects in Mobile, Baldwin and Escambia Counties. The presentation included bridge projects, capacity projects, interstate maintenance projects, and resurfacing projects. Some of the projects discussed included a bridge replacement over Conecuh River in Escambia County, Widening US 31 in Spanish Fort, a divergent diamond interchange at Interstate 10 and State Route 181, Widening SR 181 from SR 104 to CR 64 and from SR 104 to CR 32, Widening SR 180 in south Baldwin County, Interchange improvements at Interstate 65 and Celeste Road, and Interstate 65 at US 43, completing the new US 98 from Schillinger west to the state line, and resurfacing several shielded routes throughout the three counties. Further information is available on our website.
ADA Transition Plans
The ALDOT deadline of July 20th to have an adopted ADA Transition Plan for Public ROW for MPO member governments has been extended until the end of September of this year. The inventory is complete, public meetings have been had and we had a Mobile MPO meeting on September 14th to adopt the Mobile MPO Self-Certification, as we can now say that yes we have nine ADA Transition Plans for Public ROW. A Mobile MPO ADA website is up and running that has links to the nine plans, and ADA Coordinators. We want to thank everyone for getting these plans adopted as fast as they were. If you have any questions, please call Kevin Harrison.
Statewide Competitive Non-Urban Grant (deadline October 5th, 2016)
Job Access & Reverse Commute Program (Section 5316 * JARC) and the
New Freedom Program (Section 5317 - NF)
Fiscal Year 2017
Dissemination Date: September 6, 2016
Date to Submit Applications to Regional Planning Councils: October 5, 2016
Date for Regional Planning Councils to Submit their Applications to ALDOT:
October 5, 2016
Date for Regional Planning Councils to Submit Endorsed Applications to ALDOT:
October 12, 2016
ALDOT has announced the grant application for federal assistance provided through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the Section 5316 Job Access and Reverse Commute and Section 5317 New Freedom Programs. The "Vehicle Inventory Form" is provided in the application in Word, but is upon request also available electronically in Excel. The applications are available through ALDOT or SARPC can email you one. Please let us know.
All projects funded through Sections 5316 and 5317 must be derived from a locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation planning process. ALDOT has designated the 12 Regional Planning Councils to coordinate transportation services in their regions.
Please read the application in its entirety before starting to complete it. Immediate attention must be given to the public hearing requirements, authorizing resolution, and the required Regional Planning Council endorsement.
Completed grant applications must be submitted on or before 5:00 p.m. on October 5, 2016, to the appropriate Regional Planning Council in the geographic area of the state where Section 5316 and/or Section 5317 transportation services are proposed. Regional Planning Councils preparing applications will submit their applications to ALDOT on or before 5:00 p.m. on October 5, 2016.
Technical assistance is available on an as needed basis. If you have any questions or need technical assistance with the application development process, please contact Wiley Brooks, at (334) 353-6417 or email him at
brookswi@dot.state.al.us.
There are many exciting and important happenings in our Region 
The City of Daphne has partnered with the Area Agency on Aging of the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission to house the new South Alabama Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). The office is located on the first floor of City Hall at 1705 Main Street in Daphne. RSVP is enrolling both volunteers, and organizations that need volunteers throughout Baldwin County. The South Alabama RSVP serves both Baldwin and Escambia counties and gives adults age 55 and over meaningful and rewarding volunteer experiences in their local communities. RSVP is one of the largest volunteer networks in the nation. Persons interested in volunteering and agencies needing volunteers are encourage to call Charles Smith, RSVP director, at 621-9000 Ext 169 or 236-3881. 
