Frequently Asked Questions

The Northeast Arkansas Regional Transportation Planning Commission (N.A.R.T.P.C.) serves as the official Metropolitan Planning Organization for the cities of Bay, Bono, Brookland, Jonesboro and some unincorporated parts of Craighead County.

An MPO is a transportation-planning body composed of locally-elected officials and representatives from state and local transportation agencies for urbanized areas with populations greater than 50,000. The MPO was created to ensure that existing and future expenditures for transportation projects and programs are based on a comprehensive, cooperative and continuing (3-C) planning process.

The MPO is responsible for planning and developing a safe, efficient, and multimodal transportation system for the region. Major work activities of the MPO include development and maintenance of the following:

•  A Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) - a guide for transportation investments in the MPO area for the next 25 years (The N.A.R.T.P.C. updates its MTP every five years) 
• A Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) - a three to four-year program of anticipated highway and transit improvements in the MPO area. (The N.A.R.T.P.C. updates its TIP every three to four years) 
• A Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) - identifies the tasks to be performed by the MPO and its member agencies using MPO funds. (The N.A.R.T.P.C. prepares a new UPWP each year) 
• A Public Participation Plan (PPP) - describes the ways in which the MPO involves citizens in the transportation planning process. (The N.A.R.T.P.C. reviews its PPP regularly and updates the plan as needed) 

80% of the MPO is funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) through the Arkansas Department of Transportation.