Palouse Regional Transportation Planning Organization (Palouse RTPO)

About

What is the Palouse RTPO?

Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs) are state-designated entities with responsibilities established in RCW 47.80. In 1990, the Washington State Legislature passed the Growth Management Act authorizing the state-wide Regional Transportation Planning Program. In this capacity, the Palouse RTPO is responsible for ensuring on-going coordinated transportation planning amongst its members and identifying long-range issues or opportunities affecting the region. The Palouse RTPO region is made up of Washington’s four southeast counties of Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, and Whitman which includes 7 cities, 13 towns, 5 transit agencies, 4 ports, and Washington State University (representing a regional major employer).

The primary functions of RTPOs include developing regional plans and policies for transportation, growth management, and environmental quality, providing data and analysis to support local and regional decision making, building community consensus on regional issues through information sharing and citizen involvement, building inter governmental consensus on regional plans, policies and issues, and providing planning and technical services on a contractual basis.

The Palouse RTPO serves as a regional transportation council to provide input on local, regional, state and federal transportation needs and projects throughout it’s region and statewide. More specifically, and in accordance with RCW 47.80, the Palouse RTPO performs the following essential tasks for the region:

  • Develops and maintains a minimum 20-year regional transportation plan that reflects locally adopted land use plans and growth strategies, and considers all modes of travel and all system users. 
  • Develops and maintains a Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan that supports mobility needs of the region’s population that have special transportation needs.
  • Maintains consistency between local comprehensive plans and the regional transportation plan, and between the regional plan and countywide planning policies.
  • Produces a six-year Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) based on those developed by local jurisdictions, transit agencies, and WSDOT.
  • Identifies projects to receive Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside program funding.
  • Collaborates with local, regional, state, federal, and tribal partners as appropriate to support efforts that benefit the regional and statewide multimodal transportation system.
  • Creates opportunities for public education and engagement in developing and carrying out a regional transportation program.

The Board of Commissioners of Asotin, Columbia, and Garfield Counties established the Palouse RTPO by resolution on January 16, 1991. Whitman County became a member of the Palouse RTPO in July 2003 through an Interlocal Agreement signed by all four counties. On January 14, 2015, an interlocal agreement for the reformation of the Palouse RTPO was signed into effect by the four counties, and the towns and cities (except the town of Lamont, Malden and Oakesdale). The term of this new agreement is perpetual until the joint and comprehensive undertaking is either voluntarily dissolved or discontinued pursuant to RCW 47.80.020, or as established by an amendment to the Agreement. 

In addition to the geographic area within the boundaries of Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, and Whitman Counties of Washington, the Palouse RTPO serves the 9th and 16th Washington State Legislative Districts, as well as the 5th WA state congressional district. In 2003, the Governors of the States of Idaho and Washington designated the Lewis Clark Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (LCVMPO) which includes the urban areas and cities of Nez Perce County in Idaho, and Asotin County in Washington. Asotin County, City of Clarkston and City of Asotin have memberships in the LCVMPO and are also the members of the Palouse RTPO.