The Cape Fear Rural Transportation Planning Organization (RPO) is one of eighteen multi-county rural transportation planning organizations chartered by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). The Cape Fear RPO was established in 2001 through a memorandum of understanding between NCDOT, Brunswick, Columbus, and Pender counties, and the Cape Fear Council of Governments. The RPO serves as the intergovernmental organization for local elected officials, NCDOT, and residents of the region to work cooperatively to address transportation issues within the Cape Fear RPO boundary (see map below).

The goals and duties of the RPO are to:

• Develop long-range local and regional transportation plans across all modes in cooperation with other area planning organizations and NCDOT;
• Provide a forum for public participation in the rural transportation planning process;
• Develop and prioritize transportation projects which the RPO believes should be included in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP);
• Provide transportation-related information to local governments and other interested organizations and persons; and
• Conduct transportation related studies and surveys for local governments and other interested entities/organizations.

The governing board of the Cape Fear RPO is the Rural Transportation Advisory Committee (RTAC), a board of county and municipal elected officials from the RPO counties.  The RTAC holds 5-6 meetings per year, as does the Rural Transportation Coordinating Committee (RTCC), a committee of staff representatives from the RPO counties, municipalities, rural transit systems, Cape Fear Council of Governments, and NCDOT that provides technical recommendations to the governing board.