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Transportation and Planning Department The Transportation Planning staff works with local
communities and agencies to oversee the implementation of
transportation planning efforts throughout the five county region.
NACOLG also serves as the host agency for the Shoals Area Metropolitan
Planning Organization (MPO). This agency is responsible for the
administration of the transportation planning process in the Shoals
Urban Area. Duties and responsibilities of the MPO are outlined in the
Shoals Area Unified Planning Work Program, which is prepared and
updated each fiscal year. Furthermore, the MPO Planning Staff also
prepares the Shoals Area Long Range Transportation Plan which is
forecasted for a 25-year span, and the Transportation Improvement
Program (TIP), which addresses transportation projects within the
Shoals area for the next three years. The Transportation Planning staff members use a unique planning tool call Geographic Information Systems or GIS. This state of the art computerized system combines spatial and attribute information in order to generate maps and reports containing site-specific analysis. This system enables the department to collect and manage location-based information for use in planning projects. For example the planning team analyzed population distributions to determine where new voter districts boundaries should be located. The department also uses GIS to develop land use and zoning maps, utilities maps, transportation networks, and the like. The Transportation Planning staff, in conjunction with the Community Planning staff and Government Services staff, is available to assist member governments in seeking federal and state funding for improvements to their communities. The Transportation Planning Department provides grant writing assistance with Transportation Enhancement Applications, Industrial Access Applications, and Fire Grants. The Transportation Planning Department continues a partnership with the University of North Alabama’s Geography Department in its Field Placement Program. This past year, five interns received hands-on experience with planning and cartography projects as well as an introduction to assisting local governments by way of Field Placement at NACOLG. The interns actually work on ongoing projects, gaining a great deal of knowledge from the department staff. Since 1988, NACOLG has held the distinction of State Data Center Network Affiliate, a designation granted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. This status reflects the agency’s ability to assist with area development via continuous access to census publications and information from Federal and State agencies. Upon request, planners gather and disseminate demographic information for use by member governments and the public. For more information, contact Jesse Turner at (256) 389-0513 or by email at jturner@nwscc.edu |
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