Regional Transportation Planning Organization
In July 2013, Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association became one of the five non-MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) regional councils in Ohio taking part in a two year pilot program to establish Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs) in Ohio. The purpose of this pilot program was to provide the rural areas of Ohio, that are not within the service boundaries of an MPO, a method by which to provide meaningful input to transportation planning activities taking place in Ohio. The pilot program was successfully completed in June 2015.
On January 27, 2016, Governor Kasich formally designated OMEGA as an RTPO, along with our four other partner organizations, pursuant to United States Code, Title 23, Section 135(m). This designation covers the Ohio counties of Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Muskingum, and Tuscarawas. This RTPO designation provides for the OMEGA Executive Board, consisting primarily of local elected officials, and the Ohio Department of Transportation to conduct an ongoing regional transportation planning process focused on promoting and enhancing the OMEGA region’s economic, social, and natural environments. To learn more about our RTPO, follow this link: https://omegadistrict.org/rtpo-info/ or click the image below.
The RTPO consists of three staff members overseen by the Transportation Director. The Executive Board functions as the Policy Board. The RTPO is also guided by the Citizens Advisory Board and the Transportation Advisory Committee. More information may be found here.
Our current SFY 2026 Work Plan outline the activities our RTPO staff will undertake throughout the fiscal year and consists of:
- Short and Long-Range Transportation Planning
- Development/maintenance of a four-year Regional Transportation Improvement Plan
- Implementation of the 2020 OMEGA Regional Transportation & Development Plan
- Grant Writing/Assistance
- Asset Management
- Technical Services
- Curve Speed Studies
- Traffic Counts
- Bike/Pedestrian Counts
- Crash Analysis
Boards and Committees
To assist with our transportation planning efforts, we have formed the following committees:
The Policy Board will be responsible to designate and approve membership on the Transportation Advisory Committee and Citizens Advisory Board; approve RTPO budgets, work plans, and policies; approve and adopt Regional Transportation Plan, Regional Transportation Improvement Program, and other regional plans as needed; and perform other policy making decisions. The OMEGA Executive Board will serve as the Policy Board. Click here for Executive Board Meeting Dates.
The Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) will provide a broad base of technical expertise for utilization by the Policy Board, Citizen’s Advisory Board, OMEGA’s Executive Director and staff. The Transportation Advisory Board will review, conduct investigations, and provide recommendations to the Executive Board as requested. Membership includes county engineers, regional planning directors, economic development professionals, and representatives from cities, villages, transit agencies, ODOT District 5 and 11, and others designated by the Policy Board.
The TAC meets the second Wednesday in March, June, September, and Novemebr at 10:30 am at ODOT District 11, 2201 Reiser Road in New Philadelphia, Ohio. Click here for upcoming TAC meeting dates, agenda, and other relevant information.
The Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) will consider methods and techniques of maximizing and insuring citizen representation and participation in the planning, deliberations, and activities of the RTPO. Click here for CAB meeting dates.
Transportation Advisory Committee
Formed in 2013, the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) provides a broad base of technical expertise for utilization by the OMEGA Executive Board, Citizen’s Advisory board, OMEGA Executive Director and staff. The TAC meets quarterly, and all meetings are open to the public. Presentations will be added to the site after each meeting. Meeting minutes will be added after they are approved.
Members include:
- County Engineer (or authorized representative) from each of the eight RTPO counties
- County Planning Director (or authorized representative) from each of the eight RTPO counties
- One representative from the largest city or village in each of the eight RTPO counties
- Port Authority and/or CIC (or equivalent organization) Executive Director from each of the eight RTPO counties
- Representative from each transit agency
- Representative from county park districts within the eight RTPO counties
- One representative each from ODOT Districts 5 and 11
- Others designated by OMEGA Executive Board
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Presentations and meeting minutes from 2021 or earlier are available upon request from the OMEGA Transportation staff. Please contact them by phone or email.
Meeting Minutes
TAC Presentations
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) updates the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) on a biannual basis. The STIP is Ohio’s four-year transportation planning document which presents the fiscally balanced, multi-modal transportation program for the State of Ohio. Included are projects both federal and state funded scheduled for some phase of implementation during the four year period. As a designated Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO), OMEGA develops a Regional Transportation Improvement Plan (RTIP) for Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Muskingum, and Tuscarawas Counties which is directly included in the STIP for the State Fiscal Years 2026-2029.
During October 2024, OMEGA hosted Rural Consultation meetings. These meetings are designed to disseminate information about ODOT-programmed projects and collect feedback about potential projects within local areas. These events are also an opportunity to gather information about local projects that may be added to the RTIP or Long-Range Transportation Plan.
From March through April 2025, OMEGA hosted public outreach and engagement meetings in person at locations throughout the region. OMEGA encourages all residents and elected officials throughout our eight county region to participate.
Projects may be submitted to OMEGA at anytime for inclusion into the RTIP or Long-Range Transportation Plan. Please submit projects by clicking HERE.
Comments may be submitted using the form below, or by any method below:
Email: bturin@omegadistrict.org
Phone: 740-439-4471 ext. 212
Mail: 326 Highland Avenue, Suite B; Cambridge, OH 43725
Long Range Transportation Plan
Beginning in December 2023, OMEGA staff began work on the 2025-2050 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). This plan identifies transportation needs, policies, strategies, and projects over the next twenty-five years. It will be reviewed annually and fully updated every five years. Please see the links to the left for the draft version of the plan and comment form. The previous LRTP can be found below. The Long-Range Transportation Survey can be found here. You can submit projects for inclusion in the plan here.
Questions/Comments?
Ben Turin
RTPO Program Manager
740-439-4471 ext. 212
The links below are for the previous LRTP, the 2020-2045 Regional Transportation and Development Plan.
Plan Components
Full Plan
Executive Summary
Regional StoryMap
Section 1 – Introduction
Section 2 – Regional Trends
Section 3 – OMEGA’s Existing Transportation System
Section 4 – Transportation System Development
Section 5 – Needs Analysis
Section 6 – Resiliency
Section 7 – Recommendations & Implementation
Plan Appendices
Appendix A – Public Survey Results
Appendix B – Broadband Coverage
Appendix C – Broadband Policy
Appendix D – ODOT Aviation Focus Study Recommendations
Appendix E1 – Proposed Projects – Transportation
Appendix E2 – Proposed Projects – Water
Appendix E3 – Proposed Projects – Wastewater
Appendix E4 – Proposed Projects – Other Infrastructure & Initiatives
Appendix F – Public Involvement & Comments
Appendix G – Resolution