Facebook X-twitter Linkedin Youtube

Capital Area Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CARTPO)

The Capital Area Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CARTPO) serves as a forum for elected officials to come together on transportation issues to recommend changes in policy and practice, advocate for legislation, recommend regional priorities, direct certain planning and data initiatives, oversee the federally-prescribed local consultation process, and collaborate with the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. It functions as a central clearinghouse for regional transportation planning. CARTPO is not appointed by the CAPCOG Executive Committee.

Staff Liason

Charles Simon

CARTPO Purpose

CARTPO originally was created as a response to TEA-21 legislation, which called for state departments of transportation to work with officials in non-metropolitan areas when making transportation planning and programming decisions. CARTPO originally was one of several Rural Planning Organizations (RPOs) voluntarily created by Texas Councils of Governments to help address rural transportation needs. Past calls for projects in 2003 and 2004 resulted in funding $24 million in transportation projects within our counties by the Texas Transportation Commission. Projects from the 2005 call for projects were not able to be funded through TxDOT’s traditional funding categories. CARTPO’s responsibilities consist of the following:

  • Providing a forum for elected officials and community leaders to learn about and discuss relevant transportation topics;
  • Evaluating and recommending projects with a regional impact to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT);
  • Overseeing research and education on financing mechanisms for transportation and related projects;
  • Studying and recommending changes in statutes, rules, or policies related to state or federal transportation programs;
  • Coordinating with CAMPO on transportation issues;
  • Developing a regional mobility strategy for the ten-county area; and
  • Serving as an information clearinghouse for transportation related data.

CARTPO Bylaws

CARTPO reevaluated its role in the transportation planning process during 2006 and on April 11, 2007 formalized its structure, and objectives into an adopted set of bylaws that set forth the organization’s purpose and the rules for which it would operate for assisting in developing regional transportation planning and helping guide programmatic decisions. 

CARTPO Bylaws

CARTPO Members

CARTPO membership comprises three categories: voting, ex-officio and associate. Voting membership is given to three officials from each of the 10 counties within the CAPCOG region, with representation from at least one municipality in each county suggested. Ex-officio members can consist of one person from the following transportation organizations operating in the region: Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council, Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS), Capital Area Transportation Coalition (CATC), Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CMTA), Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA),  Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce (GACC), Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)– Austin District.

CARTPO can also consists of non-voting associate members who may be from any government, organization, or individual interested in regional transportation planning.

People interested in serving on this committee or filling a vacancy,  can contact the staff liaison about an appointment or their county officials serving on the CAPCOG Executive Committee. In most cases, CAPCOG Executive Committee members representing the position’s jurisdiction recommend an appointment which are approved by the Executive Committee.

The current members of CARTPO Include:

CARTPO Meetings

The organization meets at least quarterly generally on the first Friday of the first month of the quarter. The meetings tend to start at 9:30 a.m. They are open to the public.

Find the Next Meeting

For past CARTPO agendas and minutes contact:

Charles Simon

  • Commissioner Terry Cook, Williamson County, Chair
  • Commissioner David Glass, Bastrop County, Vice Chair
  • Commissioner Clara Beckett, Bastrop County
  • Council Member Jimmy Jenkins, City of Smithville, Bastrop County
  • Mayor Mike Arnold, City of Blanco, Blanco County
  • Commissioner Emil Uecker, Blanco County
  • Commissioner Thomas Weir, Blanco County
  • Judge James Oakley, Burnet County
  • Commissioner Joe Don Dockery, Burnet County
  • Council Member Richard Westerman, City of Marble Falls, Burnet County
  • Judge Hoppy Haden, Caldwell County
  • Commissioner Ed Theriot, Caldwell County
  • Mayor Lew White, City of Lockhart, Caldwell County
  • Mayor Jane Hughson, City of San Marcos, Hays County
  • Commissioner Lon Shell, Hays County
  • Commissioner Alan Turner, Lee County
  • Commissioner Richard Wagner, Lee County
  • Judge Ron Cunningham, Llano County
  • Council Member, Dwight King, Llano County
  • Commissioner Linda Raschke, Llano County
  • Commissioner Jeff Travillion, Travis County
  • Trustee Ricardo E. Rendon, Del Valle ISD, Travis County
  • Commissioner Cynthia Long, Williamson County
  • Mayor Larry Bush, City of Jarrell, Williamson County
  • Ex officio Mr. Tucker Ferguson, P.E., TxDOT
  • Ex officio Mr. Ashby Johnson, CAMPO
  • Vacant – Hays County
  • Vacant – Fayette County
  • Vacant – Fayette County
  • Vacant – Fayette County
  • Vacant – Lee County
  • Vacant – Travis County

Other Regional and State Transportation Resources

Several other organizations provide helpful information and planning measures to the planning work done by CARTPO, they include the following:

Subscribe

Get the latest CAPCOG news & events.