The Northwest Florida Regional Transportation Planning Organization was created by an interlocal agreement between the Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization and the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization. The NWFRTPO was created June 17, 2004. The purpose of the NWFRTPO is to establish a forum for a coordinated and cooperative regional transportation planning process for Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties to:
- Implement the agreement through coordination of long range transportation plans, project priorities and planning policies;
- Begin developing alternatives for a solution to congestion and safety problems on US 98, a regionally-significant arterial roadway;
- Identify regional transportation projects which improve mobility across county and metropolitan planning area boundaries, and in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, to seek funding for those projects;
- Develop and adopt regional transportation priorities for regional transportation projects, through cooperation with the individual, local metropolitan planning organizations; and
- Develop a regional transportation plan and list of project priorities for the purpose of soliciting funds from the Transportation Regional Incentive Program.
There are 16 representatives – eight representatives are appointed by the Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization, (four from Escambia County and four from Santa Rosa County; and eight representatives appointed by Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization, four from Okaloosa County and four from Walton County. Representatives shall hold elected office and be a current member, or alternate, of the Florida-Alabama TPO or the Okaloosa-Walton TPO. Terms of office shall be for four years. Appointees may serve multiple terms. Meetings are held 6-8 times a year on the second Wednesday of the month.
