The Roanoke Valley Transportation Planning Organization (RVTPO) is a federally mandated transportation policy board comprised of representatives from local, state, and federal governments, transit agencies, and other stakeholders and is responsible for transportation planning and programming for the Roanoke Valley Urbanized Area. This area is comprised of the Cities of Roanoke and Salem; the Town of Vinton and portions of the Counties of Bedford, Botetourt, Montgomery and Roanoke.

The Surface Transportation Block Grant Program: Roanoke Valley Urbanized Area Suballocation Funding (STBG), formerly referred to as the Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) provides federal funding that may be used by for a wide range of highway, transit, and other surface transportation projects. STBG funds are apportioned to large urban regions within a state. Among its functions, the RVTPO Policy Board is responsible for project selection and allocation of approximately $6M/year under the federally funded STBG program for the Roanoke Valley Urbanized Area.

Source: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Fact Sheet | Federal Highway Administration

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law sets up the Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) to address carbon dioxide emissions from road vehicles like cars and buses. The RVTPO is eligible through its status as a Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA) with a Transportation Management Area (TMA) status within Virginia.

Source: 23 USC 175: Carbon reduction program

Eligible recipients of STBG funds in the Roanoke Valley Area include the member local governments who have all or a portion of their territory in the RVTPO Study Area Boundary, Greater Roanoke Transit Company (GRTC – “Valley Metro”), Unified Human Services Transportation Systems, Inc. (RADAR), the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT).