Slide 1:

The Appalachian Regional Commission

Slide 2:

Only Two Basic Reasons for Transportation Coalitions
• Solve Common Problems or
• Achieve Common Goals

Slide 3:

Only Two Basic Reasons for Transportation Coalitions
• Solve Common Problems or
• Achieve Common Goals
– ECONOMIC
– QUALITY of LIFE

Slide 4:

Specific Reasons for Transportation Coalitions
• Creation & Retention of Jobs
• Competition in national / global markets
• Meet the needs of a mobile society
• Provide human services
• Preservation of the environment

Slide 5:

Specific Reasons for Transportation Coalitions
• Creation & Retention of Jobs
• Competition in national / global markets
• Meet the needs of a mobile society
• Provide human services
• Preservation of the environment
• When you think about it
• Local agencies can not afford to compete with their neighbors
• There is strength in numbers
• It just makes common sense

Slide 6:

The Appalachian Region of
West VirginiaParts of:
Alabama
Georgia
Kentucky
Maryland
Mississippi
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia

Slide 7:

198,931square miles

13 States

406 Counties

22,216,361 people

42 % rural

Slide 8:

By the 1960s,
Appalachia was a “region set apart.”

• One of three Appalachians lived in poverty,
50% higher than the national average.
• Unemployment was 40% higher than the national average.
• Between 1950 and 1960, net out-migration from Appalachia exceeded two million persons.
The school dropout rate was well over 50%.

Slide 9:

Appalachian Regional Commission1965
Highways
Hospitals
Sewage Treatment
Land Conservation
Mine Land Restoration
Flood Control
Water Resource Mgmt.
Vocational Education
Community Development
Technical Assistance

Slide 10:

Appalachian Regional Commission organizational chart

Slide 11:

ARC’s Six Major Program Areas

Slide 12:

ARC’s Six Major Program Areas

Slide 13:

ARC Funding by State and Goal Area

Slide 14:

Appalachian Development Highway System

Slide 15:

Two Distinct Funding Mechanisms
for Advancing ARC Projects
• Area Development Projects
– Annual appropriation from General Fund
– Funds flow through ARC
• Highway Projects
– Multi-year appropriation from Highway Trust Fund
– Funds flow through FHWA

Slide 16:

Two Distinct Tracks for Advancing ARC Projects
• Area Development Projects
• Highway Projects

Slide 17:

Area Development Projects

• ARC Strategic Plan approved by the Commission
• State’s Strategic Statement submitted by each Governor & approved by the Commission
• Projects initiated by LDDs
• Projects prioritized by State Program Manager
• Projects reviewed by State’s Alternate
• Projects submitted by the Governor
• Projects reviewed by ARC Staff
• Projects approved by Federal Co- Chairman
• Projects implemented by LDD/Locals/State or Federal Agency
• Projects evaluated by ARC staff

Slide 18:

Highway Projects
• ADHS & eligible mileage authorized by Congress
• Corridor location, termini, and eligible mileage to States are approved by the Commission
• Projects are advanced by State DOTs
• Projects follow federal-aid highway procedures and are monitored by the FHWA

Slide 19:

ARC’s Special Initiatives

Slide 20:

Assessment of Intermodal Transportation in the Appalachian Region

Slide 21:

Intermodal Transportation Systems

Slide 22:

Intermodal Transportation Summitsponsored byARC & USDOT

Slide 23:

ARC’s 10 Intermodal Planning Grants

Slide 24:

The economic impact study performed by Wilbur Smith Associates.

Slide 25:

ADHS Benefits Exceed Costs

Slide 26:

Have We a Difference in Appalachia ?

Slide 27:

Distressed Counties of the Appalachian Region: 1960

Slide 28:

Distressed Counties in the Appalachian Region - FY 2001

Slide 29:

Reasons for ARC’s Success
• Set up by Congress (clout with Federal agencies)
• Staff to provide technical support, research & evaluation
• Separate federal funding provides a catalyst
• Multi frontal approach
• Bottoms up approach
• 50 / 50 State/Federal partnership
• Local/State/Federal partnership
• Forum to share successes and failures
• Common goal to reach win-win solutions

Slide 30:

Major Challenges Facing ARC’s
• Funding levels have not kept pace with the demand
• Keeping a regional focus vs. a local focus
• Balance of power requires consensus on all decisions = time
• Shooting at a moving target

Slide 31:

www.arc.gov

Slide 32:

Appalachia
A Proud Past!
A Bright Future!