![The OWTPO deals with major transportation projects as well as small-scale improvements like pedestrian safety projects and construction of bicycle paths. [SPECIAL TO THE NEWS BULLETIN]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-6fb90e70-0eb7-3a44-e053-0100007f8371-6ed1016f-scaled.jpeg)
CRESTVIEW —Okaloosa County residents who want to get involved in bringing transportation projects to their community have the opportunity to make their voices heard.
The Citizens’ Advisory Committee of the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization (OWTPO) currently has only 10 out of 30 seats filled. The 20 open seats can be filled by any resident of Okaloosa or Walton County.
Transportation Planning Organizations are made up of elected officials from the areas they cover, and are tasked with identifying transportation needs and recommending new projects to the Florida Department of Transportation.
"The TPO is kind of the filter organization that gives DOT direction on how DOT will spend its money," Nathan Boyles, current vice chair of the TPO, said. Boyles is one of four Okaloosa County Commissioners that sit on the board. The rest are elected officials from throughout both counties, including three Crestview city council members.
The organization makes long-range planning decisions on transportation projects and prioritizes them before sending them off to FDOT.
Projects that are approved by the TPO are added to a needs list, and then a shorter list of cost-feasible projects if they are determined to have a reasonable probability of being funded.
One place those projects can get their start is the Citizens’ Advisory Committee. Citizens who sit on the committee are tasked with making recommendations that are then reviewed by the elected officials on the main body of the TPO.
"The folks who sit on the CAC have the ability to make recommendations on things that the TPO should be looking at," Boyles said.
Major transportation projects aren’t the only things that come out of the TPO. Smaller projects like bicycle and pedestrian paths, intersection improvements and other safety projects originate with the TPO as well.
The advisory committee is looking for people who are interested in helping find constructive solutions to transportation issues in the area.
"From my perspective, I want the Citizens’ Advisory Committee to be made up of citizens who are interested in the traffic challenges that face Northwest Florida and have an eye towards improving the system to provide for the likely future growth of our community," Boyles said.
The committee meets six times a year at 9:30 am, typically on Thursdays. This year, the meetings rotate between DeFuniak Springs and Shalimar. The next meeting will be held June 21 at the Walton County Courthouse in Defuniak Springs.
Anyone interested in joining the Citizens’ Advisory Committee can contact Annie Walthall, public involvement officer for the TPO at 850-332-7976, extension 281, or by email at annie.walthall@wfrpc.org.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Citizens can impact local transit needs