Arcadia, FL (September 21, 2015) – Town Administrator of Arcadia, Terry Stewart was appointed as chair of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Heartland Regional Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) at the committee’s first meeting on August 19, 2015 in Sebring. Todd Miller, planning director of Hardee County, will serve as vice-chair.
Stewart stated, “It is an honor and privilege to serve the HRTPO as the chair of its Technical Advisory Committee. Though I am relatively new to this region, my work as chair will be made easier because the TAC and HRTPO are comprised of committee and staff members alike who are all highly experienced and professional individuals. We have important work to do for this region and I am excited with the opportunity to help make a difference.”
The TPO Board’s Technical Advisory Committee is composed of technically qualified representatives of agencies responsible for maintaining, controlling, developing and improving the transportation system within the Heartland region, including the Cities of Sebring and Avon Park, the six counties, the Sebring Airport Authority, the Central Florida Regional Planning Council and the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council. Committee duties include coordination of transportation plans and programs arising from the review of all transportation technical studies and reports.
Originally from North Carolina, Stewart became a resident of Florida in 1964 and began his public service career not long after. With 46 years of local government experience, he has held positions including Assistant Fire Chief of Pembroke Pines, City Manager of Cape Coral, and Town Manager of Fort Myers Beach.
HRTPO Staff Services Director Pat Steed stated, “We are very pleased with the appointment of Terry Stewart as the first chair of the Technical Advisory Committee. His extensive experience in the public sector will bring value to the committee as they make recommendations to the TPO Board.”
Designated on November 17, 2014 by Governor Rick Scott of Florida, the HRTPO will assist in preparing the region for increasing urbanization and infrastructure investment through the creation of a twenty-year Long Range Transportation Plan and a five-year Transportation Improvement Program among other transportation planning activities.
The Technical Advisory Committee will hold their second meeting on October 7, 2015 at CareerSource Heartland in Sebring.
For more information, contact Marybeth Soderstrom, Community Engagement Manager by email msoderstrom@cfrpc.org, mail to 555 East Church Street, Bartow, FL 33830, or call (863) 534-7130 x 134.
About the HRTPO
The Heartland Regional TPO is a federally mandated transportation policy-making organization that coordinates transportation plans for the Heartland region including the six counties of DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands and Okeechobee and the urbanized area of Highlands County including the cities of Sebring and Avon Park.
Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion or family status. Persons requiring accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or language translation, free of charge should contact Marybeth Soderstrom at (863) 534-7130. To learn more about the HRTPO, visit our website at www.heartlandregionaltpo.org.