Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG), a regional planning agency, represents 28 local governments in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba Counties.

Designated as the Lead Planning Agency for the Unifour Rural Planning Organization (RPO) as well as the Greater Hickory Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), WPCOG has the primary responsibility for preparation of the Rural Planning Work Program (PWP) and the Urban Area Planning Work Program (PWP). The MPO is also responsible for developing the Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP). The COG is the primary local recipient of transportation planning funds received from the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the US Department of Transportation.

The Unifour RPO includes the Town of Taylorsville and the non-urbanized areas of Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba Counties. The Greater Hickory MPO includes the municipalities of Brookford, Cajah’s Mountain, Catawba, Cedar Rock, Claremont, Conover, Connelly Springs, Drexel, Gamewell, Glen Alpine, Granite Falls, Hickory, Hildebran, Hudson, Lenoir, Long View, Maiden, Morganton, Newton, Rhodhiss, Rutherford College, Sawmills, Valdese and the urbanized areas of Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba Counties.

Along with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the US Department of Transportation, these 28 local governments participate in a continuing transportation planning process for the Unifour RPO and Greater Hickory MPO. Locally based transportation planning gives communities the opportunity to make transportation investment decisions that enhance economic and community development goals.

The Unifour RPO works in partnership with the Greater Hickory MPO and the North Carolina Department of Transportation in assisting the four counties and twenty-four municipalities develop a regional transportation planning process. Planning efforts will reach out to each of the counties in order to connect the entire region in developing an multi-modal transportation system that facilitates the safe, efficient movement of people and goods. The RPO and MPO have had a unique chance to create a partnership to coordinate all phases of transportation planning for the Unifour area.

A Transportation Advisory committee (TAC) and a Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) participate in transportation planning for both the RPO and the MPO. Regular joint meetings are held with RPO and MPO representatives.