The Department also serves as the Technical Planning Staff for the Gadsden-Etowah Metropolitan Planning Organization (GEMPO). This organization is comprised of eight municipalities within a twocounty area. This organization works in conjunction with the Alabama Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and the East Alabama Regional Planning Commission. The GEMPO's major tasks include the development of a Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) every five years with updates. The recommended projects are prioritized by the GEMPO and submitted to the Alabama Department of Transportation for inclusion in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The GEMPO Technical Staff also prepares a Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) which outlines tasks to be completed as it relates to traffic impact, transit planning, environmental planning, intermodal planning, and other topics outlined in Federal and State Transportation legislation. The GEMPO maintains the Geographic Information System (GIS), a computer database and map program used to combine census data, land-use plans, transportation plans, and other sources into a map format.

DART (Dial-a-Ride Transportation) currently serves as a demand-response transit system requiring 24hour reservation notice for a trip. Plans are being developed to include a limited fixed-route system to accommodate the paratransit/demand response system. Plans are also being developed to provide transportation service to Welfare-to-Work (W2W) participants coordinated with the Etowah County Human Resources Department. The City of Gadsden is the lead participant in the Gadsden-Etowah Coordinated Transportation Paratransit Consortium. (Outlines are available).