The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) sets out the transportation planning activities and products to be developed by the Metropolitan Planning Organization and other transportation planning agencies for the current and next fiscal year.
MPO planning functions are paid for in large part through federal grants for transportation planning. The activities, products and budgeted funds are documented in the UPWP, which is updated bi-annually by the MPO.
Each year, the federal and state governments identify "Planning Emphasis Areas" to be addressed in UPWP planning activities. This guidance supplements the legislation and rules that govern MPO activities, which include mandates for public involvement, congestion management, twenty-year plans, three-year improvement programs, streamlined environmental analyses, regional coordination within urbanized areas, and planning factors such as economic vitality, safety and security, and others.
Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program
The federally required Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is known as the Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) in Pasco County. It is a short-term listing of surface transportation projects that receive federal funds, are subject to a federally required action, or are regionally significant.
Only projects included in with the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) may be incorporated into the MTIP. The MTIP derives all its projects either directly from the MTP or indirectly from the policies and lump sums within it. The MTP is the long range policy and planning document while the MTIP is the short range implementing document that enables those planned project to begin work. Specifically, the MTIP lists those projects from the MTP that have committed or reasonably available funding and intend to begin a phase of work during the 4 years of the MTIP.
The MTIP must comply with three key tests. First, it must give the public the opportunity to comment. Second, it must demonstrate that the amount of dollars programmed (committed) to the projects does not exceed the amount of dollars estimated to be available. Therefore the MTIP includes a financial summary that demonstrates financial constraint, namely that sufficient financial capacity exists for programmed projects to be implemented. Third, it must conform to the State Implementation Plan for the region with consideration to federal Clean Air Act.
Florida Statute 339.175(8) requires each MPO to cooperatively develop, with its partners, a list of priority projects (LOPP). The LOPP is submitted by the MPO to the appropriate FDOT District Office consistent with Florida Statutes. This list serves as the foundation for each MPO’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the District’s annual work program.
The Public Participation Plan (PPP) describes the Pasco County MPO’s strategies and techniques to inform and involve the public in the transportation planning process. This Plan is a blueprint to follow on how the public can participate in the MPO’s required activities. Engaging the public in the decision-making process is important to the success of all the MPO’s transportation planning programs, and the purpose of a PPP is to provide ample opportunities to ensure the public participation is facilitated. Public involvement is encouraged at all stages of the transportation lifecycle. Early and continuing public involvement allows the MPO Board to be aware of potential issues, problems, and impacts; to discuss them more comprehensively; and to determine how to address such concerns. There is tremendous value in emphasizing the benefits of public outreach and participation at these early stages as the public may evaluate the options and provide the necessary input before the project goes to the funding and implementation stages.