The Planning Division is presenting the Draft 2011 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for the Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization for City Council review and recommendation to the Billings Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC). The UPWP is primarily for the purpose of programming the federal dollars Billings receives from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for transportation planning. These funds are passed through the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT). However, all Planning Divison activities are summarized in the UPWP so that it represents a comprehensive description of the urban transportation planning program. This UPWP proposes planning activities for Federal Fiscal Year 2011, which runs from October 1, 2010, through September 30, 2011.

This UPWP corresponds directly with the Planning Division's annual work plan. The significant changes in this year’s program include completing the update of the Billings Bikeway and Trail Master Plan (formerly Heritage Trail Plan), completing a Hospitality Corridor Study and Exposition Gateway Master Plan at the east end of the East Billings Urban Renweal Disrtict, and completion of a West Billings Flood Mitigation and Groundwater Recharge Study. The Transit section devoted to MET activities is Chapter II of the UPWP. The document is consistent with past programs. A copy of the UPWP  is attached to this memo and a copy is on file in the City Clerk’s office for public review. The PCC meeting to consider the UPWP is scheduled for September 15.

The Council may:

• Accept the plan (recommended) and instruct the City Council's PCC Designee to provide a positive recommendation to PCC; or
• Reject or revise the plan and instruct the City Council's PCC Designee to give a negative recommendation or recommendation with changes to PCC. A negative recommendation could jeopardize the allocation of Federal funds to the Planning Division for transportation planning and related programs.  

The Planning Division uses local revenues to match Federal Planning Funds to complete its work program. The following shows a breakdown of the local and Federal funds that comprise the Divison's FY2010-FY2011 budget:

Estimated FY2011 Planning Division Revenues used to match Federal planning allocation:

$99,000     Planning Dept. Fee Revenue (City of Billings)
$42,000     Planning Dept. Fee (Yellowstone County)
$320,000   Yellowstone County (Mill)

$977,378  Federal Planning (PL) Allocation

$1,438,378  Total Program (UPWP)
 

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Draft 2011 UPWP and authorize the Council's PCC designee to take the recommendation to the Policy Coordinating Committee meeting on September 15th.