7.a.
Planning Board Meeting I (2nd Tuesday)
- Meeting Date:
- 08/11/2020
Information
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT
2021 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) - PCC Recommendation. The City-County Planning Division is presenting the 2021 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for the Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Planning Board review and recommendation to the Billings Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC). Staff is requesting that the Planning Board take action on the UPWP and forward that recommendation to the PCC.
The UPWP is primarily for the purpose of programming the federal dollars that Billings receives from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for transportation planning and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for transit (MET) planning. These funds are passed through the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT). All transportation planning activities are included in the UPWP so that it represents a comprehensive document for the urban transportation planning program.
This UPWP proposes planning activities for Federal Fiscal Year 2021, which runs from October 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021. This UPWP corresponds directly with the Planning Division’s annual work plan. The significant changes in this year’s program include an update to the Community Transportation Safety Plan, an update to the Billings Safe Routes to School Plan, and initiation of the North Bypass Corridor Study. The Transit section is Chapter II of the UPWP. The document is consistent with past programs in its content and format.
Staff introduced this topic to the Planning Board during its July 28th regular business meeting. Transportation Planning Coordinator Scott Walker and MET Manager Rusty Logan provided a detailed overview of the program. The board also held a public hearing where no testimony was received. At this meeting, the Board is expected to have further discussion and take action on the UPWP to move it forward to PCC.
The UPWP is primarily for the purpose of programming the federal dollars that Billings receives from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for transportation planning and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for transit (MET) planning. These funds are passed through the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT). All transportation planning activities are included in the UPWP so that it represents a comprehensive document for the urban transportation planning program.
This UPWP proposes planning activities for Federal Fiscal Year 2021, which runs from October 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021. This UPWP corresponds directly with the Planning Division’s annual work plan. The significant changes in this year’s program include an update to the Community Transportation Safety Plan, an update to the Billings Safe Routes to School Plan, and initiation of the North Bypass Corridor Study. The Transit section is Chapter II of the UPWP. The document is consistent with past programs in its content and format.
Staff introduced this topic to the Planning Board during its July 28th regular business meeting. Transportation Planning Coordinator Scott Walker and MET Manager Rusty Logan provided a detailed overview of the program. The board also held a public hearing where no testimony was received. At this meeting, the Board is expected to have further discussion and take action on the UPWP to move it forward to PCC.
BACKGROUND
The Planning Board may:
- Accept the program (recommended) and instruct PCC Designee Planning Board President Woods to give a positive recommendation to PCC; or
- Make amendments to the program document and instruct President Woods to give a positive recommendation with amendments to PCC; or
- Reject the program and instruct President Woods to give a negative recommendation to PCC. Rejection of the UPWP would mean a significant reduction in funding to complete planning activities in Billings and Yellowstone County, and would affect staff, resources, future transportation planning processes and programs. The PCC meeting is scheduled for August 18th.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the 2021 UPWP allows the City to access Federal funds for transportation planning in the community. Federal and local funds are combined to provide most of the planning work done by the Planning Division for the City and the County. If the UPWP is not approved, there would be a significant loss of resources for community planning and the community's ability to manage transportation planning projects and programs would be severely limited.
The breakdown of funding sources for the FY 2021 UPWP is estimated below:
$250,000 Planning Dept. Fee Revenue (City of Billings)
$75,000 Planning Dept. Fee Revenue (Yellowstone County)
$503,000 Yellowstone County Planning Levy
$1,828,800 Federal Planning (PL) Allocation
$2,656,800 Total Program Funding (UPWP)
The breakdown of funding sources for the FY 2021 UPWP is estimated below:
$250,000 Planning Dept. Fee Revenue (City of Billings)
$75,000 Planning Dept. Fee Revenue (Yellowstone County)
$503,000 Yellowstone County Planning Levy
$1,828,800 Federal Planning (PL) Allocation
$2,656,800 Total Program Funding (UPWP)
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Yellowstone County Planning Board recommend approval of the 2021 UPWP and instruct President Woods to deliver that recommendation to the Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC) at its August 18th meeting.