7.a.1.
Planning Board Meeting I (2nd Tuesday)
- Meeting Date:
- 08/09/2022
Information
INTRODUCTION
The City-County Planning Division is presenting the 2023 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). At this meeting, the Board is scheduled to review the document and conduct a public hearing. At the August 23 Planning Board meeting, the Planning Board is scheduled to 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 2023, which runs from October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023. This UPWP corresponds directly with the Planning Division’s annual work plan. The significant changes in this year’s program include completion of the 2023 Long Range Transportation Plan, Phase II of the Safe Routes to School Plan, and beginning the update to the Bike/Pedestrian Plan as well as transportation specific analysis and updates to two neighborhood plans. The Transit section is Chapter II of the UPWP. The document is consistent with past programs in its content and format.
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 2023, which runs from October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023. This UPWP corresponds directly with the Planning Division’s annual work plan. The significant changes in this year’s program include completion of the 2023 Long Range Transportation Plan, Phase II of the Safe Routes to School Plan, and beginning the update to the Bike/Pedestrian Plan as well as transportation specific analysis and updates to two neighborhood plans. The Transit section is Chapter II of the UPWP. The document is consistent with past programs in its content and format.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Planning Board review the Draft 2023 UPWP and conduct a public hearing at this meeting. The Board is scheduled to take action on the 2023 UPWP (recommended) at its August 23rd meeting and instruct PCC Designee President Cook to give a positive recommendation to PCC for final local approval.
VARIANCES REQUESTED
DISCUSSION/STAKEHOLDERS
The Planning Board is required to hold a public hearing prior to its recommendation to PCC. At the time this report was created, there has been no public comment received by planning division staff. The public hearing will be held by the Planning Board at its August 23 meeting.