One of planning priorities listed in the HRTPO FY 2011 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) was to encourage the Secretary of Transportation to engage metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) early in the development of the Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP). The HRTPO Board and staff have consistently voiced this message to state transportation officials and it appears the message has been received. VDOT's Chief of Planning and Programming has invited staffs of MPOs to meetings to kick off development of the next SYIP. The meeting for large MPOs, which includes the HRTPO, will be held in Richmond on December 16, 2010.