The Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) describes transportation planning work and associated funding for the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA).  In addition to detailing the work associated with HRTPO core functions – the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), the Congestion Management Process (CMP), and Public Participation – the UPWP includes planning priorities identified by the HRTPO Board to ensure its vision and goals are addressed.

The HRTPO is considering its planning priorities for fiscal year 2016, which begins on July 1, 2015 and runs through June 30, 2016, and seeks public comment on the following draft planning priorities:

Transportation Programming

Transportation programming involves the prioritization, selection, and funding of projects, as well as monitoring the status of projects to help ensure transportation dollars are being used efficiently and effectively.  Activities related to HRTPO transportation programming include:

• Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
• Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP)
• Competitive project selection processes for:
• Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ)
• Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP)
• Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)
  • Monitoring actions of CTB
  • Working closely with the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission (HRTAC)

Strengthening Multimodal Planning

Multimodal refers to the variety of available transportation options – highways, transit, freight and passenger rail, waterways, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, etc. – and how those modes are interconnected.  HRTPO multimodal planning activities encompass:

• HRTPO Project Prioritization Tool
• Freight movement
• Public transportation
• Active transportation (non-motorized modes)
• Scenario-based long-range planning
• Performance and outcome-based planning 

Congestion Relief, Safety, and Security

While adding capacity to the regional transportation system is important and necessary, to get the most out of the transportation funding that comes to Hampton Roads it is critical to seek out and implement cost effective strategies to relieve traffic congestion.  In addition, beyond congestion relief the metropolitan planning process must take into account the safety and security of users of the transportation system.  Some activities encompassed by this planning priority are:

• Encourage implementation of cost-effective solutions
• Strategies for clearing crashes and incidents faster
• Evaluate performance pricing strategies
• Before and after safety studies
• Bicycle/pedestrian safety study
• Estimate impacts of disruptions to the transportation system

Public Transportation Funding

Public transportation is an integral component of the Hampton Roads transportation system.  Properly meeting the demand for public transportation requires a dependable source of funding for expanding and operating the system, as well as replacing and maintaining transit vehicles.  HRTPO efforts related to this planning priority include:

• Research strategies for dedicated funding
• Work with local transit providers to develop business case

Transportation Legislation and Policy

The HRTPO Board recognizes the importance of proactively advising state and national legislators regarding the positions of the HRTPO on developing legislation associated with transportation.  HRTPO efforts related to Transportation Legislation and Policy include:

• Monitor developing state and federal legislation
• Produce annual HRTPO Legislative Agenda
• Work to advance HRTPO legislative priorities

The complete text of the FY 2016 UPWP Draft Planning Priorities may be accessed on the HRTPO website under Public Comment Opportunities at:

http://www.hrtpo.org/page/public-comment-opportunities/

The HRTPO encourages all interested parties to submit comments on the draft FY 2016 UPWP planning priorities to Mike Kimbrel, Principal Transportation Engineer, at mkimbrel@hrtpo.org or by mail to 723 Woodlake Drive, Chesapeake, Virginia 23320, by January 30, 2015.