2024-2026 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)
The UPWP describes the planning activities of the GBNRTC in Erie and Niagara Counties. GBNRTC is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Greater Buffalo-Niagara Region.
Developed biannually, in cooperation with federal, state, and local agencies, the UPWP provides a comprehensive view of short and long-range transportation planning activities. Designated by the Governor of the State of New York, GBNRTC has the responsibility to perform the continuous, comprehensive, and cooperative planning process for the region. The UPWP identifies the transportation planning activities that are to be undertaken in support of the vision, goals, objectives, and policies identified in the Moving Forward 2050 – Regional Transportation Plan adopted in May 2023.
Funding for Planning Activities
The most recent authorizing legislation, the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA), enacted on November 15, 2021 by the United States Congress and signed by the President, authorizes the MPO to receive two primary sources of federal planning funds supporting UPWP activities: FHWA’s Section 104(f) Metropolitan Planning (PL) funds and FTA’s Section 5303 Metropolitan Planning Program (MPP)funds. Federal funds allocated to the MPO in the 2024-2026 UPWP from these programs were estimated at $3,231,218 each year, including AMPO dues of $4,277 per year. In addition, Complete Streets setaside funds in the amount of $195,036 are available from FFY22-FFY24 and $66,356 is estimated to be available for FFY25.
Some carryover balances in both FHWA and FTA planning funds have been accumulated. These are addressed per the November 21, 2023 NYSDOT UPWP Guidance Letter. As noted, annual operational costs for the organization consume most of annually appropriated funds; some backlog needs to be established to address major episodic consultant contracts relative to MTP 2050 project planning and development and simulation model support for multimodal transportation studies. All carryover FTA planning funds (estimated $775,000) are allocated to work tasks in this UPWP. FHWA “backlog” funds of approximately $3,300,000 were budgeted to continue major contractual activities particularly for MTP 2050 plan deployment and update. Similar programming is planned in the subsequent two-year work program to further reduce backlog balance, leaving some in reserve to address continuity of operations in the event of disruption in federal funding, for staff operational costs plus open contractual commitments.
Other Federal and State Funds
In addition to FHWA and FTA funds, other federal and state funded programs impact the transportation planning and decision-making process. Coordination with these activities is effected through the UPWP, with member agencies of the GBNRTC being either directly involved or part of regional and state review mechanisms. The following program is illustrative but not all inclusive of these other activities:
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funds are received for Aviation Facilities Planning
- State Planning and Research (SPR) funds for various planning activities affecting the region
Previous Unified Planning Work Programs (UPWP)
Download the 2022-2024 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)
Download the 2020-2022 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)
Download the 2018-2020 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)