[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6220335,"mediaKeyId","3617708-387829a4065d759c14ea2fb77c742e88","parentId",3617708,"title","MPO staff report TIP administrative changes and UPWP wording updates; two amendments approved unanimously","audioSeconds",137,"startMs",1440000,"endMs",1577000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3617708-387829a4065d759c14ea2fb77c742e88&start=1440&end=1577","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3617708-387829a4065d759c14ea2fb77c742e88/thumbnail_1440000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6220335/Erie-County/Pennsylvania/MPO-staff-report-TIP-administrative-changes-and-UPWP-wording-updates-two-amendments-approved-unanimously","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220335-ccca0358ef568b02600a701bfafe72b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177118&Signature=XNpxmmnM3fHS0ehUpCRKv6Jb1Q7BBcrrtkL4pccuNcC2RM6LkNHnoAEdxlcK4h1FnBT6Oa4OKIL0g7tAlawKeHznLZ4GCLDZkyCCQF6piQHUYVT6wlzOSxaBsnUDSqawy1T1WuroKwSiaSYskDb27BM09NKPs0Dz85Y-Pz-6z~tdcvKWIXks1ji1ISuFnTvxQlQ1~lWOO~K0N7e3DyezfkDTZXR0vsBtnwrSBTGA3i6d13O5XY4VGv5MBj5fsQp9npzG1PL0VvYffY~s39jwtH28JqodS3PKj48f~n~XfcaqGEoy7YmcTOFzCxM0-cQGQuTHhF1JDpoVK36UmjaHpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-29T13:43:33Z","article","Erie County MPO staff on Thursday reported administrative modifications to the 2025–2028 Transportation Improvement Program that add final-design phases and federal dollars to multiple projects, and said a change to the UPWP was made to comply with federal program language.

Julia, an MPO staff presenter, outlined two administrative actions: adding $157,655 in federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds for the City of Corry resurfacing project (federal fiscal year 2025) to cover final design, and adding $220,000 in federal funds for the SR 77 West Church Street to SR 426 final design phase (FFY 2025). She said the funding source for both actions was an adjustment within Erie Highway/STP line items to match final design estimates.

Emily reported results of two previously noticed TIP amendments: they concerned a local federal aid route to Euclid Boulevard and a transit-type amendment. Both amendments were recorded as unanimously approved by the voting body that considered them. Emily said the MPO recorded the votes and included results in the meeting materials.

On the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), staff reported they revised wording to comply with federal regulation and guidance so the document remains eligible for federal funds. “We had to remove some wording in order to comply with the federal regulation,” Emily said, adding the update replaced terms such as “environmental justice” with “demographic analysis” to align with current guidance. Staff said these are text changes only and do not alter programmatic elements.

The UPWP also funds a series of “complete streets” workshops (named locally as Fleet Streets workshops) and staff said those outreach sessions are underway in multiple municipalities, with templates and draft policy language to be shared with jurisdictions; staff expect completion of that UPWP-funded work by June 30.

Committee members asked clarifying questions and staff offered to provide further detail if requested. No new local funding commitments were made during these informational agenda items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","MPO TAC Meeting May 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The MPO reviewed administrative modifications to the 2025–2028 Transportation Improvement Program to add final design phases and federal funds for local resurfacing and highway projects, and staff updated the UPWP language to comply with federal regulations. Two amendments to the TIP were reported as unanimously approved.","taxTitle","Erie County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2937,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6220340,"MPO opens alternative‑fuels survey as NEVI funding and program guidance remain uncertain",102,1726000,1828000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3617708-387829a4065d759c14ea2fb77c742e88&start=1726&end=1828","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3617708-387829a4065d759c14ea2fb77c742e88/thumbnail_1726000.jpg","/articles/6220340/Erie-County/Pennsylvania/MPO-opens-alternativefuels-survey-as-NEVI-funding-and-program-guidance-remain-uncertain","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220340-e4c4d6b71fe56ad267b0a9abc3da96f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177118&Signature=WOYHGqlKGoAZa0QlfK-f1aaK6agWSY3UD2CgQGpzxQR2r9DG74kTjufgbDyqrExjTFxfiuVuzf0NUv-vBGTUMsHKcfR-dDANsHVmDCGG9Pqy1rGfQChUYLyTSrI0YhuMugmfynKGc-U8H8Fdcp15SeVm99vIsofLYyveHVtHShPXgbKRZ6aN9NyQD7a6CuVkauOc0yIkCs~qxpb3GpNCz~~fJzP9N2Eh2wn3ACigB~~CPEBiNQMCprn5SpoZymLm6IaimA53SDK37s~bUv8YINUQ4I2tsc57UUs~QS8cODzKjfwA2nFC80jYI7v5s2xEBGS~FANawm~Gh-8poOzJ0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Erie County Metropolitan Planning Organization said Thursday it has released an alternative-fuels survey to identify public needs for electric-vehicle charging and other fueling infrastructure across the county. The map-backed survey will remain open for one month and asks residents where new facilities — including EV charging, compressed natural gas (CNG), propane and high-ethanol fueling sites — should be located.

Emily, an MPO staff member, said the survey expands last year’s EV questionnaire and plots existing charging locations on the MPO website. ‘‘This map . . . shows where EV registrations are and all the points where we have existing charging stations for electric vehicles, but as well as things like CNG,’’ Emily said. The survey also asks whether residents need public curbside charging, stations at parks, transit facilities or at commercial sites such as grocery stores.

Staff stressed the county’s survey is being done while federal program guidance and funding availability remain uncertain. ‘‘Originally it was for this heavy community charging program,’’ Emily said. ‘‘But with the new changes in federal administration, it’s unclear what will happen. Maybe we will have those funds, but we might not.’’ Committee members and attendees noted projects already funded through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program and other state allocations are proceeding, but that future rounds of funding are not guaranteed.

Committee discussion addressed who would pay for chargers, whether public funds should subsidize private businesses and where public access charging would best serve residents without home chargers. One attendee pointed out biodiesel is produced locally at a Hero BX facility, but no public retail fueling location exists to buy it, a gap staff said they will record in the survey’s results.

Emily said the MPO will publicize the survey and send results to member jurisdictions. A QR code on the meeting packet was tested successfully during the meeting and staff encouraged committee members to complete the five-minute questionnaire. The survey results will be used to prioritize sites should funding become available; no new county funding was committed during the meeting.

The MPO noted contacts and coordination with PennDOT and transit agencies as part of the NEVI planning and said potential grant funding and site selection would follow federal guidance. The survey and map will remain available on the MPO website for one month from the meeting date.","Erie County MPO launched a month‑long survey on electric-vehicle and other alternative fueling needs, mapping existing sites and seeking public input while federal guidance for NEVI and other programs remains unsettled.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6220345,"Erie MPO authorizes staff to seek funding for passenger rail economic impact study",2140,2458000,4598000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3617708-387829a4065d759c14ea2fb77c742e88&start=2458&end=4598","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3617708-387829a4065d759c14ea2fb77c742e88/thumbnail_2458000.jpg","/articles/6220345/Erie-County/Pennsylvania/Erie-MPO-authorizes-staff-to-seek-funding-for-passenger-rail-economic-impact-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220345-525608e431bd6a0c4c7f45e728dc1010/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177118&Signature=ElYuhlfRgzgoI8WSS1-AzkRY5E41tk8y0CGnoEJsFTamoiQMGB53c1GcnpOFXf3W1yuk49E-cWfyaO4Bc6yuHwFRCkx8XcteigRGWzUp36pEGvH5IQuLTp51SCHM4vMiFpj8Ig-CjsYyQSjirkjfUE3KlMq6yVdGsbeMC2t1LR0zdF2UsOYsRcF2bDO2mnrk3mDJqlkWLVas4XpfWNnNAac0pGeuR3VOXgyIEEghAOyCgl6jJqE3mORxd7QnmbDEF81X-4k38cT7jweObsJRjYQJWjntt0-HReI~TN5RIfAp49JehLMUILPxbHkxDECeXw~gF-Fdlg7gt~SHx0RUmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Erie County Metropolitan Planning Organization on Thursday authorized staff to seek outside funding for an economic impact study of passenger rail after a consultant presentation and committee discussion. The coordinating committee voted in favor of allowing MPO staff to pursue grant opportunities and sponsorship for a study that would analyze economic effects of potential passenger-rail service serving Erie.

The vote followed a 40-minute presentation by a consultant who outlined passenger-rail service types, possible networks that could include Erie, and the kinds of economic effects rail investment has produced in other corridors. The committee agreed the MPO could play a sponsor or applicant role to secure funding for an initial economic-impact analysis, estimated in discussion to start around $100,000.

Peter, a transportation planner with WSP, told the committee that different kinds of passenger rail produce different outcomes and that an economic-impact study requires a clear assumption about what level of service is being analyzed. “The most important thing is we need to make assumptions about what the service is we’re talking about,” Peter said during the presentation. He described distinctions among Amtrak long-distance lines, state-supported services and higher-performance corridors and said Erie’s current Lakeshore Limited long-distance stop generates limited local ridership because schedules are oriented to endpoints rather than intermediate markets.

Emily, an MPO staff member, described the MPO’s possible role in sponsoring a study and asked whether the committee would support her office searching for funding. After discussion about study scope, sequencing and local interest, a member moved and a second was recorded; the chair called for a voice vote and the motion carried. Committee minutes show the body authorized Emily to “seek funding” and act as sponsor or applicant to pursue a formal economic-impact study.

Committee members asked whether such an economic-impact study would include market or feasibility work. Peter responded that economic-impact studies do not substitute for feasibility or ridership analyses: they quantify economic outcomes given a defined service scenario, then can be used to justify or scope a later feasibility study. “What an economic impact does not do is it does not establish the feasibility, the costs, the ridership of a new service in a corridor,” Peter said.

Several members raised questions about likely partners, available funding sources and the level of local match that might be required. Emily said the MPO would not commit local funds at this time but would look for external grants and that the coordinating committee would need to approve any formal funding application. The group also discussed coordination with nearby planning efforts in Cleveland, Buffalo and other regional studies funded through the Federal Railroad Administration and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (IIJA).

Next steps recorded by the committee: MPO staff were authorized to pursue potential funding sources, clarify a study scope with local stakeholders, and return with a recommended funding application and scope for committee approval. The motion passed by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting record.

The presentation and the committee’s authorization do not guarantee a study will be produced; the MPO still must identify and secure funding and approve a final scope and contract before work begins. Peter and MPO staff offered to make the consultant slide deck available to committee members and said they would assist with next-step outreach to potential funders and partners.","After a presentation on passenger-rail types and regional opportunities, the Erie County MPO agreed to look for grant funding so staff can sponsor an economic-impact study of potential passenger-rail service.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

MPO staff report TIP administrative changes and UPWP wording updates; two amendments approved unanimously

MPO opens alternative‑fuels survey as NEVI funding and program guidance remain uncertain

Erie MPO authorizes staff to seek funding for passenger rail economic impact study