Handbook advisory group reviews MPO work‑program administration, funding timelines and invoice rules

At the sixth Handbook Advisory Group meeting in Laredo, representatives from TxDOT, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and consultant teams reviewed the draft chapter on MPO work‑program administration and related resources. Jim Wood, with Kimley Horn, opened the meeting and thanked the host MPO; Casey Wells, TexTalk, said, “we are getting close. We're gonna have it done by the end of the year.”

Why it matters: the chapter and linked resources will guide how MPOs prepare Unified Planning Work Programs (UPWPs), request federal reimbursements, document carryover and close out federal planning funds. Those processes determine the timing of reimbursements, what expenses are eligible, and how small and mid‑sized MPOs manage consultant contracts and carryover funds.

Consultants and TxDOT staff presented the proposed chapter scope and a set of companion resources. Harrison Garrett (Kimley Horn), one of the chapter authors, summarized funding sources that commonly appear in UPWPs: FHWA Metropolitan Planning (PL) funds, FTA Section 5303 (often consolidated into PL in the Consolidated Planning Grant/CPG), CMAQ (Cat 5), STBG (Cat 7) and TA (Cat 9), plus discretionary grants and state/local match (cash or toll/transportation development credits). Garrett said the CPG conversion (FTA 5303 to PL) “streamlines the delivery of those federal funds.”

Key points discussed

- TPF distribution and work orders: TxDOT’s distribution formula includes a TEMPO takeoff ($2,500), a $75,000 set‑aside for qualifying nonattainment/TMA MPOs, a population distribution using U.S. Census estimates, and a $375,000 minimum allocation per MPO. The team described three annual work orders: work order 1 (initial authorization/confirmation), work order 2 (updated PL obligations) and work order 3…