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Abilene MPO amends FY2024–25 UPWP and approves draft FY2026–27 UPWP format and funding plan
Summary
The board approved amendments to the FY2024–25 Unified Planning Work Program to add new tasks and funding—most notably a $200,000 subtask for safe and accessible transportation options—and approved the draft FY2026–27 UPWP, which adopts TxDOT’s new format and programs planning funds across defined subtasks.
The Abilene MPO on April 24 approved an amendment to the FY2024–25 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) that shifts and adds planning funds and approved the draft FY2026–2027 UPWP for submission in TxDOT’s revised format.
MPO staff explained the FY2024–25 amendment updates the UPWP cover page, table of contents and several subtask budgets. Notable changes included adding $1,500 to short-term transit planning (subtask 3.3), increasing the metropolitan transportation plan (subtask 4.1) by $40,000, adding $15,000 to complete-streets work under subtask 4.3, and increasing the safety action plan funding by $20,500 (from $29,500 to $50,000). Staff also added a new subtask (5.6) with $200,000 budgeted for “increasing safe and accessible transportation options” to meet federal requirements stemming from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
MPO staff said the 2.5% IIJA planning set-aside for increasing safe and accessible transportation options had not been expended in prior years for the MPO and that the new $200,000 programming aims to address that backlog. The TAC recommended approval of the amendment at its March 18 meeting; staff noted the TAC review of some items was constrained by tight state deadlines.
Separately, the board reviewed the draft FY2026–27 UPWP, noting TxDOT required a new format for approval. Staff included an expanded boundary map (reflecting 2020 census updates and a pending boundary expansion) and moved some tasks to match TxDOT’s checklist (for example, Title VI/ADA/Jurisdictions items to subtask 2.3). Staff proposed a combined two-year allocation of $750,000 (about $375,000 per year) in planning funds for the new program period and estimated carryover from the current UPWP at $9,386.49.
Board action: the board approved the FY2024–25 UPWP amendment and approved the draft FY2026–27 UPWP for submittal under TxDOT’s new format. Motion and second for the amendment were recorded (motion by the mayor; second by Jeremy). The TAC had recommended approval of the amendment and recommended the FY2026–27 draft contingent on public comment.
Provenance: the UPWP amendment presentation and the draft UPWP discussion appear in the MPO packet and in staff remarks during the meeting recording.
