TPO approves call for UPWP planning projects; HEART reports ridership gains and facility plans
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Summary
The TPO board approved a call for planning projects for the FY27–28 Unified Planning Work Program and heard HEART's annual transit development progress: a Route 1 pilot produced more than 5,000 weekday riders and HEART reported a fully funded phase 1 maintenance facility with phase 2 still needing funds.
The Hillsborough TPO on Nov. 10 approved a call for planning project ideas to inform the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for fiscal 2027–28 and received an annual progress report from HEART on transit service and capital needs.
Sarah Caper (TPO staff) described the UPWP as the MPO’s required planning program and budget, explained statutory and federal deadlines and asked board members to solicit planning project proposals from agencies and stakeholders. Key dates: the draft UPWP will go to FDOT by March 15 for review agencies; final board approval is expected in May with the UPWP effective July 1, 2026. The board approved the call for project ideas on a motion by Commissioner Wostel, seconded by Commissioner Cohen; the motion passed on a voice vote.
HEART Director of Planning and Scheduling Heather Sobush reported on the transit development plan annual progress report. She said a recent Route 1 pilot produced "more than 5,000 weekday riders, and 2,500 weekend riders," and that frequency improvements will continue though the pilot will not remain fare free. On capital needs, she said phase 1 of a heavy maintenance facility is fully funded and will support a future CNG fleet, while phase 2 requires additional funding. HEART will submit the APR to FDOT by March 1 and proceed with a major TDP update in 2027.
Why it matters: the UPWP determines which planning studies can be funded and prioritized; board members emphasized using the UPWP to study multimodal accommodations, speed reduction and connected‑vehicle/signal prioritization issues raised elsewhere in the meeting. HEART’s ridership gains and capital projects feed directly into local planning and funding decisions; staff said unfunded frequency and service improvements remain a top need.
What’s next: staff will collect planning project ideas after the meeting, prepare a draft UPWP early next year for TAC/CAC review and return to the board for approval. HEART will submit its APR to FDOT and continue coordinating service changes and capital requests with the TPO.