Commission begins FY2027 UPWP development, solicits project ideas from towns

Cape Cod Commission staff initiated development of the FY2027 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), describing the document’s role as the MPO’s annual plan for transportation planning activities and the timeline for selecting projects.

Dave Nolan summarized the UPWP’s core tasks — management and certification activities, data collection and analysis, corridor and safety planning, action-plan implementation, and technical assistance — and described recent and prospective studies (corridor planning, safety audits, multimodal planning and transit projects). He noted a call for projects to towns and the plan to evaluate proposed projects internally, recommend a slate to the JTC and seek an MPO vote in March to include projects in the draft UPWP for April release and a 21‑day public comment period.

Nolan said tasks will support items such as implementing Vision Zero recommendations, transit needs assessments, and targeted technical assistance requests from towns. Members raised suggestions for future UPWP tasks including hazardous‑cargo routing studies and aquifer‑protection corridor analyses; staff said they will scope ideas and return with draft scopes.

Next steps: staff will review project submissions, return in February for discussion, and seek a March project-selection vote to shape the April draft UPWP and May final adoption.