MPO outlines FY27-28 UPWP changes, travel-demand model update and regional grant partnerships

At the Feb. 17 Transportation Policy Committee meeting, MPO staff described planned amendments and the FY 2027-28 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) development timeline, emphasizing a move to a two-year planning and budgeting cycle and the need to formalize standard operating procedures identified in a recent audit.

Mr. Lucero told the committee the MPO was required to use TxDOT's new UPWP template and to identify a 2.5% set-aside for non-vehicular planning (pedestrian and transit activities). He said some planned special studies were deprioritized due to staffing changes and evolving local project needs; staff proposes to replace or re-scope task items and to add a discrete work line for LUCA (local update of the census address/housing identification) and GIS activities. "We would like to kind of solidify that work product in a task that kinda shows the importance of what we are trying to do," Lucero said.

Lucero also announced the MPO will initiate a travel-demand model update this year; the previous model was completed about three years ago. He described closer coordination with regional partner SPAG and said that collaboration helped secure an approximately $1,800,000 award connected to Texas Tech University work. Lucero said staff expects a working draft of the FY27-28 UPWP to be ready for presentation beginning in April to allow 30 days for public comment adjustments before TxDOT submission and federal review. He cautioned that slipping the schedule could delay October 1 fund availability.

No policy-level action was requested on Feb. 17; Lucero said staff will take proposed amendments to the TAC for review and bring a recommendation back to the policy committee at a future meeting.