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WFRC Budget Committee recommends FY2027 goals, UPWP after $1.15M USDOT grant award
Summary
On May 14 the Wasatch Front Regional Council Budget Committee recommended that the council approve the draft FY2027 goals, budget and Unified Planning Work Program after staff reported a $1.15 million U.S. Department of Transportation Regional Infrastructure Accelerator grant that raises contractual spending.
The Wasatch Front Regional Council Budget Committee on May 14 recommended that the WFRC Council approve its draft fiscal year 2027 goals, budget and Unified Planning Work Program following a staff presentation that reported a $1.15 million award from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Regional Infrastructure Accelerator program.
Marian Florence, the staff presenter, told committee members the REA award — about $1.15 million of the $1.5 million requested — will be used to hire specialized consultants to help local jurisdictions turn certified station-area plans into implementable projects and financing strategies. "We were awarded just over a million, 1.150," Florence said, noting the funds will increase the contractual budget line to support studies and consultant work.
The committee heard that an updated Federal Transit Administration allocation added $25,000 to the revenue side of the consolidated planning grant. Combining those adjustments, staff said the draft total budget is now about $11.8 million; the contractual line moved from roughly $3.3 million to about $4.4 million. Florence said the REA-funded work has been added to the UPWP but that contract execution will take several months.
Committee members asked whether there had been public comment since the March draft; staff reported no substantive public comments had been received and that WFRC routinely circulates drafts to Councils of Governments for review. The committee then moved to recommend council approval; the motion was seconded and passed by unanimous voice vote.
Staff also noted a staffing timing item: the project manager assigned to the REA effort, Meg Pagen, is currently on maternity leave and is expected to return in time to manage the work. Florence and others framed the REA award as a means to accelerate implementation of local station-area plans by identifying financing strategies rather than relying on local tax increases.
The committee's recommendation will be forwarded to the full WFRC Council for consideration at the May 28 meeting.
