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MTPO approves UPWP amendments to hire staff, boost multimodal counting and planning projects
Summary
The Gainesville MTPO board approved amendments to the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) to increase administrative staffing and planning work through June 30, add multimodal data collection funding, and fund corridor studies and mapping software to improve transparency and project tracking.
The Gainesville Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization amended its Unified Planning Work Program on Oct. 6 to increase administration funding and add short‑term project and data investments through June 30, 2026. Board members and MTPO staff said the changes fund the planned hire of an executive director, a mid‑level planner and administrative support and add targeted money for multimodal counts and software for public project mapping.
Allison, MTPO staff, told the board the administration line would increase from roughly $394,000 to $633,000 to cover personnel and consultant services and to leave a modest reserve for the incoming executive director. "We have general planning consultant, which may be used to help fill the gaps," she said, and described a proposed transfer of about $50,000 from systems planning into data collection to purchase counters and begin multimodal counts before July 1.
The board discussed several specifics. Debby Leisner of the City of Gainesville said the Archer Road corridor study covers 13th to 34th Street and noted many pedestrian crossings and bus stops there. Commissioners asked whether short‑term multimodal counts were worth doing ahead of a larger countywide program; staff said the counts would help identify use patterns where permanent counters do not exist.
The amendments also allocate funds to procure TIP/mapping software the MTPO will use to publish project lists, evidence and corridor visualizations for the public. "There’s also a mapping component where people will be able to see projects at a glance," Allison said, adding the LRTP carryover funds (about $350,000) are expected to be spent on recently completed long‑range plan items.
Board members approved the amended budget by voice vote with no recorded opposition. MTPO staff said the increases are intended to carry the agency through the remainder of the fiscal year while a full two‑year UPWP is developed after the new director is in place.
The board also discussed near‑term project priorities, including complete‑streets corridor studies for Archer Road and Southwest 13th Street, a proposed bus bay and design details near campus, and supplemental bicycle‑pedestrian plan funding to complete feasibility work. Staff committed to follow up with technical details (median widths, bus bay length and proposed counter models) where members requested measurements or clarifications.
Next steps: MTPO staff will finalize the amended UPWP documentation, post the materials online and proceed with procurement of the mapping software and short‑term data collection work, with the expectation of preparing a new two‑year program after the executive director is hired.
