Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)

The UPWP describes the planning activities of the GBNRTC in Erie and Niagara Counties. GBNRTC is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Greater Buffalo-Niagara Region.

Developed biannually, in cooperation with federal, state, and local agencies, the UPWP provides a comprehensive view of short and long-range transportation planning activities. Designated by the Governor of the State of New York, GBNRTC has the responsibility to perform the continuous, comprehensive, and cooperative planning process for the region. The UPWP identifies the transportation planning activities that are to be undertaken in support of the vision, goals, objectives, and policies identified in the Moving Forward 2050 – Regional Transportation Plan adopted in May 2023.

The Draft 2026-2028 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), the list of planning initiatives proposed to be undertaken by GBNRTC staff and consultants for the 2026 and 2027 State Fiscal Years (SFY), is now available for review.

GBNRTC will also be hosting two public information sessions on the Draft 2024-2026 UPWP.

 

Draft 2024-2026 UPWP Public Information Sessions

  • Monday January 5, 2024, 2pm Virtual and in-person at 438 Main St., Sunburst Room, Buffalo 

  • Monday January 5, 2024, 530pm Virtual only  

You may join both meetings live via ZOOM. Recordings will be available within 24 hours on our YouTube page and social media channels.  

 

Public comments will be received for 30 days from 12/18/25 until Close of Business (COB) on 1/20/26. Comments may be submitted to GBNRTC via email at staff@gbnrtc.org or by voicemail at 716-856-2026 x300 or by mail at 438 Main St, Suite 503, Buffalo, NY 14202.   

Funding for Planning Activities

The most recent authorizing legislation, the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA), enacted on November 15, 2021 by the United States Congress and signed by the President, authorizes the MPO to receive two primary sources of federal planning funds supporting UPWP activities: FHWA’s Section 104(f) Metropolitan Planning (PL) funds and FTA’s Section 5303 Metropolitan Planning Program (MPP)funds. Federal funds allocated to the MPO in the 2024-2026 UPWP from these programs were estimated at $3,231,218 each year, including AMPO dues of $4,277 per year. In addition, Complete Streets setaside funds in the amount of $195,036 are available from FFY22-FFY24 and $66,356 is estimated to be available for FFY25.

Some carryover balances in both FHWA and FTA planning funds have been accumulated. These are addressed per the November 21, 2023 NYSDOT UPWP Guidance Letter. As noted, annual operational costs for the organization consume most of annually appropriated funds; some backlog needs to be established to address major episodic consultant contracts relative to MTP 2050 project planning and development and simulation model support for multimodal transportation studies. All carryover FTA planning funds (estimated $775,000) are allocated to work tasks in this UPWP. FHWA “backlog” funds of approximately $3,300,000 were budgeted to continue major contractual activities particularly for MTP 2050 plan deployment and update. Similar programming is planned in the subsequent two-year work program to further reduce backlog balance, leaving some in reserve to address continuity of operations in the event of disruption in federal funding, for staff operational costs plus open contractual commitments.

In addition to FHWA and FTA funds, other federal and state funded programs impact the transportation planning and decision-making process. Coordination with these activities is effected through the UPWP, with member agencies of the GBNRTC being either directly involved or part of regional and state review mechanisms. The following program is illustrative but not all inclusive of these other activities:

  • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funds are received for Aviation Facilities Planning
  • State Planning and Research (SPR) funds for various planning activities affecting the region

Previous Unified Planning Work Programs (UPWP)

Contact Us