Over $5 million in federal transportation planning activities to be undertaken across the Capital Region.
ALBANY, NY March 20, 2023 – The Policy Board of the Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC) has approved the 2023-2024 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), the annual work plan for federally funded transportation planning initiatives in the Capital Region. The UPWP describes planning work to be undertaken by CDTC’s staff, consultants, and partner organizations beginning April 1, 2023. The budget of over $5 million in federal, state, and local funds includes the recently awarded $1.4 million Safe Streets and Roads for All program grant from the Federal Highway Administration.
Planning projects in the 2023-2024 UPWP advance the principles of CDTC's metropolitan transportation plan, New Visions 2050, and are consistent with the priorities of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Federal funds in the UPWP are primarily made available through the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration.
Highlights of the approved UPWP include:
- Manage a $1.4 M FHWA Safe Streets and Roads for All planning initiative to develop system level projects and programs that seek to eliminate transportation related fatalities and serious injuries in the Capital Region. This multi-year effort will have extensive public involvement.
- Initiate the multi-year process to prepare a new Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the long-term regional plan that identifies the transportation vision, planning and policy priorities for the region.
- Provide technical support on Planning and Environmental Linkage Studies for the NY 378 Bridge and to Reimagine I-787 by lead agency NYSDOT.
- Continue and complete the East and North Greenbush Route 4 Corridor, Town of Brunswick Hoosick Road Corridor, Sand Creek Road Complete Street Feasibility, and City of Schenectady Albany & Crane Streets planning studies – all part of CDTC’s Linkage Program. These studies assist communities in addressing transportation and land use issues by providing funding to prepare community-based plans.
- Begin work on the following Linkage Studies:
- Albany County – Broadway Flood Resilient Multi-Modal Corridor Study
- Town of Milton – Town Center Plan Update
- Town of Rotterdam – Curry Road & Guilderland Avenue Multi-Modal Study
- Town of Colonie – Central Avenue West Corridor Study
- Village of Castleton-on-Hudson – Castleton Complete Streets & Connections Plan
- Village of Voorheesville – All Access Complete Streets Feasibility Study
- Collaborate with the Town of Bethlehem on how recent state legislation impacts efforts to reduce local speed limits to 25 miles per hour.
In keeping with CDTC’s commitment to continuous public engagement and input, a survey gauging public transportation priorities was conducted to inform the planning project solicitation and selection process. Additionally, the draft UPWP and a public review summary were posted to our website. Links to these materials were distributed through our newsletter, email, and social media. Many avenues to submit comments were established, including email, USPS mail, phone, and survey. A virtual workshop and an open house were also hosted to answer questions about the UPWP and receive comments. Comments received were recorded and responses were documented in the approved work plan.
“CDTC will be pursuing an essential and dynamic set of transportation planning activities this year, many of which will be multi-year efforts. Our work plan reflects a regional commitment to safety, mobility, resiliency, sustainability, and equity. We look forward to working with our many partners and encourage stakeholders and the public to actively participate as your knowledge and experiences are essential to planning the region’s transportation system.” said Sandy Misiewicz, CDTC Executive Director.
For more information about this and other important regional projects, please visit our website at www.cdtcmpo.org. If you have questions or comments, you can also email us at cdtc@cdtcmpo.org. Follow and like CDTC on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
