The Genesee Transportation Council (GTC) will share roughly $750,000 of federal transportation planning funds with its member agencies and municipal partners to develop local plans and studies advancing regional transportation priorities, goals, and visions set forth in the Long Range Plan 2045.
Specifically, these funds are made available through GTC’s annual operating plan and budget, known as Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) that was recently adopted. It details activities and financial plans for federal funding that will be invested in local transportation planning activities and ongoing programmatic activities during the next fiscal year.
Answering GTC’s Call for Project Partnerships last fall, eligible sponsors submitted applications seeking funds to undertake transportation plans and studies. GTC rated each application against federal legislation and planning requirements plus local and regional planning priorities cited in GTC’s Long Range Transportation Plan 2045, along with expected revenues.
The approved 2022-23 UPWP includes about $750,000 for new projects, and GTC is maintaining its commitment to projects already underway. Additionally, the UPWP includes funds to respond to any planning requirements resulting from the rulemaking process for new programs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Visit the publicinput.com/GTCUPWP website to see the full UPWP and complete list of planning projects.
“I commend the project sponsors for seeking opportunities to better your communities with thoughtful transportation planning that advance our regional priorities,” GTC Executive Director Jim Stack said. “The new projects this year add to a long running list of successful plans and studies undertaken across our nine-county region.”
Some new project highlights for the 2022-2023 fiscal year include:
•The Last Mile (or Less):
Site Plan Review for Multimodal Transportation
$45,000 for Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council to develop an online guide and training materials for municipalities in the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region to better consider multimodal trips when reviewing site plan applications. Providing the last steps/connections for bicyclists and pedestrians to destinations promotes a stronger link between transportation and land use decision making.
•City of Rochester Downtown Sign Assessment
$40,000 for New York State Department of Transportation to work with the City of Rochester and Monroe County to assess the traffic signs on expressways and major roads throughout and surrounding the City of Rochester’s downtown core to support wayfinding and tourism. A complete inventory of existing signs in need of updating or replacing, compared to current traffic conditions and needs, including freight hauling, will inform draft recommendations and an implementation plan.
•Canal Ponds Business Park Connectivity Study
$50,000 for the Town of Greece to work with the Town of Gates in Monroe County and develop a connectivity plan for the Canal Ponds Business Park, with special consideration given to the Business Park’s connection with Lexington Avenue to support economic growth. There will be specific opportunities for the general public to provide input on this study.
•Rural On Demand Transit Study
$100,000 for RGRTA to study the feasibility of operating an on-demand public transit service fulfilling a vital transportation need in Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, Wayne, and Wyoming counties.
Provided information
