Planning & Zoning - Unified Planning Work Program

Augusta
Planning & Zoning

Unified Planning Work Program

FY 2008 Unified Planning Work Program (PDF)

OVERVIEW

The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) is the work program for transportation and transit administration and planning activities for the Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS). The UPWP documents the planning priorities for the ARTS study area and describes all planning activities to be performed with transportation and transit planning funds.

TIME FRAME

The UPWP is prepared annually and details activities to be undertaken during each program year. The ARTS program year runs from July 1st to June 30th. Because state and federal agencies must review the UPWP, work on the document begins 6-7 months prior to the start of the applicable program year. The UPWP is adopted by the ARTS Policy Committee in March of each year and is subject to amendment during the program year.

CONTENT

The UPWP includes information on the transportation planning process, the transportation and transit issues in the metropolitan area, and the planning and administrative work elements to be undertaken during the program year. An appendix includes the ARTS area goals and objectives, a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding for the study, and a summary of the UPWP budget.

The work element descriptions are the heart of the UPWP. The following information is included for each work element: purpose, nature of the activity, end product, and accomplishments during the preceding year. A cost estimate spreadsheet identifies the source of funding for each work element and the agencies responsible for implementation. Work elements are grouped under the following headings:
Program Administration and Implementation – includes activities related to administration of the ARTS planning process and public transportation in Augusta and Aiken, public involvement, staff education, and preparation of the UPWP and TIP.
Short Range Planning – includes activities to maintain the ARTS socioeconomic and land use database, address ongoing issues like congestion management, air quality, safety awareness, and computer mapping, and meet federal mandates related to the transit systems.
Long Range Planning – includes updating the Long Rage Transportation Plan (LRP) and completing intermodal planning projects.

FUNDING

UPWP work elements are financed with a combination of federal highway and transit planning funds and state and local matching funds. Generally speaking federal funds account for 80% of the cost of UPWP activities, state funds 10% and local funds 10%.

IMPLEMENTATION

The following entities are involved in implementing UPWP work elements - ARTS Committees, ARCPC, and ACPDD (in consultation with GA DOT and SC DOT), general public, and other interested parties.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact the Augusta-Richmond County Planning Commission (706) 821-1796 or the Aiken County Planning and Development Department (803) 641-1520. ARTS staff is available to give presentations to organizations or businesses.