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Review and adoption of the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for Fiscal Year 2027 - Fiscal Year 2028 by Resolution 2026-1 and Approval of the Florida Department of Transportation/ Metropolitan Planning Organization Agreement
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BRIEF OVERVIEW
Attached is Resolution 2026-1 to adopt the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028 (Fiscal Year 2027 through Fiscal Year 2028). Additionally, attached as provided by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), is the associated FDOT/Metropolitan Planning Organization Agreement between FDOT and the Hernando-Citrus MPO. The contract number and federal aid number will be added after the MPO Board signs the agreement and before being fully executed.
As required by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the UPWP document is created every two years, updated in the second year and modified or amended as needed pursuant to the Public Participation Plan. The UPWP defines work tasks of the Metropolitan Planning Organization's (MPO) transportation planning efforts for each of the two years including the proposed budget expenditures and revenue sources.
The total budget for the two-year program is required to be prepared without reflecting
carry-forward that will be available in the 2nd year from remaining funds from Fiscal Year 2026. The two-year program is reflecting the funding allocation from the FDOT for “PL” funding in the amounts of $825,748 for FY 2027 and $825,748 for FY 2028, for a total two-year program in the amount of $1,651,496. Through the use of transportation development credits also known as transportation development/toll revenue credits, the FDOT ‘soft matches’ the federal allocation in the amount of $364,244.
Hernando County Transit (TheBus) advised the MPO of their desire to utilize Section 5307 Metropolitan Planning Funds in their transit grant applications. The $375,000 requested for inclusion into the UPWP is required for TheBus to apply for Federal Transit Administration funding. It has been reflected in Task 5 Special Projects for this purpose. Section 5307 requires a match for the use of the funds. The match is $93,750 and will utilize transportation development/toll revenue credits. The Citrus County Transit system did not request the use of Section 5307 Metropolitan Planning Funds in their Section 5307 applications.
Additionally, in accordance with the federal requirements, MPOs are required to set aside 2.5% of its planning agreement allocation for Complete Streets planning. A minimum of $41,287 has been set aside by the MPO for this purpose.
The funding amounts reflected for Transportation Disadvantaged planning grants are estimates. Hernando County’s allocation for FY 2027 is $27,440 and Citrus County’s allocation for FY 2027 is $26,447. Once the agreements are approved by the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged, the amounts will be updated in a future amendment of the UPWP. The same amounts are reflected to conservatively estimate the FY 2028 budgets for Transportation Disadvantaged planning services, respectively.
Pursuant to federal and state requirements, a draft UPWP for FY 2027-FY 2028 was
submitted to the FDOT on March 13, 2026, for review by FDOT, Federal Highway Administration, and the Federal Transit Administration. Agency review comments are contained in Appendix I of the attached draft. Comments have been addressed and incorporated into the draft UPWP.
Pursuant to the Public Participation Plan a 30-day public review period is required. The public review period began April 3, 2026, and the draft UPWP is available online at:
www.hernandocitrusmpo.us <http://www.hernandocitrusmpo.us>.
On April 23, 2026, the MPO’s Technical Advisory Committee, Citizens Advisory Committee, and Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee conducted public meetings and voted to recommend the MPO Board approve the FY 2027-FY 2028 UPWP.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The UPWP is funded via federal and state grants. The eligible expenses are approved and budgeted in the Hernando County budget in the MPO’s Fund #B136. Each quarter invoices are sent to FDOT and the CTD for reimbursement of eligible expenses at 100%. There is no local match for eligible expenses related to the grant funding due to the ‘soft match’ provided by the FDOT.
LEGAL NOTE
Pursuant to Chapter 339, Florida Statutes, the MPO Board has the authority to take the recommended action.
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the Hernando-Citrus Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Board:
• adopt the Unified Planning Work Program for FY 2027-FY 2028,
• authorize the MPO Chair or Vice Chair to execute the associated Resolution 2026-1,
• authorize the MPO’s Chair or Vice Chair and the MPO Executive Director to execute the FDOT/Metropolitan Planning Organization Agreement in the amount of $1,651,496,
• and authorize the transmittal of the documents to the Florida Department of Transportation for execution.