Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over!

Drive Sober This Labor Day, and Every Day

During the Labor Day holiday period, we typically see an increase in drunk-driving deaths — and that's why you'll likely see more law enforcement on the roads. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, which runs from August 16-September 4, aims to educate people about the dangers and consequences of driving drunk.

One person is killed about every 39 minutes in a drunk-driving crash, totaling more than 13,000 lives lost each year.

Learn more about the consequences of drunk driving here.

#DriveSoberorGetPulledOver

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You can still take our Roadway Safety Survey!

Destination Zero is an effort to eliminate traffic-related deaths and serious injuries while improving safety, health, and equitable mobility for all transportation system users.

This survey consists of a series of questions about Destination Zero, your thoughts on its goals and strategies, your experiences, and your perceptions of traffic safety in your community. The information collected from this survey will be used to better understand public awareness and support for Destination Zero and to identify opportunities to improve transportation safety practices and policies.

Take the survey HERE!

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National Walk & Roll to School Day is October 4, 2023!

The 27th annual National Walk & Roll to School Day is Oct. 4, and registration is now open!

Whether addressing the need to make routes to school safer for active trips or encouraging children to be more active, these events can be powerful tools to inspire lasting change. Of course, they are also lots of fun!

The official Walk & Roll to School Day date will be Oct. 4 this year, but communities are welcome to celebrate any day in October that best fits their schedules.

Register here & learn more!

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Save the Date: Thursday, September 28, 2023
FDOT District One Grant Management & Funding 

Opportunities Workshop

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Morning Session: 9:00 – 12:00 pm EST 

Afternoon Session: 1:30 – 4:30 pm EST

Location: Virtual Workshop using MS Teams

This FDOT District One Annual Workshop is offered to assist agencies in their preparation for Federal grant opportunities.  It will be offered in a virtual setting using MS Teams.

Mark your calendar and plan to attend to get the latest on Federal grant opportunities such as FTA Sections 5310, 5311, and 5339. Whether you are a repeat grantee or a first-time applicant, we highly encourage you to attend this workshop, as grant compliance requirements will also be a key topic of discussion.   

Submission of electronic applications through TransCIP will be required again this year. The grant submission due date is Friday, December 15, 2023.

Registration information coming soon!
 

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State Road 72 (SR 72 / Clark Road) at McIntosh Road Intersection Improvements PD&E Study: Project Kickoff

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District One, in partnership with Sarasota County, is conducting a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study, known as the State Road 72 (SR 72 / Clark Road) at McIntosh Road Intersection Improvements PD&E Study. This study will support Sarasota County in the evaluation of intersection improvements associated with the realignment of the existing offset SR 72 at McIntosh Road intersection. The intent is to remove the “jog” and create a four-legged intersection. The study area extends on SR 72 from McIntosh Road approximately 0.2 miles to Sarah Avenue and north to where the realigned McIntosh Road will cross Legacy Trail.

During the PD&E process, FDOT will identify a preferred alternative and provide opportunities for public input. The preferred alternative will be evaluated to determine the social, natural, and physical impacts. Safety enhancements and traffic performance are key considerations as well.

Read more here.

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The Legacy Trail Payne Park (Alderman MURT) Project | The City of Sarasota

The City of Sarasota was awarded a $400,000 federal grant to build the Legacy Trail Payne Park Multi-Use Recreational Trail (MURT). The purpose of the Project is to develop an at grade trail to connect users from the Legacy Trail to Downtown Sarasota and vice versa, creating shorter distances for people walking, biking, or rolling (scooter, skateboard, roller skates, mobility assistance devices, etc.).

Read more here!

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Webinar | A Safer System for Student Travel: Enhancing Safe Routes to School Through Vision Zero

Vision Zero is an international movement to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries. We still have a long way to go, but new approaches to Vision Zero are offering more opportunities for Safe Routes to School integration. Learn how the Vision Zero Safe System approach can be applied to school settings and explore tips for partnering with Vision Zero staff. Achieving Vision Zero will take cooperation from everyone, so let’s find ways to work better together!

Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Time: 2:00 PM (EST)

Location: Zoom - Register here!

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Florida LTAP Center Webinars

1. FDOT - ADA in Design, Construction, and Maintenance

Course Overview
This course provides a guided walkthrough of the requirements for accessibility for projects on the State highway system in Florida. Course material covers criteria found in the FDM 222 – Pedestrian Facilities, as well as application of accessibility requirements during Temporary Traffic Control (formerly MOT) found in the FDM 240 – Transportation Management Plan and Standard Plans, Index 102-660. References are also provided to similar criteria in the Florida Greenbook for use on Local projects.

Participants will walk away from this class with a better overall understanding of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) considerations in Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) projects and the specific criteria used to integrate safety and accessibility considerations for all users, including individuals with disabilities, and practical application of accessibility in the field.

DATE: Thursday, August 31, 2023
TIME: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (ET)
LOCATION: GoToWebinar - Register here

2. Resilient Infrastructure and Transportation Initiatives

Addressing the challenges of adapting transportation systems to climate impacts requires a multifaceted approach considering the interplay of land use and transportation priorities. Collaborative efforts and thoughtful planning are vital in developing resilient transportation systems for the future.

DATE: Wednesday, September 6, 2023
TIME: 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM (ET)
LOCATION: GoToWebinar - Register here

3. Intersection Safety: 3-Part Webinar Series
Note – you must register for each part individually

Part 1 of 3: Designing & Operating Intersections for Safety
DATE: Thursday, September 7, 2023
TIME: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (ET)
LOCATION: GoToWebinar - Register here

Part 2 of 3: Signalized Intersection Safety
DATE: Thursday, September 14, 2023
TIME: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (ET)
LOCATION: GoToWebinar - Register here

Part 3 of 3: Unsignalized Intersection Safety
DATE: Thursday, September 21, 2023
TIME: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (ET)
LOCATION: GoToWebinar - Register here

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U.S. DOT Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) Program

The Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST) has released a joint Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) and Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) programs, which will combine two major discretionary grants into one NOFO. Together, this combined program will be known as the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) Program. While they remain separate programs for the purposes of award, the programs share many common characteristics, including:

• Prioritizing disadvantaged communities;
• Aiming to improve access to daily needs such as jobs, education, healthcare, food, and recreation; 
• Fostering equitable development and restoration; 
• Reconnecting communities by removing, retrofitting, or mitigating highways or other transportation facilities that create barriers to community connectivity, including to mobility, access, or economic development. 

While applicants may choose to apply for only one grant program, this combined solicitation will allow applicants to apply for both funding opportunities by submitting one application.

DATES: Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM EDT on Thursday, September 28, 2023. Late applications will not be accepted.

Click here to read more!

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The FY23 Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program NOFO is now open!

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced last week that it is accepting applications for the second year of its Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the SMART discretionary grant program with $100 million appropriated annually for fiscal years (FY) 2022-2026.

This SMART Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will accept applications for Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping grants. During Stage 1, the SMART program seeks to fund innovation aimed at solving real-world transportation problems and focused on building data and technology capacity and experience for State, local, and Tribal governments. The program also recognizes that many public sector transportation agencies face challenges finding the resources and personnel to leverage new technologies; so, the program builds in the time and support to enable successful deployment. Successful projects will create sustainable partnerships across sectors and levels of governments engaging industry, labor, academia, and nonprofits.

All materials should be submitted by 10/10/2023 at 5:00 PM (ET) at https://usg.valideval.com/teams/USDOT_SMART_2023/signup.

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FY 2023 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning

The Pilot Program for TOD Planning helps support FTA’s mission of improving America’s communities through public transportation by providing funding to local communities to integrate land use and transportation planning with a new fixed guideway or core capacity transit capital investment. Comprehensive planning funded through the program must examine ways to improve economic development and ridership, foster multimodal connectivity and accessibility, improve transit access for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, engage the private sector, identify infrastructure needs, and enable mixed-use development near transit stations.

On August 7, 2023, FTA announced the availability of approximately $13.4 million in competitive grants for the Fiscal Year 2023 Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning Program. The funding will support local planning and investment near transit hubs to promote sustainable, livable, and equitable communities. This year, applications with a substantial focus on affordable housing may receive up to 100% federal support.

The full announcement is posted on Grants.gov as opportunity FTA-2023-011-TPE-TODP. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the Grants.gov website by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on 10/10/2023.

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Traffic Watch for Manatee and Sarasota Counties

FOR WEEK OF August 20, 2023

Motorists are reminded to wear safety belts and drive with caution, courtesy, common sense, and patience as they travel through work zones. Remember, speeding fines are doubled in work zones.

As a reminder, travelers can visit www.FL511.com or dial “511” from their phone to learn about traffic conditions on major roadways across the state. If you know before you go, you can plan accordingly and save time and money.

Read More

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ICYMI ::Transform 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan

On October 26, 2020, the MPO Board adopted the Transform 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan. It is with great pleasure to present a short video montage of the efforts taken over the past two years by elected officials, technical professionals, and most importantly, the public. Enjoy!