Upcoming Meetings

Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is hosting upcoming meetings:

Tuesday, August 15:

Community Traffic Safety Team (CTST) at 1:00 PM:

You can attend the meeting at the MPO office (8100 15th St E, Sarasota, FL 34243) or via the Webex link which you can find in the agenda packet.

To access the agenda packet, click here.

Bicycle/Pedestrian/Trails Advisory Committee (BPTAC) at 2:30 PM:

You can attend the meeting at the MPO office (8100 15th St E, Sarasota, FL 34243).

To access the agenda packet, click here.

For all other information regarding MPO meetings, please click here to visit the meetings page on our website.

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Take our Destination Zero 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 Stop on Red Week 2023

National Stop on Red Week, August 6-12, serves as an important reminder of the dangers we face on our roads and the responsibility we all hold to Stop on Red. 

Between 2008 and 2021, an estimated 11,296 people were killed in crashes related to red-light running. Using the theme "Zero in on Red", the week-long event highlights the importance of road safety education, traffic safety legislation and enforcement technology.

Read more and take the Safe Driving Pledge!

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USDOT Project Delivery Center of Excellence (COE) Through Leadership Series

A new thought leadership series on best practices to successfully deliver Bipartisan Infrastructure Law projects sponsored by the USDOT Project Delivery Center of Excellence.

The information below is the next upcoming webinar in this series:

Date: Thursday, August 10, 2023

Time: 1:00 PM (EST)

Topic: How Cities are Reinventing Project Delivery

Register here and see future webinar dates!

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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 (EDT)
LOCATION: GoToWebinar - Register here

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Safe Routes to School Summit 2023 | Early Registration

This three-day virtual summit will be filled with presentations and networking opportunities for Safe Routes practitioners, partners, and champions. Early Bird registration is open and continues until September 15, allowing you to expend funding from this fiscal year's budget or utilize any available grant funding. Detailed ticket information is below.

Ticket Prices:

• Early Bird - $99.00 (sale ends Sept. 15)
• Regular Rate - $125.00 (begins Sept. 16)
• Community Rate - $25.00 (parent volunteer? community member? Safe Routes to School not your part or full-time job? Please join us at this deeply discounted "community rate."

To register multiple participants or to pay via invoice or check, please complete this registration form and they will follow up with you: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DDKD5RW.

Click here for more information!

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Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) Program

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that the Department of Transportation is now taking applications for up to $5.575 billion in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for projects of regional or national significance. This funding supports three major discretionary grant programs that involve surface transportation projects designed to strengthen supply chains, spur economic development, and improve safety and daily life. Applications for funding are being solicited together under a single opportunity titled the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant program.

Available funding includes:

• $1.8 billion for the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) program
• $3.1 billion for the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program
• $675 million for the Rural Surface Transportation Grant (Rural) program

The deadline for applications is 11:59 pm EDT on August 21, 2023, Applicants may find the NOFO, Frequently Asked Questions, and other helpful resources 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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Traffic Watch for Manatee and Sarasota Counties

FOR WEEK OF August 6, 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!