Upcoming Meetings

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

Monday, September 11:

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) at 10:00 AM:

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.

Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) at 5:00 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.

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

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Florida Drowsy Driving Prevention Week

Florida's Drowsy Driving Prevention Week - September 4 - 8, 2023

Florida's Drowsy Driving Prevention Week honors Ronshay Dugans, an eight-year old Tallahassee girl who died when a drowsy driver plowed in the van she was riding in. When you snooze behind the wheel, everyone around you loses. By sharing her story, everyone can learn more about the potential dangers of drowsy driving.

Click here to learn more about the campaign including tips and more resources!

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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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U.S. DOT Webinar: Utilizing DOT Data and Mapping Tools for Stronger Grant Applications

This one-hour USDOT webinar on Utilizing DOT Data and Mapping Tools for Stronger Grant Applications will spotlight resources and tips for preparing for grant success, provide an overview of available DOT mapping and data tools, and include presentations on the Screening Tool for Equity Analysis of Projects (STEAP) and the Equitable Transportation Community (ETC) Explorer.

Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Time: 1:30 PM (EST)

Register here

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Complete Streets Power Hour 1: Safer Streets Ahead

The National Complete Streets Coalition is bringing together advocates, policymakers, and practitioners ready to move the needle for Complete Streets. In a series of three webinars this fall, panelists will discuss the importance of establishing a clear vision and commitment when crafting an effective Complete Streets policy.

Complete Streets Power Hour 1: Safer Streets Ahead

Date: September 26, 2023

Time: 12:00 PM (ET)

Register here

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Implementing the National Roadway Safety Strategy

U.S. DOT is committed to the ambitious long-term goal of reaching zero roadway fatalities and has adopted the Safe System Approach to help address the crisis on our roadways. The Safe System Approach is the guiding paradigm of the National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS), and [they] are dedicated to implementing the actions outlined in the NRSS to move us closer to our zero deaths goal.

Read more.

View the NRSS dashboard to follow the progress of key Departmental actions to advance the National Roadway Safety Strategy.

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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. 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

2. 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!