Federal planning regulations require that Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) prepare a Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) each year, in cooperation with member agencies, to describe all metropolitan transportation and transportation-related air quality planning activities anticipated within the region during the state fiscal year. The tasks and activities within the UPWP are intended to advance the region’s priorities, guided by SJTPO’s federally required long-range, regional transportation plan and the planning requirements within the current federal legislation. The UPWP incorporates planning priorities shared annually by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Federal Transit (FTA).

UPWP Timeline

The development of the UPWP begins long before the effective date in July each year.

Work tasks and activities are crafted based on input from various sources, including priority areas established by NJDOT, FHWA, and FTA. The UPWP is prepared and submitted to NJDOT in mid-December each year and shared with the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) in January. During this same period, the UPWP is released for public review and comment, ultimately leading to Policy Board adoption in March.

The FY 2023 UPWP is unique in that it will be the first budget influenced by the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the new transportation bill signed into law by President Biden in November 2021.

The total expenditures and revenues for the FY 2023 UPWP are $5,196,801.00, which is considerably more than the total expenditures and revenues of the FY 2022 UPWP because of funding increases associated with the current federal legislation. To further supplement the Technical Program, SJTPO will leverage FHWA Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding in the amount of $1.6 million to support a consultant-led technical study that will help advance the development of Countywide Local Road Safety Plans for the four counties.

FY 2023 UPWP Funding Breakdown

The total expenditures equate to total revenues at $5,196,801.00, with a breakdown of the tasks noted in the chart below.

SJTPO’s total expenditures and revenues are divided into five categories: Financial & Administrative Services, Operating/Direct Expenses, Other, Central Staff Salaries/Labor, and Technical Program. The Financial & Administrative Services category is provided to the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA), SJTPO’s administrative host, who performs financial administration and subcontracting on behalf of SJTPO. The Operating/Direct Expenses category allows SJTPO to purchase office supplies, equipment, software, and travel expenses such as lodging, meals, mileage, and utilities. The Other category provides funding to SJTPO’s four counties. The counties receive funds through the UPWP to support their contributions to SJTPO and other transportation planning needs of their jurisdictions. The Central Staff Salaries/Labor goes toward staff salaries. The final category, referred to as the Technical Program, attributes the most significant percentage of SJTPO’s budget and supports the purchase of data, equipment, or services to be performed by consultants. Before consultant-led efforts occur, staff work with the counties to determine the transportation needs and priorities of the region.

After the needs and priorities are determined, staff will draft project scopes, release Requests for Proposals (RFPs), select the winning consultant, and manage the efforts once underway. Considering SJTPO has a finite amount of funds for the Technical Program each year, the number of consultant-led efforts varies. In the FY 2023 UPWP, there are six consultant-led efforts. The efforts include a microtransit feasibility study, demographic analysis, regional freight plan, among others. Each consultant-led effort is fully detailed in section five of the FY 2023 UPWP and Executive Summaries.   

UPWP Executive Summary

SJTPO publishes executive summaries of many of its plans and reports. The purpose of the executive summaries is to provide the public with a concise version of the extensive plans and reports. Like all other executive summaries produced by SJTPO, the UPWP Executive Summary is available in English and Spanish. Executive Summaries are proactively translated into Spanish as it is the four-county region’s primary Limited English Proficiency (LEP) language. As noted in the “Need the UPWP Translated” section, SJTPO is willing and able to translate the UPWP Executive Summary into an alternate language if requested. The English and Spanish UPWP Executive Summaries are listed below in the “Current UPWP” tab.

Need a Hard Copy of the UPWP?

All draft and approved plans, studies, and records produced by SJTPO, including the UPWP, are available online, at the SJTPO office, and at select libraries in the region, which make major government agency documents available for viewing by the region’s public at no cost.

If an individual is unable to view plans, studies, and records, including the UPWP, on the SJTPO website, the SJTPO office, or at the select libraries in the SJTPO region, noncolor copies may be requested. Copy fees are $0.05 per letter page or $0.07 per legal page. The requested plans, studies, and records, including the UPWP, may be picked up at the SJTPO office for no additional charge or mailed at the receiver’s expense. SJTPO may waive totals under $1.00. Printing and postage costs must be paid by the receiver before mailing. Checks or money orders must be made out to the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA). Cash is not accepted.

Document and Records Request Form

Need the UPWP Translated?

SJTPO works to accommodate all reasonable requests for translation services, including translating the UPWP into an alternate language. Translation requests can be submitted through the form below, emailed to TitleVI@sjtpo.org, or by calling the SJTPO office at (856) 794-1941. Please allow at least seven days for SJTPO to process any requests.

Translation Request Form

Contact Us with Your UPWP Comments