Cape Cod MPO staff outline 2023 UPWP priorities including Station Ave corridor study and RTP update

David Nolan, transportation planner with the Cape Cod Commission, reviewed the structure, tasks and schedule for the 2023 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP).

Nolan said the UPWP organizes annual planning work into tasks: management and certification activities, data collection and analysis, short- and long-range planning (with corridor and safety studies), technical assistance for transit and other agencies, and Cape Cod Commission planning/regulatory activities. He noted the MPO will fund a larger‑scale update to the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) during the next UPWP cycle.

Possible studies discussed for the coming year include a Station Ave corridor planning study in Yarmouth (intersection and interchange review), roadway safety audits (three typical audits per year), a sidepath crossing inventory to complement the rail‑trail crossing inventory, a climate‑resiliency review of EV charging infrastructure and follow‑up studies on prior projects. Nolan also mentioned plans to improve public presentation of performance measures (for example, an online dashboard).

Staff invited project ideas and said they expect to vote on a slate of projects at the next MPO meeting in March so staff can prepare detailed scopes and release a draft UPWP in April for public review and a final in May. Work on approved UPWP projects would begin in October 2022.

"We hope to vote on a slate of projects in March so we can release a draft in April and present a final in May," Nolan said. Members were encouraged to submit project ideas before the March meeting.