TPO adopts UPWP and a site‑specific travel reimbursement policy

The Gainesville‑Alachua Transportation Planning Organization approved its final Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for FY2026–28 and adopted a travel reimbursement resolution during its meeting, the board chair said.

Staff told the board the UPWP has been revised to incorporate comments from the Florida Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration and that the document now includes more explicit, performance‑based language for transit work. Director Whitfield said staff moved some systems planning funds into special projects to support transit evaluation and countywide bicycle‑pedestrian counts.

Member Alford moved to adopt the site‑specific GSA rate schedule for lodging and the IRS mileage rates for mileage reimbursement; the motion was seconded and passed by unanimous voice vote. Staff noted that adopting site‑specific rates will not override the UPWP travel budget; reimbursements remain capped by the budgeted amounts.

Why it matters: The UPWP sets the TPO’s work priorities and budget for the next three years and the adopted travel policy establishes how staff and board members will be reimbursed for travel tied to those priorities. Staff said the UPWP will be uploaded to DOT systems for final administrative review.

What’s next: Staff will finalize the UPWP upload and continue coordination with DOT and federal partners on the items noted in the agency comments.