The Heartland Regional Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) announces the start of a seven-day public comment and review period for proposed amendment to the FY 2024/25 through FY 2028/29 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP is a list of funded transportation projects covering a period of five years. Adopted each year in June, the TIP is updated by amendment throughout the year to ensure authorization of federal funds.
The comment period for the TIP proposed amendment begins on November 13, 2024, and comments will be accepted through November 20, 2024. The proposed TIP amendment will be presented for adoption to the HRTPO Board at their meeting on December 4, 2024. An opportunity for public comment will be available at the meeting before Board action is taken.
Printed copies are available upon request. Anyone interested in submitting a comment may do so by contacting Staff Services Director Marybeth Soderstrom by email at msoderstrom@cfrpc.org, mail to 555 East Church Street, Bartow, FL 33830, or call (863) 534-7130 x 134.
The Heartland Regional Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) is seeking comments from the public on an amendment to the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for Fiscal Years 2024/25 – 2025/26. The UPWP describes the transportation planning projects to be performed within the HRTPO area and includes the following components:
Summary of planning tasks to be completed by the HRTPO
Definition of work products and a timeline for major activities
Budget proposal using federal and other funds for planning
Estimate of cost for each task
The adopted UPWP forms the basis for federal and state transportation planning funds to be awarded through agreements or grants to the HRTPO.
The UPWP is a biennial document covering two budget years. The HRTPO coordinates with the FDOT District to determine the necessary revisions.
The comment period for the amendment to the UPWP begins on September 24, 2024, and comments will be accepted through October 1, 2024. After the comment period closes and all input has been considered, the amendment to the UPWP will be considered for adoption at HRTPO Meeting on October 2, 2024.
Printed copies are available upon request. Anyone interested in submitting a comment may do so by contacting Transportation Director, Marybeth Soderstrom, by email at msoderstrom@cfrpc.org, mail to 555 East Church Street, Bartow, FL 33830, or call (863) 534-7130 x 134.
The Highlands Transit Plan will help establish a strategic vision to guide the planning, development, and potential implementation of public transportation service in Highlands County over the next 10 years.
This Transit Development Plan (TDP) brings together technical analysis and community voices to create a 10-year Operating and Capital Plan to expand mobility and transportation options in Highlands County and was shaped by:
Input from residents, community partners, and stakeholders
Other planning documents like the Florida Transportation Plan and the region’s Long Range Transportation Plan
An estimate of what the demand for transit might be based on demographic, land use, transportation, and transit data
An assessment of the land use and design patterns and how that might support or hinder the efficient provision of existing and future transit services
Public involvement is a critical component in the TDP development process to assess a community’s vision for existing and future service needs. The Highlands Transit Plan draws from numerous public outreach activities that were conducted throughout the county to understand and obtain feedback from the community. Public Involvement for the Highlands Transit Plan considers the public participation material that exists in other documents and plans to understand the public’s mobility needs and where the public perceives public transit to fit in that context.
The HRTPO has a strong commitment to ensure public involvement in the transportation planning process. Adopted in March 2023, the Public Participation Plan (PPP) provides guidelines used by the HRTPO to inform and gather input from residents, communities, and interest groups throughout the six counties in order to expand the information available for planning. Following the guidelines in the PPP, the HRTPO will make the draft document available for public comment 30 days prior to adoption, seven (7) days prior to amendment, and continuously during development. The Transit Plan is reviewed by the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), and the HRTPO Board at meetings that are open to the public.
The Heartland Regional Transportation Organization presented the draft Highlands Transit Plan to the Heartland Region on August 19, 2024, for a 30-day public comment period.
Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, income, or family status. Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Marybeth Soderstrom, HRTPO Title VI Liaison, 863-534-7130, extension 134 (voice), or via Florida Relay Service 711, or by email: msoderstrom@cfrpc.org.
Ways to Comment:
After you have reviewed the Highlands Transit Plan, please let us know if you have any comments:
The Heartland Regional Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) announces the start of a seven-day public comment and review period for proposed amendment to the FY 2024/25 through FY 2028/29 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP is a list of funded transportation projects covering a period of five years. Adopted each year in June, the TIP is updated by amendment throughout the year to ensure authorization of federal funds.
The comment period for the TIP proposed amendment begins on July 18, 2024, and comments will be accepted through July 25, 2024. The proposed TIP amendment will be presented for adoption to the HRTPO Board at their meeting on September 18, 2024. An opportunity for public comment will be available at the meeting before Board action is taken.
Printed copies are available upon request. Anyone interested in submitting a comment may do so by contacting Staff Services Director Marybeth Soderstrom by email at msoderstrom@cfrpc.org, mail to 555 East Church Street, Bartow, FL 33830, or call (863) 534-7130 x 134.
The Draft HRTPO 2024/25 – 2028/29 TIP serves as a five-year financially feasible program of improvements for all modes of transportation within DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties. The draft TIP has a five-year total of $752 million.
