Annual Report FY2007

Projects Committee Structure Budget Board

The Power of Planning

Our Mission
DVRPC's mission is to proactively shape a comprehensive vision for the region's future growth. We will do so by providing technical assistance and services; conducting high-priority studies that respond to the requests and demands of member states and local governments; fostering cooperation among various constituencies to forge a consensus on diverse regional issues; determining and meeting the needs of the private sector; and continuing public outreach efforts that promote two-way communication and enhance public awareness of regional issues and DVRPC.

Barry Seymour Executive Director	Joanne R. Denworth FY07 Board Chair

Who We Are
Created in 1965, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) is an interstate, intercounty and intercity agency that provides continuing, comprehensive and coordinated planning to shape a vision for the future growth of the Delaware Valley region. Our region includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania; and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties in New Jersey.

Our goal is to address current and ongoing issues while fostering cooperation among member governments, private sector organizations and the general public. To do so, we work closely with a variety of groups, including the Pennsylvania and New Jersey departments of transportation, community affairs and environmental protection agencies, the federal government and regional transportation providers. We also partner with a wide variety of nonprofit organizations in the areas of community and economic development, environmental protection and land use. All of our activities are directed by an 18-member Board that establishes regional policy, defines committee duties and adopts the annual work program. A 10-member Executive Committee oversees general operations and fiscal matters. Financial support for our activities comes primarily from federal transportation funding through the Pennsylvania and New Jersey departments of transportation. Additional financial resources are provided by funding from other state or federal agencies, counties, cities, operating agencies, foundations and the private sector.

DVRPC does not discriminate based on race, color, age, sex, disability or national origin in any of its programs, pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Planning is a dynamic exercise that leads the region in a productive direction, encourages public input and maintains quality-of-life standards for today and well into the future.

Planning is many things to many people... it encourages individual municipalities to work cooperatively to combine resources; it provides a forum for disparate interests to reach a reasonable consensus; and it provides a platform for decisions that result in economic, physical and social benefits.

DVRPC is the planning organization for the Delaware Valley. We take that role seriously and we work to improve and promote our processes both internally and externally. One way we have streamlined the internal workings of the Commission is through the development of our Annual Work Program. This is the most important document that we produce; it includes all of the projects that our staff will be working on over the course of the fiscal year. It reflects local and regional priorities and sets the policy direction of the Commission as a whole. In the past fiscal year, we have grouped related projects together into larger programs and budgets to reflect this new direction. This change of direction has also affected our Board Retreat format, which now utilizes development of the Work Program as a framework for brainstorming sessions and prioritization of projects. The FY 2007 (FY07) Retreat, which was held in September of 2006 at the Villanova (PA) Conference Center, resulted in a more focused and cohesive program and a smoother process.