Background/Analysis/Issues:

DVRPC’s FY 2027 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) incorporates the planning programs and support activities of DVRPC and its member governments for the period July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. As the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Greater Philadelphia region, DVRPC is required by federal regulations to develop a UPWP. This document reflects the policy direction provided by the Board with input from federal and state planning partners, member governments, operating agencies, and other partner organizations.

During the Board meeting on December 3, 2025, the DVRPC Board authorized release of the Draft FY 2027 Unified Planning Work Program for distribution and review, with a public comment period scheduled to run from December 3, 2025, to January 5, 2026. The draft UPWP was released for FHWA, FTA, NJDOT, and PennDOT review at the same time. DVRPC staff will prepare responses to all comments received during the public comment period, address them accordingly, and report on these at the Board meeting on January 22, 2026. 

The FY 2027 UPWP reflects a comprehensive set of planning activities, includes priority projects from each member government, and serves as an important implementation tool to achieve the directives of federal transportation legislation including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). In addition, the UPWP serves as an important way to advance the future land use and transportation development vision set forth in the region’s Long-Range Plan (LRP), Update: Connections 2050. To highlight these connections, every program and project in the work program identifies the LRP goals it most helps to advance.

There are a variety of funding sources that support the UPWP, including FHWA and FTA Metropolitan Planning (PL) funds, PA State funds, member government contributions, grants from public agencies and foundations, and the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Table 2 of the UPWP shows Project Funding by Source (attached). 

The FY 2027 UPWP total budget is $40,104,942, which includes $26,419,572 for internal operating expenses (+4% from FY 2026) and $13,685,370 for passthrough programs to member governments (+119% from FY 2026). The approximately $7.5 million increase in the pass-through portion is driven by projects that are funded on a biannual basis, including the PA Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI), TripSmart PA program, and Travel Options Program (TOP), for which FY27 and FY28 will be a new 2-year funding cycle. Additionally, several of these pass-through programs are proposed for funding increases from the prior funding cycle.

To support certain projects that the Board has selected for the DVRPC FY 2027 UPWP, some TIP actions are needed for FFY26 of the FFY 2026 TIP for New Jersey and the FFY 2025 TIP for Pennsylvania. Information on all proposed TIP actions is contained in the attachment, FY 2027 UPWP TIP Funds Actions Table. 

NJ TIP Project Costs

A total of $4,830,000 Federal is needed from FFY26 of the FFY 2026 NJ TIP to support NJ projects/programs in the FY 2027 UPWP. Action is needed to approve $1,519,000 of that total, with the balance already programmed in the NJ TIP.

Of the $4,830,000 from the NJ TIP, $3,459,500, or 72%, is pass-through to member governments//consultant services, and $1,370,500, or 28%, supports DVRPC projects for member government benefit and/or to meet federal requirements. 

• The Action is to approve increasing funding in the FFY 2026 NJ TIP by $1,519,000 for the identified FY 2027 UPWP projects/programs.

PA TIP Project Costs

A total of $12,861,120 ($12,336,020 Federal/$500,100 State/$25,000 Local) is needed from FFY26 of the FFY 2025 PA TIP to support PA projects/programs in the FY 2027 UPWP.  Action is needed to approve $3,876,000 of that total ($3,773,900 Federal and $102,100 State), with the balance already programmed in the PA TIP. 

Of the $12,836,120 from the PA TIP, $8,398,620, or 65%, is pass-through to member governments/consultant services, and $4,437,500, or 35%, supports DVRPC projects for member government benefit and/or to meet federal requirements.

• The Action is to approve increasing funding in the FFY 2025 PA TIP by $3,876,000 for the identified FY 2027 UPWP projects.

FY 2027 UPWP TIP Funding Comparison with FY 2026 UPWP TIP Funding

UPWP funding from the NJ TIP is proposed to increase by $1,252,500 or 35%. The FY 2026 UPWP included TIP funding for the biannual NJ TCDI program which is not programmed in the FY 2027 UPWP, and the FY 2027 program includes a new Off-System Bridge LCD project in Burlington County, renewal of New Jersey Local HSIP Program Assistance for FY27 and FY28, an increase to the regional GIS pass through program for member governments, and small budget increases to several other ongoing programs. 

In the FY 2026 UPWP, there was $6,693,500 in PA TIP funded projects, and there is an increase of $6,142,620, or 92%, proposed in PA TIP funded projects from FY 2026 to FY 2027. This is primarily due to large pass-through programs including TOP, TripSmart PA, and PA TCDI, which are biannually programmed (meaning they did not appear in the FY 2026 UPWP) and begin a new 2-year grant cycle in FY 2027. In addition, at the request of our partners, several pass-through programs including PA TCDI, TripSmart PA, and our Regional GIS program, are proposed for funding increases this round to provide more capacity amidst broad cost increases.

Overall Action

The action before the Board is twofold:

1. Adopt the FY 2027 UPWP, pending the resolution of any outstanding comments and issues arising from the public and partner agency comment period. Responses to comments received are being developed and will be presented at the January Board Meeting. After Board adoption, relevant edits will continue to be incorporated and the final document will be produced and submitted to the funding agencies.
2. Approve the attached Actions to the FFY 2026 TIP for New Jersey (NJ26-006) and the FFY 2025 TIP for Pennsylvania (PA25-079) to support certain projects that the Board has selected for the DVRPC FY 2027 UPWP.

Cost and Source of Funds:

FY 2027 UPWP Table 2, FY 2027 UPWP TIP Funds Actions Table

The DVRPC Board adopts the DVRPC FY 2027 Unified Planning Work Program, pending the resolution of any outstanding comments and issues, and b) the DVRPC Board approves the listed actions to amend or modify the FFY 2026 TIP for New Jersey (NJ26-006) and the FFY 2025 TIP for Pennsylvania (PA25-079) to support projects in the FY 2027 UPWP, as required.