HRTPO, First MPO in Virginia to receive certification for Stimulus Package Funding
Posted By HR Partnership on September 3, 2009
On September 2, 2009, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine certified 18 transportation projects submitted by the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) for full funding through Federal economic stimulus funds, also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
As the region’s metropolitan planning organization (MPO), the HRTPO is the first MPO in the state to receive certification for projects.
Federal regulations require that urbanized areas throughout the United States have a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to conduct a continuing, cooperative and comprehensive transportation planning process. As the MPO for Hampton Roads, the HRTPO selected and submitted the 30 projects totaling just over $41 million for ARRA funding in March 2009. Governor Kaine’s certification means that ARRA funds will be obligated to complete the transportation infrastructure improvement projects.
Hampton Roads will receive nearly $22.5 million for the 18 projects. The remaining 12 projects may still receive certification as the projects continue to be reviewed and evaluated against ARRA requirements. See the list below for the locations and descriptions of the certified projects.
“This is great news for the region,” said Dwight Farmer, the HRTPO’s Executive Director. “We are confident that we will soon hear that the remaining 12 projects will receive certification as well. The certification of these projects means that they meet the scope and purpose of the ARRA funding. These projects are ready to go and will provide the region’s economy a boost.” A list of all 30 projects submitted for ARRA funding consideration can be found at the HRTPO website, http://www.hrtpo.org.
About the HRTPO: The Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) is an intergovernmental planning body for thirteen jurisdictions in Hampton Roads, as well as state agencies and transit operators, that conducts a continuing, cooperative and comprehensive transportation planning process. The voting membership of the HRTPO consists of representatives from the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg, as well as, the counties of Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, and York. Additional voting members come from representatives of the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads, Williamsburg Area Transit Authority (WATA), the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit, and the Virginia Port Authority. Voting membership has been extended to two delegates and two senators from the region’s General Assembly delegation. Non-voting membership applies to the Virginia Department of Aviation, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, the Chief Administrative Officers for all Member Localities, the Peninsula Airport Commission, Norfolk Airport Authority and the Chairs of the Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee and Freight Transportation Advisory Committee.
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