Work Program (UPWP)

The NVCOG’s planning programs are designed to meet and exceed federal planning requirements, ensuring that our efforts are continuous, cooperative, and comprehensive. To support our region’s economic revitalizations, NVCOG aims to best program federal and state transportation infrastructure resources to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. The process provides the technical and support services needed by the metropolitan planning area’s policy board to select transportation investments and set priorities.

The transportation planning activities in the 2026-2027 UPWP are categorized into seven tasks:

Task 1: Data Collection and Analysis: This task provides for data collection, analysis, and presentation about critical elements of the transportation network. Included in this task are the region’s GIS program, active transportation and vehicle count programs, and all work related to the US Census Bureau’s data collection efforts.

Task 2: Multimodal Transportation Planning: Task 2 includes all the planning activities related to transit, active transportation, and highway planning. Included in this task are major regional planning efforts including transit expansion and micro transit, the regional active transportation plan, an updated regional freight plan, and a planned update to the Waterbury Area Transit Study. 

Task 3: Program Implementation: This task provides for staff activities to see plans move forward. Through activities such as management of the TIP and LOTCIP, this task supports staff work related to funding of projects. It similarly provides for work on the various committees and boards that have been established to advance transportation planning activities within the region, such as the Naugatuck River Greenway Steering Committee. Task three will also support the region’s initiatives around Vision Zero implementation. 

Task 4: Technical Assistance: Task 4 supports the work that staff does to provide technical support to the NVCOG member municipalities. Technical assistance will also be provided relating to major corridor studies, project development and delivery, participation in special studies and projects under the sponsorship of CTDOT, FHWA and FTA, and services carried out on behalf of member towns.  

Task 5: Public Engagement: Task 5 identifies the tasks NVCOG staff will undertake to advance efforts to better engage the broader community, including work to better publicize projects and activities, build stronger relationships with community-based organizations and advocacy groups, and improve awareness of regional planning across the region.

Task 6: Administration: Task 6 allows for the administration of the transportation planning program, including management of the UPWP, regular completion of federal reporting requirements, and coordination with the CTDOT. 

Task 7: Complete Streets: Per changes in IIJA, MPOs must dedicate a minimum of 2.5% of all planning funds to complete streets activities. To ensure this is completed in accordance with the federal regulation, a separate task that can be invoiced to the Department independently has been created. Task 7 will include the creation of a regional complete streets policy and development of a complete streets prioritization plan.