Downs Valley MPO TPCC Meeting - July 22, 2026: MOA and UPWP Votes
Downs Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee Meeting - July 22, 2026
The committee met to consider two main agenda items: (1) a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for cooperative performance-based planning measures and targets, and (2) the Federal Fiscal Year 2027 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). Both items were approved after discussion and an amendment to the first item.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public provided comment during the general public comment period or during the public comment portions for either agenda item.
Discussion Items
- Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for Cooperative Performance-Based Planning Measures and Targets: MPO staff (Jeff) presented the MOA, which continues the MPO's support of statewide targets (the MPO does not currently have the data or methodology to set its own). The original motion was to approve the MOA with an ongoing term. Commissioner Brown expressed interest in eventually developing local targets. Mark Eggie voiced reservations, noting that the statewide targets are "weak" (e.g., not aiming to reduce fatalities) and argued the MPO should define its own ambitious targets. An amendment was moved by Mark Eggie and seconded to limit the MOA's term to the current two-year cycle, requiring the matter to return to the committee in 2026 for a decision on whether to develop local targets or continue supporting state targets. After discussion, the amendment passed. The main motion as amended then passed.
- Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for FFY 2027: Staff presented the UPWP, covering MPO planning activities (e.g., long-range transportation plan completion, data collection, the Valley Trail Loop study) and transit planning activities presented by Sunshine Ross (Urban Transportation District director). Discussion focused on indirect costs and office rent paid to the City of Bozeman, with assurances that negotiations are ongoing to reduce overhead. The motion to adopt the UPWP and authorize minor modifications passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Amendment to MOA motion: Passed (5 in favor, 1 opposed). The amendment limits the MOA to a two-year term, ensuring the committee will reconsider the approach in 2028.
- Memorandum of Agreement (as amended): Approved (6-0 or all ayes; one member not recorded). The Chair is authorized to sign the MOA, which now expires in two years rather than being ongoing.
- Unified Planning Work Program for FFY 2027: Approved unanimously (6-0). Staff is authorized to make minor regulatory compliance changes.
- Next steps: The MOA must be finalized before September 11, 2026; the UPWP will be submitted to MDT and FHWA for final authorization prior to October 1, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
It looks like we are waiting on Mayor to join us, and so I have not heard anything. Maybe we'll give it a few more minutes. Commissioner Brown is the vice chair of the committee. Um yeah, just wait, but yeah. So there we go. Yeah, I just checked the roster there. Well, we can we can wait, and then as soon as we give up waiting to say the word, and I can do my best to facilitate. Okay, we'll call this meeting of the Downs Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Coordinating Committee to order for Wednesday, July twenty second. I second it. Ms. Jim. Okay, could you pull the board? Mayor Marson. Hi. Mr. Bowdy. Hi. Commissioner Brown. Hi. Hi. Mark Eggie. Hi. Jim Hansen. Hi. Okay. We've got general public comment. This is the opportunity for anyone, any member of the public to provide public comment on anything that is not currently on our agenda, but it's still with under the scope and purview of the MPO. Do we have anyone online? Oh, yes, I see. I'm showing no request for public comment. Okay. We will close that portion and move on to new business. Um we've got uh our memorandum of agreement of for a cooperative-based planning measures and targets with this body. Um Jeff, I think you're up. Oh, you're you're muted. Yeah, great. Uh thank you, Mayor. Appreciate it. Uh, this item is to continue our performance-based target setting among uh the MPO, the state and transit district. Uh this is a federal requirement. We are federally required to coordinate on our uh performance measures and target setting. There are two different options that we can take. We can either support our partners' targets or we can develop our own targets. We previously developed or we previously supported the statewide targets on a term of two years. That two years has now expired and it is coming back to this committee. The updated memorandum of agreement changes the term to be an ongoing uh term. So we will be supporting the statewide targets on an ongoing basis. Um the MPO does not currently have the data nor processes methodology for uh creating our own target, and so even if we do want to do so, it would take a little bit to develop. We're currently in the long-range transportation plan development and the long stretch of that, and so setting our own targets right now uh would redirect the resources away from completing the long-range transportation plan. Uh supporting this uh statewide targets does not prevent us from pursuing our own targets in the future.
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