Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization Board of Directors

Monday, March 02, 2026

3:00 P.m. - 5:00 P.m.

County Administration Building - Grace Knight Conference Room

12 SE 1 Street, 2nd Floor, Gainesville, FL 32601

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

2.

CHAIR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

3.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

4.

ROLL CALL & CONFIRMATION OF QUORUM

• Commissioner Casey Willits – City of Gainesville (Chair)
• Commissioner Mary Alford – Alachua County Commission (Vice-Chair) 
• Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler – Alachua County Commission
• Commissioner Ken Cornell – Alachua County Commission
• Commissioner Charles “Chuck” Chestnut IV – Alachua County Commission
• Commissioner Anna Prizzia – Alachua County Commission
• Mayor Harvey Ward – City of Gainesville
• Commissioner Cynthia Moore Chestnut –City of Gainesville
• Commissioner Desmon Duncan Walker – City of Gainesville
• Commissioner James Ingle – City of Gainesville
• Commissioner Ed Book – City of Gainesville
• Commissioner Bryan Eastman – City of Gainesville
• Council Member Taylor – Rural Community Representative
• Ms. Tina Certain – Alachua County School Board Representative
• Mr. Adrian Hayes‑Santos – Gainesville Regional Airport Representative
• Ms. Linda Dixon – University of Florida Representative (Non-voting)
• Ms. Achaia Brown – Florida Department of Transportation District 2 Representative (Non-voting)

5.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

6.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

7.

ACTION ITEMS

7.1

UPWP Amendment (2024-2026)

FY24/25 – FY25/26 UPWP Amendment # 6:

The Gainesville & Alachua County TPO (DBA and serving in its role as the MTPO for the Gainesville Urbanized Area) intends to de-obligate $1,096,073 from Gainesville MTPO PL Agreement No. G2889, leaving a balance of $1,400,000 for the period July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. Therefore, the TPO is proposing an amendment to the UPWP to update the Task Tables and Summary Tables to reflect the de-obligation amount. In accordance with the FDOT MPO Handbook, the following items are included as supporting documentation:

1. Revision Log
2. UPWP Revision Form #6
3. Current Pages (Task & Summary Tables)
4. Proposed Pages (Task & Summary tables)
5. Final UPWP (Whole document – with updated tables 2024 - 2026)
6. TIP (to be provide by the Department)

Recommended Action: Approve the FY25/26 UPWP Amendment # 6 as provided.

7.2

New UPWP 2026-2028

DRAFT FY26/27 – FY27/28 UPWP:

The Gainesville & Alachua County TPO (DBA and serving in its role as the MTPO for the Gainesville Urbanized Area) is preparing the DRAFT FY26/27 – FY27/28 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for the next two-year periods. The UPWP is a federally required statement of work that outlines transportation planning priorities and activities within the metropolitan planning area. It identifies planned tasks and products, responsible parties, timelines, costs, and funding sources over a two-year period. The program is required by the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and the Florida Department of Transportation. Adoption and continued implementation of the UPWP is necessary for GACTPO to remain eligible for state and federal transportation funding for local programs, projects, and system improvements. The pr preparation of this DRAFT follows procedures and schedules established by FDOT’s Metropolitan Planning Organization Handbook.

Recommended Action: Approve the DRAFT FY26/27 – FY27/28 UPWP as provided.

7.3

Adopt List of Priority Projects

LOPP Update:

The List of Priority Projects (LOPP) is required annually to ensure that transportation planning efforts align with changing funding availability, shifting community needs, and project progress. The LOPP is a mechanism for ensuring that limited resources (time, money, personnel) are directed toward the most urgent, high-impact, and viable projects. These updates serve as a critical bridge between long-term planning and immediate, five-year, or annual implementation, allowing new projects to be added, completed ones to be removed, and projects to be re-ranked based on current criteria. The TPO and Florida Department of Transportation have evaluated the current FY 26/27 – 30/31 LOPP and did not identify a need to make any changes to list of projects and their ranks. It should be noted that re-approving the List of Priority Projects as it currently stands will now allow the University Blvd. Lighting Project (Programmed Project 207658-3) to be able to be expedited to construction. Therefore, no changes are proposed other than updating the fiscal years to reflect the next fiscal cycle of FY27/28 – FY31/32.

Recommended Action: Approve the FY27/28 - FY31/32 List of Priority Projects as provided. 

7.4

Letter of Support - Legislative Appropriation (Archer Rd)

Alachua County is requesting $2.25 million in state appropriations for FY 2026 to complete the design phase for the State Road 24 (Archer Road) Widening Project between SW 75th Street (Tower Road) and SW 122nd Street. The Legislature previously appropriated $2.25 million in FY 2024‑25 to begin design under FDOT Contract No. G3784, FPN 449844‑3‑34‑01. This second appropriation will fully fund and finalize the design package, enabling the project to advance to construction.

The project is included in the MTPO’s Year 2045 Long‑Range Transportation Plan, meets regional mobility and safety objectives, and supports hurricane evacuation for Levy County. Staff recommends approval of the MTPO Support Letter endorsing the County’s funding request.

Recommended Action: Authorize Chair signature for Letter of Support for Legislative Appropriation to finalize design of the State Road 24 (Archer Road) Widening Project. 

7.5

General Planning Consultant Contract

Recommended Action: Approve the ranking, and authorize Executive Director to negotiate and execute two agreements for RFP 26-XXX MTPO Contract_GPC Services.

8.

DISCUSSION

8.1

Bike/Ped Master Plan Update

8.2

RTS Report

RTS Director, Jesus Gomez, will provide a presentation on RTS, including current service, historic trends, and budgetary information.

9.

INFORMATION ITEMS

9.1

Director Comments

9.1.1

Update Bylaws

9.1.2

Joint Certification (update)

10.

UPCOMING MEETINGS OF INTEREST

• GACTPO Board Meeting - April 6, 2026
• Countywide Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan Community Meeting #3 - Late March: https://growth-management.alachuacounty.us/Planning/BikePedMasterPlan

11.

AGENCY REPORTS / PARTNER UPDATES

12.

PUBLIC COMMENTS (GENERAL)

13.

MEMBER COMMENTS

14.

ADJOURNMENT