OVERALL WORK PROGRAM OVERVIEW AND PROCESS
Purpose of the Overall Work Program
The Overall Work Program (OWP) serves as the key management tool for conducting State and City transportation planning activities on the island of Oahu. The OWP provides a listing of planning projects, and defines objectives, associated tasks, and deliverables, as well as budgetary and staffing requirements. The OWP is a requirement for metropolitan transportation planning activities performed with Federal funds provided under 23 USC and 49 USC 53.
The OWP is used as a support document for the programming of these federally-assisted initiatives. While planning studies funded by other, non-Federal sources need not be identified in the OWP, the OahuMPO includes them to reflect the context and direction they set for the major transportation planning efforts being undertaken for the metropolitan planning area.
The process of developing the annual OWP entails a closely coordinated effort among the OahuMPO and its participating agencies: the State Departments of Transportation (HDOT) and Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT), and the City Departments of Transportation Services (DTS) and Planning and Permitting (DPP).
The development of the OWP begins with input from the CAC and drafting potential studies or work elements by the OahuMPO and its participating agencies. These work elements may respond to requests made by the public, State Legislature, City Council, or a Federal agency; provide guidance for capital improvement projects; or be used to develop and promote transportation programs and policies.
The OahuMPO coordinates the review of the draft work elements by staff members of the participating agencies, CAC, the public, TAC, and Federal agencies (FTA, FHWA, FAA, Federal Maritime Administration, and Environmental Protection Agency), as well as an intergovernmental review. The OWP is then submitted to the Policy Committee for its endorsement prior to its submittal for FHWA and FTA approval.
Planning Priorities
The OahuMPO used the following priorities to evaluate projects for and fund them through the OWP:
1. Projects that fulfill requirements under metropolitan transportation regulations set forth in 23 CFR 450.300.
2. Projects that are necessary to enable the OahuMPO and its participating agencies to support the metropolitan transportation planning process or fulfill other Federal, State, or City regulations applicable to this process.
3. Projects that support planning efforts for projects identified in the Oahu Regional Transportation Plan.
4. Projects that support planning efforts consistent with the direction set forth in master plans or other planning documents adopted by the OahuMPO, the State, and/or the City.
5. Projects that support planning efforts to enable the State and the City to meet other needs that support Oahu's integrated, multimodal transportation system.
Consideration of the Eight Planning Factors
Federal regulations require that the metropolitan planning process provide for consideration of projects and strategies that address eight planning factors which are part of the framework used to evaluate Oahu's transportation planning program. Studies and projects are reviewed in light of both the OahuMPO planning priorities and how they address these factors:
1. Support the economic vitality of the metropolitan area, especially by enabling global competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency.
2. Increase the safety of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users.
3. Increase security of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users.
4. Increase the accessibility and mobility options available to people and for freight.
5. Protect and enhancing the environment, promoting energy conservation.
6. Enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system, across and between modes, for people and freight.
7. Promote efficient system management and operation.
8. Emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system.
Sources of Funds
The following Federal and local monies are typically used to fund the various studies identified in the OWP:
49 USC 5303. These FTA funds are used for planning purposes and often involve transit-related projects. The Federal-local matching ratio is 80:20; metropolitan transportation planning activities using these funds must be programmed in the OWP. While, the HDOT is the recipient of these monies, the OahuMPO is the expending agency.
49 USC 5307. These FTA funds are typically used for capital, operating, and maintenance costs of mass transit projects, but can also be used for planning. If these monies are used for planning purposes, the Federal-local matching ratio is 80:20, and the associated planning activities must be programmed in the OWP. The DTS is the designated recipient of funds apportioned to the Honolulu and Kailua-Kaneohe urbanized areas.
23 USC 104(f) FHWA-Planning Funds (PL). FHWA PL funds can only be used for planning to address intermodal and transportation planning issues. The Federal-local matching ratio is 80:20; activities using these funds must be programmed in the OWP. HDOT is the recipient of these monies; the OahuMPO is the expending agency.
Other Federal Funds. There are two broad funding categories -- National Highway System (NHS) and Surface Transportation Program (STP) -- which are generally used for highway or transportation projects. Although they may be used to conduct metropolitan transportation planning initiatives, it is seldom done due to the large transportation infrastructure needs of our roadway system.
CMAQ. The focus of FHWA's Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) is remediation projects in Clean Air Act non-attainment areas for ozone and carbon monoxide. Since Hawaii is in an attainment area, these funds are used as if they were STP funds. Planning study activities using CMAQ funds must appear in the OWP.
Local. The State and the City provide local matching funds for federally-assisted planning activities.
Planning Categories
The planning initiatives presented in the OWP are organized into three broad categories:
100 series - Overall Planning. This series provides the context within which metropolitan transportation planning is conducted. The plans in this section set the long-range direction of the State and City with regard to areas of anticipated future population growth and economic development. These include the State, through the Hawaii State Plan, and the City, through its General Plan and the Development/Sustainable Community Plans. It also incorporates the Hawaii Statewide Transportation Plan, which provides the City and counties with a framework for long-range transportation strategy. The categories in the 100 series are presented in the OWP for informational purposes only.
200 series - Metropolitan Transportation Planning. This series identifies specific metropolitan transportation planning work elements from safety to regional transportation monitoring and analysis, long- and short-range planning, air transportation, and maritime transportation. Specific work elements are developed to support this integrated, multimodal approach in a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (3-C) manner.
300 series - Coordination of the Planning Program. This series provides for the requirements of transportation planning coordination and for public participation within the metropolitan transportation planning process. The various work elements provide staff support for the OahuMPO Policy Committee, TAC, and CAC; and for the fiscal services required for Federal participation in OWP activities, the OahuMPO's Title VI and Environmental Justice (T6/EJ) mandates, and affirmative action for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) .
Work elements are identified by their three-digit series number, followed by a two-digit sequential number assigned by the OahuMPO and a two-digit year in which it is placed in the OWP. For example, the WE 301.01-09 indicates it is an element related to coordination of the planning program and is the first element within the 301 category for FY 2009.
