The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) is a document that identifies the transportation tasks and studies to be performed by Baltimore Metropolitan Council staff or one of the local jurisdiction members. The UPWP reflects federal planning requirements with local priorities, therefore content reflects issues relevant to the Baltimore region. These priorities are described in the Introduction of the UPWP.
The UPWP contains several sections:
- The planning tasks and studies that will be conducted over a two-year period
- All federally funded transportation studies as well as all relevant state and local planning activities conducted without federal funds
- Funding sources identified for each project
- A schedule of activities
- The participants responsible for each
- task or study
The UPWP is developed every two years beginning in December and approved the following April, and is the result of cooperation among state transportation, air quality and planning agencies and local jurisdictions. Work programs are prepared with the involvement of these organizations, acting through the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board and its subcommittee structure. The work program begins in July of a given year and ends the following June.
All draft work programs are released to the public for a 30-day review and comment opportunity.