News and Information from May 2022

A Message from the Executive Director

May can be an exciting time for kids as the school year is winding to an end and the burgeoning promise of summer nears. My two youngest have already constructed a fort within our home which is fortified by an impenetrable password (Scooby-Doo) written on the back of a piece of paper strategically hung close to the entrance. I've held them tighter and longer this month and within recent days. As much as our thoughts and prayers can go to help in healing, I hope they find their way there.

During the month of May, we hosted two public open houses to solicit feedback on our Title VI Plan update, our Board of Directors held a Public Hearing on the Draft Title VI Plan with anticipated adoption in June, we also discussed our next round of prioritization of our Unfunded Needs List of projects we present to MoDOT, and the Board agreed to pursue a Safe Streets and Roads for All grant to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan for the SEMPO planning area. The latter will mark the first competitive grant SEMPO as a collective entity has pursued. We will have a resolution authorizing the submission of the grant application presented at our June meeting where there will be further opportunity for discussion on the grant application process and program details. 

FOMO on NOFOs?

Don't experience the Fear of Missing Out on upcoming Notice of Funding Opportunities. The U.S. Department of Transportation released a list of dates for NOFOs for key Bipartisan Infrastructure Law programs. The following link provides the most updated list. The list provides program NOFO release dates from June 2022 through September 2022. 

Tired of Those Pesky DOT's Always Saying No?

Are you tired of those pesky DOT partners always saying NO to your great ideas? I've got good news for you, Transportation for America recently published a series where you can turn that frown upside down and make a "no" a "yes". Sounds promising, right? Actually, they shared a two part series with the first focusing on how to get local engineers and city planners to agree on projects. I thought I would highlight the second. The articles should be read in good fun but I do think they provide insight into some of the barriers and obstacles good ideas (and certainly at times some not so good ideas) may face. We all have our organizational missions and guidebooks which may not align with the goals of others attempting to express new ideas. It's important that we continually strive to understand other perspectives and solutions to ensure the maximum benefit of our collective efforts are achieved. 

Safe Streets and Roads for All

$1 billion every year for the next 5 years will be invested in the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) competitive grant program. The program will fund planning efforts and capital construction projects which seek to enhance safety and prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. In the first year of the program, 40% of the funds will be dedicated toward entities seeking planning grants to develop Comprehensive Safety Action Plans within their respective jurisdictions. Only entities that can certify that they have a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan that meets the U.S. Department of Transportation's requirements may apply for an Implementation Grant (capital construction project). Applications are now open and due September 15, 2022.

MoDOT 2022 TAP Grant Program

MoDOT's next round of Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) applications are now open and due July 15, 2022. Eligible project costs include:

• Construction of on-road and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized forms of transportation, including sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle signals, traffic calming techniques, lighting, and other safety-related infrastructure, and transportation projects to achieve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990;
• Construction of infrastructure-related projects and systems that will provide safe routes for non-drivers, including children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities to access daily needs;
• Conversion and use of abandoned railroad corridors for trails for pedestrians, bicyclists, or other non-motorized transportation users; and
• Construction of infrastructure-related projects to improve the ability of students to walk and bicycle to school, including sidewalk improvements, traffic calming and speed reduction improvements, pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, on-street bicycle facilities, off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities, secure bicycle parking facilities, and traffic diversion improvements in the vicinity of schools.

Draft EV Readiness Plan

A draft of the EV Readiness Plan has been provided to the EV Steering Committee for review. Once initial comments are addressed a copy will be provided to the Technical Planning Committee as well as the SEMPO Board of Directors for additional comments. The project team is on track to have a public draft ready by late June/July timeframe with final adoption anticipated in September. 

Roadway Fatalities Update

The Southeast District has experienced 48 fatalities on the roadways in 2022 as of May 22. This number is higher than the 43 fatalities which occurred in 2021 at this time. Of these 48 fatalities, 66% of the occupants were not buckled. Statewide, we have experienced 326 fatalities, which is less than what we experienced in 2021 where 338 fatalities were recorded, yet higher than what was experienced in 2017 (323), 2018 (316), 2019 (274) , and 2020 (298) at this point in the year.

SEMPO Trivia

What percent of public transit users in the U.S. are women?

a. 28.7%
b. 37.4%
c. 50.6%
d. 55.2%
e. 62.8%
f.  73.4%

Be the first one to respond to my email (amcelroy@cityofcape.org) with the correct answer and I'll bring the drink of your choice to our next meeting.

What is a STROAD?

Do you know what a STROAD is? I honestly did not, but the name makes sense now. This is a quick 4 minute video about STROADS.

Transportation Quote

"There can be no doubt that the transportation sector is the most critical sector of our economy."

 - Robert Brady