Memphis MPO Travel Time Spring 2022
Quarterly Newsletter - March 2022
Transportation Improvement Program Update
The development of the FY 2023-26 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) cycle is underway! The application period ended in January and the next step is the approval of the TIP Project List, which is scheduled for the MPO’s Transportation Policy Board (TPB) Meeting on May 19, 2022.   The FY 2023-26 TIP is planned for adoption in September and opportunities for public review of the draft TIP document will be available this summer. Look for more information to come later this year!

To learn more, visit the Memphis MPO website.
New MPO Planner
Clarke Shupe-Diggs joined the Memphis MPO team as a Transportation Planner in January. She is a Denver native with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Simmons College in Boston, MA. After serving as a GIS volunteer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in various locations throughout the U.S., she moved to the Memphis area and obtained a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of Memphis.

Clarke began working for the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development (DPD) as a Land Use Planning and Historic Preservation intern during her graduate studies. She most recently worked as a Municipal Planner under DPD’s Land Use and Development Services section. Her work at the MPO will focus on transit planning and performance measure targets.
Memphis MPO Biteable Videos

New Biteable videos are now live on both YouTube and on our website.

The Planning & Environmental Linkages (PEL) video explains the various potential environmental impacts of transportation projects, which are considered and documented through the NEPA process. Watch the video to learn how the MPO helps avoid environmental damage or surprise delays to projects by considering the environment in the early stages of the planning process.
Headlines
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced that it is providing $52.5 billion in funding to all 50 states and the District of Columbia under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the release of nearly $260 million in highway safety grants. These grants, part of the funding included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, were distributed to Highway Safety Offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, United States territories, and the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs. The funds will help address the traffic safety crisis on America’s roads by helping states and territories support a broad array of traffic safety priorities. When full-year distributions are completed, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will increase the funding available for these vital life-saving programs by 31% over the previous fiscal year's levels.

The U.S. Departments of Transportation and Energy announced nearly $5 billion that will be made available under the new National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program established by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to build out a national electric vehicle charging network, an important step towards making electric vehicle (EV) charging accessible to all Americans.

FedEx remains full speed ahead in taking the next steps to electrify thier pickup and delivery vehicle fleet, which is a critical component in FedEx's ambitious goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations globally by 2040.
Program & Funding Opportunities
25 Competitive Infrastructure Funding Opportunities for Local Governments
The MPO staff has compiled this list of new, expanded, and existing federal grant opportunities through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill). It provides detailed information on eligible project types, requirements, funding amounts, important dates, and more. The document can be reviewed here, but note that the appropriate agency websites will have the most complete and up-to-date information regarding each grant program.

The Trail Fund
The Trails Move People Coalition has announced The Trail Fund, a grant program to support trail maintenance, research, and stewardship training. Application materials, eligibility, and more information can be found at their website: Apply for The Trail Fund - American Trails.

Rebuilding American Infrastructure Sustainably and Equitably (RAISE) Grants
This existing competitive grant program provides $7.5 billion in funding for road, rail, transit, and other surface transportation of local or regional significance. Both capital and planning projects are eligible, with a maximum award of $25 million. Applications for 2022 are now open.
MPO Planners On the Job

December:

Virtual Meetings:
1:TDOT Statewide IAC Meeting
7:MS Freight Advisory Committee Virtual Meeting - Freight Plan Update
8:TDOT Quarterly SHSP Meeting
10:TDOT MPO Monthly Conference Call
14:MATA Board Meeting
28:Summer Avenue Focus Group
29:TDOT Freight Advisory Committee Meeting

Webinars:
1:City of Memphis Pedestrian Advisory Group
2:Ford for Fleets: F-150 Lightning, E-Transit & Blue Oval City
9:AMPO General Membership Webinar
15:FHWA Truck Parking Development Handbook
15:IIJA/TPM FHWA Webinar

January:

Virtual Meetings:
5: TN MPO Bike/Ped Coordinators Meeting
11:City of Memphis Summer Avenue Study Committee Meeting
14:TDOT Monthly Coordination Call
18:FHWA National Virtual MPO Peer Exchange on Target-Setting
18-21: RTP Virtual Meetings
25:Memphis Freight Flows & Industry Analysis Study Meeting

February:

24: ETC and TPB Meeting

Virtual Meetings:
2:Statewide IAC Call
9:AASHTO/ITS America/ITE Cooperative Automated Transportation (CAT) Coalition Member Update
17:Bike Advocacy Council

Webinars:
15: TDOT Local Programs Training
16:TDOT Local Programs Training
22:Electric Vehicles [USDOT]
28:Updated HSIP Guidance under BIL [USDOT]
Upcoming Events:
April 4 - Holiday - MPO Offices will be Closed
April 15 - Holiday - MPO Offices will be Closed
May 19 - TPB/ETC Meetings
May 30 - Holiday - MPO Offices will be Closed
June 20 - Holiday - MPO Offices will be Closed
Did You Know?
You can receive periodic email updates on regional transportation planning issues!
Contact us if you have a question or need information on an MPO plan/study!
Meeting Calendar
April - June 2022