Annual Report Fiscal Year 2007 (PDF, 170 KB)

Introduction
Regional Planning Program
Transportation Planning Program
Financial Report
SWRPA Board
South Western Region MPO
SWRPA Staff
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INTRODUCTION

The South Western Regional Planning Agency (SWRPA), one of 15 regional planning organizations in Connecticut, was established in 1962 to provide regional planning services to the cities of Norwalk and Stamford and the towns of Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Weston, Westport and Wilton in the absence of county government.

MISSION STATEMENT:

SWRPA is dedicated to preserving and improving the quality of life and economic vitality in southwestern Connecticut.  SWRPA focuses on the issues of transportation, housing, environment, and open space and provides a forum for local governments to foster communication and collaboration in addressing intertown issues and needs.

REGIONAL PLANNING PROGRAM

Regional Land Use Reviews:  As required by Sections 8-3(b) and 8-26(b) of Chapter 124 of the Connecticut General Statutes, SWRPA’s Board reviewed and acted on 68 proposed land-use actions and provided input on six “non-statutory” referrals.

Geographic Information System (GIS):  GIS is an essential support tool for both SWRPA’s transportation and regional planning programs. Using GIS, SWRPA staff created maps for the Long Range Transportation Plan update, ITS Strategic plan, Open Space Inventory, various technical memoranda, and upon request from SWRPA’s stakeholders.  SWRPA staff also launched an innovative program to collect highway travel data using GPS technology as part of our Congestion Management Process. SWRPA staff fulfilled numerous technical data requests from member municipalities, transit agencies, not-for-profits and the public.

Open Space Inventory:

The purpose of the study is to develop a detailed inventory of protected open space parcels in the Region and to promote best practices in open space acquisition and stewardship.  The open space inventory is being developed in close consultation with the SWRPA Environment Committee and the Region’s eight municipalities.  In 2008, SWRPA will put the study through a public participation process and produce a final report and database.  The final report is expected to be adopted as an update to the Regional Plan of Conservation and Development

Housing:

SWRPA published a draft Regional Housing Needs and Supply Assessment, which is an update and expansion of a housing study completed in 1996.  The Agency’s Board of Representatives retained the firm of Harrall-Michalowski Associates to assist the SWRPA Housing Committee and the staff with the assignment.

The report identifies the need for and the supply of adequate housing; a review of characteristics and resulting upward pressure on housing costs; an analysis of the patterns of movement and workforce through, as well as in and out of the region; an identification of obstacles to increasing the supply of affordable housing and options to address these obstacles.  This report is intended to provide the SWRPA municipalities with a thorough analysis of housing adequacy, which can assist each community in addressing the issues in a regional context.

Recommended regional initiatives mentioned in the report are:  (1) Establishing a clearinghouse and information source on housing issues; (2) Pursuing housing opportunities with a mix of non-residential development within a five or ten-minute walk from train stations, generally known as transit oriented development or TOD; and (3) An annual housing summit where businesses, institutions and government would convene to identify opportunities for partnering on housing production.  These initiatives will be undertaken in the next program year.  This report will be part of an update of the Regional Plan of Conservation and Development.

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROGRAM

The Transportation Planning Program The transportation planning program is an essential component of SWRPA’s activities and is the Agency’s primary source of funding.  SWRPA is the designated transportation planning agency for the South Western Region. SWRPA staff support the activities of the South Western Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (SWRMPO) which is the federally mandated transportation policy board for the Region.  The SWRMPO’s voting members are the mayors and first selectmen of the Agency’s eight municipalities as well as the Region’s transit administrators. The Transportation Technical Advisory Group (TTAG) provides technical support and reviews materials for the MPO. This group is   composed of planners, engineers and other officials from the towns, state and federal agencies.

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP):  The TIP establishes how federal funds will be used for regional transportation projects.  Working in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT). The FY2007-2011 TIP was endorsed by the SWRMPO in June 2006, and then approved by US DOT and effective as of October 1, 2006. Periodic updates of the TIP are reviewed and approved by the SWRMPO to reflect project schedule, scope, and funding changes.

Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP): The UPWP guides transportation planning activities for the  current and next year’s work program.  The FY2008 work program was endorsed by the SWRMPO in May 2007.

Regional Long-Range Transportation Plan:  The South Western Region Long Range Transportation Plan 2007-2035  was adopted by the SWRMPO on May 8, 2007, and approved for conformity by US DOT on June 30, 2007. The plan is the short and long range blue print for transportation projects, priorities and programming in the region.

Special Events Sponsored by SWRPA:  On March 20, 2007, SWRPA hosted a Congestion Pricing Workshop to educate local, regional, state and federal officials about congestion pricing. The principles of congestion/value pricing, strategies, success stories, and opportunities for Connecticut were described by the USDOT program manager for congestion pricing projects.

 Programs SWRPA Coordinates for the State and Federal Departments of Transportation:

SWRPA coordinates a number of state and federal transportation grant programs for ConnDOT, including:

FHWA STP-Urban - $4-5 million per year.

Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) – Connecticut makes $2 million per year available each year for this competitive program.

USDOT Ferryboat Discretionary Grant – awards between through 2007 total $6 million to Stamford.

USDOT Community System Preservation Grant – three applications for this discretionary grant program were submitted in April, but not funded.

FTA Section 5310 – for handicapped accessible vehicles to non-profit and certain government entities (3 vehicles awarded in FY2007).

FTA Enhancement – SWRPA coordinates this program for the Bridgeport-Stamford Urbanized Area - $200,000 per year.

ConnDOT Local Road Accident Reduction Program – this is a competitive statewide program. South Western Region projects often secure funding.

The FHWA Safe Routes to Schools Infrastructure Grant Program, which led to funding of projects for schools in Norwalk and Stamford totaling $738,000 and

CT Municipal Dial-A-Ride Grant Program which provided funding to municipalities for transportation services for seniors and persons with disabilities. South Western Region towns were awarded $360,000 and $335,000 for FY2008 programs.

Participating in Transportation Studies Conducted by Others:  SWRPA staff participated in studies that impact the region, including: the Long Island Sound Waterborne Transportation Plan, Danbury Branch Electrification Feasibility Study, and the ConnDOT Service Plaza and Rest Area Study. In 2006, ConnDOT initiated development of work programs for two projects: Danbury Branch Electrification Study Phase 2, and New Canaan and Waterbury Branch Study. SWRPA staff is a member of the study advisory committees, attended meetings and provided input into the ongoing work programs.

Participation in Transportation Studies: SWRPA staff is on advisory committees of several ConnDOT studies important to the region.  These studies include the Danbury Branch Phase 2 Study and Environmental Assessment, the New Canaan and Waterbury Branch Study, and completion of the Rest Area and Service Plaza Study.

Participation in Transportation Initiatives, Committees, and Special Events:  

In FY2007, in addition to coordinating the region’s Safe Routes to Schools grant program, SWRPA also participated in related workshops, and is a member of the State Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. SWRPA staff also represent the region on the ConnDOT Merritt Parkway Advisory Committee. In the metro-New York sphere, SWRPA staff participated in numerous New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) activities including freight, truck parking, mobility, congestion management, bicycle planning, waterborne transportation, modeling, human service transportation planning, and inter-agency coordination.

Transportation Strategy Board (TSB) and the Coastal Corridor Transportation Investment Area (CCTIA):  Staff served on the TSB’s Statewide Incident Management Task Force.  Staff also represented the SWRMPO at meetings of the TSB and CCTIA meetings.
 

MISCELLANEOUS

www.swrpa.org: The Agency's website averaged nearly 4,600 visitors per month in FY 2007, up from 3,500 a month in the previous fiscal year.

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