Erie County Department of Planning

• 1: Home
  • 1.1: About Us
  • 1.2: Staff
  • 1.3: Responsibilities
  • 1.4: 2009 Initiatives
  • 1.5: Planning Commission
    • 1.5.1: Meeting Minutes
  • 1.6: Calendar of Events
• 2: Regional Planning
  • 2.1: Erie County Comprehensive Plan
  • 2.2: Stormwater Management
• 3: Grant Programs
  • 3.1: Affordable Housing Program
  • 3.2: CZM
    • 3.2.1: CZM Projects
      • 3.2.1.1: Four Mile Creek
      • 3.2.1.2: SCUBA Sediment
      • 3.2.1.3: Frontier Park Pathway
      • 3.2.1.4: Environmental Rediscoveries
    • 3.2.2: Map of CZM Area
  • 3.3: Community Development Block Grant
    • 3.3.1: Erie County CDBG
    • 3.3.2: Girard, McKean and NorthEast CDBG
    • 3.3.3: Millcreek CDBG
• 4: Subdivisions
  • 4.1: County Review Process Guide
  • 4.2: County Approval Process Guide
  • 4.3: Subdivision Fee Schedule
• 5: Agriculture
  • 5.1: Agricultural Security Areas
  • 5.2: Erie County Agricultural Land Preservation Board
  • 5.3: Frequently Asked Questions
  • 5.4: Related Links
• 6: Transportation
  • 6.1: Erie MPO
    • 6.1.1: MPO Meeting Schedule
    • 6.1.2: Responsibilities
    • 6.1.3: Meeting Minutes
    • 6.1.4: Public Participation Plan
  • 6.2: Federal Transportation Planning Requirements
  • 6.3: Primary Planning Responsibilities
  • 6.4: Long Range Transportation Plan
  • 6.5: Transportation Improvement Program
  • 6.6: Unified Planning Work Program
  • 6.7: Special Studies
    • 6.7.1: Seaway Trail Management Plan
    • 6.7.2: US 19 Study
    • 6.7.3: NWPA Greenways Plan
• 7: GIS
• 8: Census
  • 8.1: Census Maps
• 9: Recycling

Primary Planning Responsibilities

The primary planning responsibilities of the MPO include creating a Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), a shorter range Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and a Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). The LRTP extends out over a 20-year horizon and acts as the official guide for the expenditure of federal and state transportation funds that are expected to be available in Erie County. The projects listed in this document are intended to reflect the community values and visions for improving the overall transportation system.

The TIP is an intermediate-range planning document that reflects the transportation expenditures programmed over the next four years.  Project details are provided in the TIP such as the general project description and cost, the funding source and funding year.  The TIP contains information on a wide array of transportation projects including aviation, bicycle facilities, planning studies, road improvements and transit, among others.  Projects identified in the TIP must be derived from the LRTP to be eligible for Federal funds.

The UPWP is a short term planning tool that is used to define specific annual goals and projects to be performed or managed by the MPO staff. Most of the planning activities outlined in the UPWP are required by state and federal laws in order to support the MPO process.  In addition, the UPWP outlines the annual budget for the planning activities of the MPO.

The MPO generates other planning documents and reports, and engages in many other activities and programs such as Air Quality Conformity; Congestion Management Process; Intermodal Management System; Twelve Year Transportation Program; Traffic Monitoring (TMS/H); Highway Monitoring (HPMS); Travel Demand Forecasting; Transportation GIS Database; Transportation Corridor Studies; and public participation efforts. However, as important as these efforts are, they are primarily required to support the monitoring and development of the LRTP and the TIP.