Quarterly Newsletter - December 2023

Saba Mortazavi joined the Memphis MPO as a Transportation Planner in November 2023. She is an Urban Planner with a background in Landscape Architecture. She earned a bachelor's degree in Architecture from Art University in Tehran and worked as an Architect for three years in her early career. Then, she pursued two master's degrees in Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture at Auburn University, Alabama. Following her graduation from Auburn University, she relocated to Memphis serving as a Landscape Architect and as a City Planner. 

Marion Tucker joined the Memphis MPO as a Grants Coordinator in November, 2023. She is a Memphis native with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Memphis. Marion has 15 years of experience with the City of Memphis Government and worked in several positions, including; Internal Auditor, Senior Accountant, Interim Fiscal Manager, Financial Analyst, and Grants Coordinator in the Office of Grants Compliance (OGC). During this time, Marion also obtained two certifications: Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Municipal Finance Officer (CMFO).

The Memphis MPO’s Annual Listing of Obligated Projects (ALOP) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 is now available. The ALOP features a comprehensive list of federally funded regional projects that obligated funds during the federal fiscal year. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) defines obligation as the Federal government’s legal commitment (promise) to pay or reimburse a State or other entity for the Federal share of a project’s eligible costs. An obligated project has been authorized by the Federal government and funds have been obligated or approved for reimbursement. The total obligation for FY 2023 was $228,074,442 of which $177,545,266 was obligated for Tennessee projects, $41,417,127 for Mississippi projects, and $9,112,049 for transit projects. Visit the Annual Listing of Obligated Projects webpage to view the 2023 ALOP.

Bartlett officially opens New Brownsville Road

The City of Bartlett held a ribbon-cutting to announce the official opening of New Brownsville Road. The recently completed project extends from Austin Peay Highway to Kirby Whitten Road, and is expected to improve traffic flow within the City of Bartlett.

Memphis-Nashville passenger-rail line gets $500K federal grant

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a $500K federal grant to explore new intercity passenger rail services between Atlanta and Savanah, and from Atlanta to Nashville and Memphis via Chattanooga. The grant is a step towards enhancing mobility throughout the State of Tennessee. The grant was one of ten Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) Program awards for passenger rail projects across the country.

Tennessee Unveils State’s First-Ever 10-Year Fiscally Constrained Transportation Project Plan

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) revealed its first-ever proposed 10-year fiscally-constrained project plan in December. The $15 billion fiscally constrained plan includes both the annual TDOT work program budget of approximately $1.2 billion for 10 years plus the $3 billion State General Fund appropriation provided in the Transportation Modernization Act (TMA), proposed by Governor Lee, and passed by the General Assembly earlier this year.



North Mississippi MDOT Projects Update

The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) has provided updates on several construction projects in north Mississippi, including one project in DeSoto County.

USDOT Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE)

The U.S. Department of Transportation has published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $1.5 billion in grant funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program for 2024. The deadline for applications is 11:59 PM EST on February 28, 2024.

USDOT Bridge Investment Program

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has opened applications for $9.7 billion in multi-year funding to improve the nation’s bridges through the competitive Bridge Investment Program’s “Planning” and “Bridge Project” categories, which fund bridge planning, repair and replacement projects under $100 million. The deadline for applications is March 19, 2024.

Congratulations to the City of Horn Lake for receiving a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant to develop a Pedestrian Safety Action Plan! The next round of applications for SS4A are anticipated to open in February 2024. A wide range of project types were selected for implementation grants in FY 2023 at both the system level and corridor/project level, and some examples of project components include intersection improvements, ADA improvements, sidewalks, crosswalks, lightning, signalization, shared use paths, etc. Click here for more information on the type of projects that received implementation grants in FY 2023.

Visit the MPO's Funding Opportunities webpage for more information on transportation funding opportunities available to eligible agencies and organizations throughout the Region.

October:

4: Tennessee Statewide IAC Call - Virtual

10: TN MPOs Bike Ped Quarterly Meeting - Virtual

12: Ozone Working Group Meeting - Virtual

12: TDOT Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment Working Group - Virtual

13: TDOT/MPO Monthly Meeting - Virtual

24: MATA Board Meeting - MATA HQ

31: AMPO Policy Committee Quarterly Meeting - Virtual

31: Ozone Working Group Meeting - Virtual

Webinars & Trainings:

5: Maryland DOT Walkinar I: National and State Perspectives - Webinar

12: FHWA Accelerating Project Delivery - Webinar

12: Maryland DOT Walkinar II: Pedestrian Infrastructure and Safety - Webinar

18: FHWA MOVES4 Introduction - Webinar

19: Maryland DOT Walkinar III: Maryland Initiatives - Webinar

23-24: Transit Asset Management: FHWA/FTA Virtual Peer Exchange - Training

November:



9: AMPO Policy Committee Meeting - Virtual

17: TDOT/MPO Monthly Meeting - Virtual

29: City of Memphis Bicycle Advocacy Council Meeting - Virtual

30: City of Memphis Pedestrian Advocacy Council Meeting - Virtual

Webinars & Trainings:

2: Proximity Matters: Bringing Government Closer to Residents - Webinar

9: How to Build Stronger Relationships with Community-Based Organizations - Webinar

December:



6: Tennessee Statewide IAC Call - Virtual

7: MDEQ CPRG Public Meeting - Virtual

8: TDOT/MPO Monthly Meeting - Virtual

12: Memphis Area ADVANCE Working Group Meeting - Virtual

14: Ozone Working Group Meeting - Virtual

18: TN Pedestrian Task Force Meeting - Virtual

26: MATA Board Meeting - MATA HQ



Webinars & Trainings:

7: AMPO Active Transportation - Webinar

11: AMPO Core Products Q4 Meeting - Webinar

12: GHG Performance Measure Final Rule - Webinar

20: FHWA Value Capture Strategies - Webinar

Upcoming Events:

January 1 - Holiday - MPO Offices will be Closed

January 15 - Holiday - MPO Offices will be Closed

February 15 - TPB & ETC Meetings

February 19 - Holiday - MPO Offices will be Closed

March 29 - Holiday - MPO Offices will be Closed