Executive Director's Update

November 2017 Update

Funding through Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program awarded to seven regional agencies.
Recently, MVRPC received applications from entities seeking funding through the Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program (Section 5310). Funds are made available annually to transit agencies, governmental authorities, private providers of public transportation and duly-formed private, not-for-profit organizations, to assist in the provision of transportation for seniors and individuals with disabilities in Greene, Miami, Montgomery and northern Warren Counties. Applicants awarded funding included agencies replacing older vehicles or adding vehicles to their fleets to expand services. Overall, seven local agencies were awarded funding totaling almost $700,000. To learn more about this funding, visit mvrpc.org/specialized-transportation-program.

MVRPC Receives Federal Certification Report of Planning Process
The federal review team, lead by Laura Toole, Federal Highway Administration, Ohio Division, and Reggie Arkell of the Federal Transit Administration, Region V, has completed their draft MVRPC Certification Review Report. Through a combination of remote desk reviews, a public meeting, and the onsite discussions on August 29 & 30, the review team was able to determine, as written in the report, “The planning process as conducted by MVRPC, Ohio Department of Transportation, GDRTA, Greene CATS, and Miami County Transit meets the requirements of the metropolitan planning regulations per 23 CFR 450.  As such the Review Team Certifies the planning process.” The full report is available mvrpc.org/events/mvrpc-board-meeting-november-2017.
On behalf of the Miami Valley, MVRPC’s Board of Directors, committees, and staff, we are grateful to our planning partners and the review team for an outstanding metropolitan planning process and we are excited about the future work that we will complete on behalf of the Region.
Commendation 1:  MVRPC and its partners are commended for the Going Places initiative.
Commendation 2:  GDRTA is commended for receiving the Certificate of Merit for Security from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).
Commendation 3:  MVRPC and GDRTA are commended for their work on improving bicycle and pedestrian transportation, including the regional Complete Streets Policy, Bikeway Plan and Level of Traffic Stress analysis, bike share program, and coordination with park districts. 
Commendation 4:  MVRPC is commended for receiving two awards at the 2016 Ohio GIS Conference: Miami Valley Regional Vacancy Profile map received the People’s Choice Award and 2014 Miami Valley Employment story map received the Second Place Award in the Digital Map Category.
Recommendation 1:  MVRPC should coordinate with its local public agencies to identify which entities have ADA Transition Plans in place and promote compliance with the ADA/504 requirements,
Recommendation 2:  MVRPC should not establish standard benchmark goals when reviewing proposals or DBE Program goals. Instead, MVRPC should coordinate goal setting guidance and overall DBE Program requirements with ODOT.
Recommendation 3:  ODOT should provide guidance to Ohio MPOs, including MVRPC, on DBE Program Goals.
Recommendation 4:  To improve transparency relative to fiscal constraint, MTP implementation, and compliance with 23 CFR 450.324(g)(11)(i)&(iv), the next MTP should identify proposed major capital projects and operations and maintenance costs to fully capture their program.

MVRPC Hosts the Miami Valley Equity Initiative Kickoff Listening Session
Now that the equity study is complete, MVRPC hosted a Listening Session with representatives from various public and non-profit agencies on Thursday, October 26, 2017. The goal was to determine next steps for increasing equity in our Region by using the input from these experts who have been working on this issue. 

The 17 participants represented the following organizations: Sinclair Community College, Miami Valley Urban League, National Conference for Community and Justice, United Way, PNC Bank, Human Relations Council, and Learn to Earn Dayton. The two-hour discussion was facilitated by the OSU-based Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity. The session summary is being prepared and we will share it when it is completed.

MVRPC will be leading a session titled “Let’s Talk about Inequity in the Miami Valley” at the upcoming Miami Valley Planning and Zoning Workshop on Friday, December 1, 2017, at Sinclair Community College. The focus will be the role of planning professionals in increasing access to opportunity in the Miami Valley. For information related to the Miami Valley Planning and Zoning Workshop, visit www.ohioplanning.org/2017MVWorkshop.

Grants & Funding Resources
On a monthly basis, MVRPC highlights new funding opportunities on our website at mvrpc.org/grant-and-funding-opportunities. These grant and funding opportunities were found through our use of Grantfinder software. A description, contact information and program links are included on these new sources. In addition, the website includes other valuable resources for your funding pursuits. This month we are featuring information on:

  • Honda Philanthropy Program – Deadline: November 30, 2017.
  • United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm to School Program – Deadline: December 8, 2017.

If you need assistance with your grant pursuit or need further research, contact Lynn Zuch, Principal Planner, at 937.223.6323 or lzuch@mvrpc.org

Upcoming MVRPC Meetings: 

11/08/17     4:00 p.m.    Public Participation Meeting, Proposed New Projects – 10 N. Ludlow St., Suite 700, Dayton, OH
11/09/17     9:30 a.m.    Sustainability Roundtable on Solar Energy – 10 N. Ludlow St., Suite 700, Dayton, OH
11/14/17     1:00 p.m.    HSTC Coordination Council – Goodwill Easter Seals – 660 S. Main St., Dayton, OH
11/15/17     8:30 a.m.    GIS Training Session – MVRPC – 10 N. Ludlow St., Suite 700, Dayton, OH
11/15/17     12:00 p.m.  Great Miami River Watershed – Sunwatch – 2301 E. River Rd., Dayton, OH
11/15/17      1:00 p.m.   2017 GIS Day – Map Gallery – MVRPC – 10 N. Ludlow St., Suite 700, Dayton, OH
11/16/17      9:30 a.m.   Technical Advisory Committee – MVRPC - 10 N. Ludlow St., Suite 700, Dayton, OH
12/01/17      8:00 a.m.   Miami Valley Planning & Zoning Workshop – Sinclair Community College - 444 W. Third St., Dayton, OH
12/07/17      8:30 a.m.   Executive Committee - Dayton Metro Library - 215 E Third St., Dayton, OH
12/07/17      9:00 a.m.   Board of Directors – Dayton Metro Library - 215 E Third St., Dayton, OH

November 2017 Executive Director's Update available for download.