The TPB’s March 18 meeting featured approvals of the FY 2027 TPB Unified Planning Work Program and FY 2027 Commuter Connections Work Program. Board members also received a briefing on transportation system operations management coordination. On April 15, the board approved the Bike to Work Day Proclamation and also approved the Transportation Resilience Improvement Plan (TRIP)’s prioritized project list.

Featured Highlight: MATOC and Transportation Systems Management Coordination

At the March meeting, Taran Hutchinson, Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination (MATOC) Program Facilitator, provided an overview of transportation systems operations and regional coordination around incident management. MATOC, which developed after 9/11, is administered through the University of Maryland Center for Advanced Transportation Technology and provides real-time monitoring of the region's transportation system. Eli Russ, COG Senior Public Safety Planner, discussed COG’s RESF-1 Transportation Emergency Preparedness Committee, the region’s Winter Weather Plan, and the Regional Framework for Mutual Aid. Learn more about these programs in a new TPB News Highlight.

Bike to Work Day Proclamation

The TPB board approved the annual Bike to Work Proclamation, encouraging all to register for Bike to Work Day. Bike to Work Day is an opportunity to join thousands of cyclists of all experience levels for a two-wheeled commute on May 15. Find out the details, locate your local pit stop, and check out resources from maps to tips on how to prepare your bike for the big day.  

Transportation Resilience Prioritized Project List

Katherine Rainone, TPB Transportation Planner, provided an update on the region’s Transportation Resilience Improvement Plan (TRIP) and the TRIP’s Prioritized Projects List at both meetings. The TRIP was approved by the Board in 2024 to identify projects needed to increase system resilience to the increasing frequency and severity of natural hazards and extreme weather. U.S. Department of Transportation Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Program funding requires that agencies prioritize their resilience projects, and in doing so, listed projects benefit from a lower match requirement. While the PROTECT program is currently paused, the TPB wants to continue to maintain the list to be prepared for the program re-opening or for future funding opportunities.

Stormwater management in Arlington County, VA (Arlington DES/Flickr)

The following projects are included in the 2026 prioritized project list update, and the slide illustrates the hazards addressed and types of infrastructure improvement. As shown, the greatest number are transit projects addressing temporary flooding and heat.    

Updated Projects

Updated Project Title: Special Inspection of Station Vault Pre-Cast Supports at Eight Red Line Stations
Inspection of and preparation of conditions report on deteriorating vaulted ceilings at stations
Agency: WMATA

Project funded and underway: Metrobus Shelter Replacement
Replacing aging shelters and providing shade
Agency: WMATA

New Projects

Cherrywood Lane Complete and Green Street Retrofit
Transforms Cherrywood Lane connection to the Greenbelt Metro station into a Complete and Green Street by reducing asphalt, increasing permeable surfaces, and incorporating green infrastructure.
Agency: City of Greenbelt

Columbia Pike Stormwater Improvements
Increases stormwater capacity by reducing the hydraulic grade line of the storm system, includes flood and weir walls.
Agency: Arlington County Department of Environmental Services

Board approves FY 2027 work programs with new activities to begin July 1

Lyn Erickson, TPB Plan Development and Coordination Program Director, presented the FY 2026 carryover and FY 2027 TPB Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) budget and scope of work. The January TPB Highlights listed program activities planned for the new fiscal year. The total amended FY 2026 UPWP is $24.5 million, and the total new budget is $28.9 million. The board adopted Resolutions R11-2026 and R12-2026 amending the UPWP to carry over money into FY 2027 and to fund the FY 2027 work program. 

Dan Sheehan, TPB Transportation Operations Programs Director, presented the final FY 2027 Commuter Connections budget. The board approved Resolution R13-2026, approving just under $8.4 million for the program, which helps commuters find alternatives to getting to and from work, whether it be carpooling, riding transit, or taking bike or bus. In the coming year, Commuter Connections will double capacity of the ‘Pool Rewards vanpool program which has reached capacity for the first time in the program’s history in part due to return to office orders and surging demand for the program. In addition, Commuter Connections now has a fresh set of State of the Commute survey data which means that the program will revamp and realign its marketing efforts to the current desires and needs of commuters.

Director’s Report and TIP Amendments

TPB Staff Director Kanti Srikanth’s announcements and the TPB Steering Committee’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) amendment approvals are listed in Item 5 on the March 18 and April 15 meeting pages.

DMVMoves Work Plan

TPB Multimodal Planning Program Director Tom Harrington and TPB Transportation Engineer Eric Randall presented on next steps for DMVMoves, which calls for increased transit funding and improved regional transit integration. COG and TPB’s ongoing participation includes identifying key tasks and a schedule for year 1 of implementation, facilitating working groups, and forming a coordination group to report on progress and elevate issues and concerns.

Regional transit integration actions and issues that will be addressed through the DMVMoves Work Plan:

• Continue Regional Bus Priority Network Plan development and implementation.
• Finalize regional service guidelines and establish performance measures.
• Coordinate regional fare policy and implementation.
• Create a more seamless experience for transit users across the region through infrastructure and wayfinding.
• Work with the COG Joint Transit Procurement Committee (JTPC) to develop useful transit procurement tools and opportunities.
• Share training and adopt consistent reporting.

For more information, view the presentation slides (Item 9) or listen to the live steam (time mark 37:26).

Data Center Series Update

COG’s winter/spring data center series includes an upcoming session on Land Use and Economics on May 26, 2026. Read about takeaways from the first sessions in the recent COG News Highlight. 

Staff Announcements
At the March meeting, Kanti Srikanth welcomed Sakina Khan, COG’s new Director of the Department of Community and Economic Services, and recognized Mark Moran, TPB Program Director, Travel Forecasting and Emissions Analysis, on his retirement after 35 years of service.

Stay Connected

Agenda items, presentations, the Director’s Report, and the recorded livestream are available on the March 18 and April 15 meeting pages.

Look for future announcements in TPB News and read highlights in the COG Newsroom, Subscribe to COG’s Regional Roundup for daily briefs on transportation in the DMV. The TPB board next meets on May 20 at 12:00 P.M.

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