Community input sought for regional Passenger Transportation Plan

Community input sought for regional Passenger Transportation Plan

Announcements
Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) is updating the Passenger Transportation Plan (PTP) for the region consisting of Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek Counties in northeast Iowa. The Iowa Department of Transportation requires that our region’s PTP be updated every five years. The current plan was adopted by the Upper Explorerland Transportation Policy Board in March of 2018. The PTP provides the basis for efficient and effective passenger transportation, and for future operations, maintenance, and service development. The PTP identifies where there may be duplication of services resulting in scheduling and funding inefficiencies, as well as potential gaps in services and unmet transportation needs for our region’s residents and visitors. The plan includes a description of the region's existing conditions, identifies current passenger transportation challenges and coordination issues, anticipates…
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Call for Applications – Multimodal Transportation Grants for Northeast Iowa Communities

Call for Applications – Multimodal Transportation Grants for Northeast Iowa Communities

Announcements
1-16-2023 The Transportation Policy Board of Regional Planning Affiliation 1 (RPA-1) in northeast Iowa is announcing the call for applications for Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funding for diverse transportation projects in our region and communities. STBG is a federal funding program that requires a 20% local match. Eligible STBG road and bridge projects sponsored by city governments may be swapped for state funding through Iowa DOT’s Swap Program, in which case the 20% local match is not required. *Note: Iowa’s Transportation Alternatives Program (Iowa’s TAP) is currently on hold as Iowa DOT reevaluates its guidelines and procedures to comply with new requirements in the recent federal infrastructure bill. Prospective applicants are reminded that all projects eligible for Iowa’s TAP funding, including walking and bicycling infrastructure projects, are also eligible…
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Section 8 Applications Available Online

Section 8 Applications Available Online

Announcements
The Section 8 Housing Program is a major effort in assisting lower-income families to live in decent, safe and sanitary housing.  This program provides assistance for low-income families in the private rental market through the HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program. Upper Explorerland Regional Housing Authority currently has vouchers for 498 families within the region of Allamakee, Clayton, Howard, Fayette and Winneshiek counties.  In order to better serve our customers, UERPC Regional Housing Authority has developed an online application.  The application is both printable and is available to upload to our system. In order to access the application, please go to our website at www.uerpc.org and following these steps: Open website at, www.uerpc.org Click on Section 8 Application Forms (far right side of top green bar) You will see Upload Form…
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Public meeting to discuss Iowa Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)

Public meeting to discuss Iowa Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)

Announcements, Meeting
AMES, Iowa – Aug. 5, 2022 – The Iowa Department of Transportation will hold a virtual meeting to accept public comments about the draft Iowa Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) from 2 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 16, 2022. A brief overview of the STIP and its development process will be provided beginning at 2 p.m. and will be followed by time for comments and questions on the STIP. Should discussion be ongoing at 2:30 p.m., additional time will be made available to accommodate all comments on the document.  The draft STIP identifies all projects proposed to be authorized for funding provided by the Federal Highway Administration or Federal Transit Administration during federal fiscal years 2023-2026. It includes projects for state, county, city, and federal transportation systems. Development of the…
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NEIRHTF ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

NEIRHTF ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

Announcements, Open House
The Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund (NEIRHTF) is accepting applications for first time homebuyer down payment assistance and housing rehabilitation\improvement projects. Applicants must be low-moderate-income first-time homebuyers, homeowners, landlord/for-profit organizations, or non-profit organizations to promote and create affordable housing activities.  All applicants must be in one of the following counties of Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek. Eligible projects include rehabilitation and repair of existing housing, including, but not limited to: roofs, windows, siding, plumbing, electrical, energy efficiency, lead paint issues, and handicap accessibility. For more information on the NEIRHTF or to see if there is funding in your area, please contact Lori Quam with Upper Explorerland RPC, at 563-864-7551 or by email at lquam@uerpc.org.   Application You can also obtain an application online at http://uerpc.org/housing-trust-fund.html. 
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Special call for additional TAP funding; applications due April 30th, 2022

Special call for additional TAP funding; applications due April 30th, 2022

Announcements, Public Comment
After an increase in funding targets resulting from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that was recently signed into law, RPA-1/Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) is seeking additional applications for Federal Funding through Iowa’s Transportation Alternatives Program (Iowa’s TAP). RPA-1 is expected to have an additional $440,000 available, which can be used on new or previously awarded projects in any of the next four federal fiscal years (FFY)—2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026—and in any combination of years, i.e. all funding in a single year, funding divided among two or more years, etc. A document with additional nformation and instructions for this special call for applications is available below. The application form and full guidelines on Iowa’s TAP are available on the Iowa DOT's website here. Applications are due by…
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Welcome to the New and Improved UERPC Office!

Welcome to the New and Improved UERPC Office!

Announcements
With our move and consolidation complete, we thought it would be fun to give a sneak peek into our new and improved office in Decorah (located at 325 Washington Street)! The location may be new for some and improved for others, but bottom line is that we are all very excited to be working under one roof to better serve your needs. Stay tuned for information on an open house event in the near future!
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UERPC consolidating operations at Decorah location; offices temporarily closed April 4th through April 8th

UERPC consolidating operations at Decorah location; offices temporarily closed April 4th through April 8th

Announcements
Upper Explorerland is consolidating all our services and operations under one roof at our Decorah office location. We want our communities to know that, while we will no longer have a physical office in Postville after Friday, April 1st, we will continue to provide the same level of service to our communities in all five of our counties—Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek. The consolidation does require us to temporarily close our offices from Monday, April 4th to Friday, April 8th so we can move files and equipment and have everything set up and ready to open back up in Decorah on Monday, April 11th. We’ll host an open house at the newly expanded Decorah office in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for details here in our newsletter,…
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RPA-1 Policy Board to consider STBG, TAP applications at March 16 meeting

RPA-1 Policy Board to consider STBG, TAP applications at March 16 meeting

Announcements, Meeting
The RPA-1 Transportation Policy Board will discuss and award Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds at its meeting on Wednesday, March 16. The Policy Board meeting is at 11:00 a.m. and the Enhancement Committee (TAP recommendation) and Technical Committee (STBG recommendation) will meet beforehand at 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., respectively. The Zoom meeting link is the same for all three of the meetings. Join Zoom Meeting link: http://us02web.zooom.us/j/81374664262 Or phone: 312-626-6799, and use meeting ID 813 7466 4262. For more information on STBG and TAP, click here.
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Clayton County residents and visitors invited to take housing survey

Clayton County residents and visitors invited to take housing survey

Announcements, Public Comment
Clayton County Development Group (CCDG) has partnered with Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) to conduct a housing assessment to better understand the current status of housing in our area. The goal of this effort is to identify gaps and anticipate future housing needs in order to assist local stakeholders in finding solutions to current and future housing challenges. All Clayton County residents, as well as those who work in Clayton County or frequently visit, are invited to take an online housing survey. The survey does not require any personally identifiable information, and all responses will remain anonymous. The information gathered will assist UERPC, CCDG, and other community stakeholders in understanding Clayton County’s housing needs. The survey is available at the following web address: surveymonkey.com/r/CC-Housing People are encouraged to share…
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