The Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG), as the Longview-Kelso-Rainier Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and lead agency for the Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Planning Organization (SWRTPO), invites the public to comment on a proposed amendment to the 2023 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) to add the work task - Regional Trails Plan project.

The UPWP is a regional transportation planning work program outlining how state and federal funds will be used by the CWCOG in fiscal year July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. The work program is developed by CWCOG staff in cooperation with cities, counties, ports, transit agencies, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to meet federal and state requirements. It is reviewed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), WSDOT, and ODOT before being presented to the CWCOG Board of Directors for adoption. The CWCOG Board of Directors is scheduled to consider this proposed amendment to add the Regional Trails Plan project to the 2023 UPWP on January 26, 2023.

The Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments is a multi-purpose association of governments that adminsters a diverse array of federal, state, and local programs.

The 2023 UPWP amended document with proposed changes will be available online at http://www.cwcog.org or by request at the CWCOG’s main office located at Cowlitz County Administration Annex Bldg / 207 4th Avenue N., Kelso, WA 98626 or call (360) 577-3041, beginning December 21, 2022. Questions may be directed to Robert Stevens at CWCOG by regular mail to PO Box 128, Kelso WA 98626, via email to rstevens@cwcog.org, or by FAX at (360) 214-3425. Comments must be received by January 6, 2023.

If you need special accommodations to participate in this process, call 360-577-3041 by 5:00 p.m. January 3. Ask for the ADA Coordinator. For TDD users, access the state's toll-free relay service, (800) 833-6388, and ask the operator to dial 360-956-7575.