No. 25-50

Kelso, WA — The Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG), as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for Cowlitz County and Rainier, Oregon as well as lead agency for the five-county Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Planning Organization, invites the public to review and comment on the draft 2026 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP).

The UPWP identifies activities the CWCOG’s regional transportation planning program will work on during the next fiscal year July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. Included is a program budget outlining how federal and state transportation funds will be spent. CWCOG staff develops the work program in cooperation with regional cities, counties, ports, transit agencies, Washington State Department of Transportation, and Oregon Department of Transportation. The CWCOG Board of Directors is scheduled to consider the adoption of the 2026 UPWP on May 22, 2025. Once adopted the 2026 UPWP will be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration for final approval.

The Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments is a multi-purpose association of governments that delivers a diverse array of federal, state, and local programs while fulfilling its primary function as a regional planning organization.

Beginning April 30, 2025, the Draft 2026 UPWP will be available online at http://www.cwcog.org or by calling the CWCOG office at (360) 577-3041 to arrange for document pickup. Questions may be directed to Robert Stevens, Senior Transportation Planner, by regular mail - PO Box 128, Kelso WA 98626 or via email - cwcog@cwcog.org. Close date for comments is May 14, 2025 at 5:00 pm.

If special accommodations are needed to participate in this process, please call us at 360-577-3041 by 5:00 p.m. May 7, 2025. Ask for the ADA Coordinator. For TDD users, please use the state's toll-free relay service, (800) 833-6388, and ask the operator to dial 360-956-7575.