Prioritization 8.0
2028 - 2037 TIP Development
We Want to Hear From You!
The New Bern Area MPO invites you to provide feedback on proposed transportation projects across all modes as part of NCDOT’s Prioritization 8.0 (P8) process.
Public comment period is now open until September 5th for all proposed project lists under consideration for submission to NCDOT for P8 scoring. This includes projects for highways, bike and pedestrian facilities, public transit, rail, and aviation.
The TAC anticipates approving the submission of projects for all modes to NCDOT for scoring in P8 during their September 25, 2025 meeting.
How You Can Participate?
Residents have several opportunities to provide comments on the proposed project lists:
Attend Open House week of 8/4-8/8 at Development Services, 303 First Street, 8AM-5PM
Leave a comment in the P8 comment form below
Send an email to newbernareampo@gmail.com
Call 252-639-7593
p8 Draft project lists and maps
P8 project inventory lists can be viewed by mode. The MPO receives 10 project submittals for each mode. Projects should be in an approved plan prior to submission to NCDOT.
The P8 project lists are draft and may change. No projects have been identified for Ferry, Rail, and Transit.
Carryover Projects
Carryover projects are automatically evaluated in the next prioritization cycle and do not count towards the MPO’s submittal allotment.
Requirements:
In the current STIP and not scheduled for delivery
Have completed or active environmental documents
Sibling of programmed project
Any committed projects (scheduled for delivery) that are currently included in the 2024-2033 STIP as of Jan 1, 2025
The MPO has no carryover projects in P8.
P8 project submittal public comment period
The public comment period is now open and will go through September 5th on all modes of transportation project lists that are proposed for submission for NCDOT Prioritization 8. The TAC will approve the submission of projects for all modes to NCDOT for scoring in P8 at their September 25th meeting.
Prioritization Process
The prioritization process is the North Carolina Department Of Transportation (NCDOT) data-driven, transparent method for prioritizing transportation investment decisions and is used to develop the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Potential improvement projects are submitted to NCDOT to be scored and ranked at statewide, regional, and division levels based on approved criteria, including safety, congestion, cost-benefit, and local priorities. The scores, along with other factors, are used to determine if a project receives funding.
The STIP is required by federal law every four years, although North Carolina completes it every two years. Each STIP covers a ten-year time period, over which NCDOT will work on the included projects. Prioritization considers projects in categories of aviation, bicycle and pedestrian, ferry, public transit, rail and roadways. Each cycle involves submitting projects into ranking and scoring, then awarding local input points to increase the final project score.
Draft 2028-2037 TIP Development Schedule (P8)
| Task | Anticipated Schedule |
|---|---|
| NCDOT P8 Project Submission Window | July 2025 - September 2025 |
| P8 Project List Public Comment Period | August 4 - September 5, 2025 |
| P8 Project List Presented to TCC for recommendation | August 14, 2025 |
| P8 Project List Presented to TAC for approval | September 25, 2025 |
| P8 Projects submitted to SPOT Offce | September 30, 2025 |
| SPOT Office reviews and scores all projects submitted throughout NC | October 2025 - April 2026 |
| Public Comment perios for Local Input Methodology | February - March 2026 |
| TAC Adopts Local Input Methodology | March 26, 2026 |
| SPOT Office releases Quanitiative Scores and Statewide Mobility Programmed Projects | May 2026 |
| P8 Regional Impact Local Input Point Assignment Window | June 2026 - August 2026 |
| P8 Regional Impact Local Input Point Public Comment Period | June - August 2026 |
| TAC adopts P8 Regional Impact Local Input Point Assignment | August 27, 2026 |
| SPOT Office releases Regional Impact Total Scores & Programmed Projects | September 2026 |
| P8 Division Needs Local Input Point Public Comment Period | October - November 2026 |
| TAC adopts P8 Division Needs Local Input Point Assignment Public Comment Period | November 19, 2026 |
| SPOT Office releases Division Needs Total Scores & Programmed Projects | January - February 2027 |
| Draft 2026-2035 STIP Released | Winter/Spring 2027 |
| Draft 2026-2035 STIP Adoption Phase | Spring/Summer 2027 |
| TAC Approves 2026-2035 MTIP | TBD |
| FInal STIP Approval | 2027 |
P8 project submittals
The MPO will receive 10 project submittals within each mode in P8. Modes include Aviation, Bicycle and Pedestrian, Highway, Rail, and Public Transit. Projects identified are linked to the development of the Metropolitain Transportation Plan (MTP) because FHWA requires consistency in the projects that are included within MTP and TIP. Highway projects submitted for prioritization should be included in the project list for the MTP. However, the MTP can be amended to add projects not previously identified.
Holding Tank Projects
Holding Tank projects may be evaluated in the next prioritization cycle and do count towards an MPO’s submittal allotment.
Submitted in a previous Prioritization cycle (P5, P6, P7)
Do not qualify as a Carryover Project
New Projects
Highway Projects
Highway projects are selected based on what has been identified in the MTP focusing on the most current MTP fiscally constrained project and their MTP score.
Non-Highway Projects
Non-Highway projects must be in an adopted plan prior to submittal.