Prioritization 8.0

2028 - 2037 TIP Development

project lists and maps

P8 project inventory lists can be viewed by mode. Modes include Aviation, Bicycle and Pedestrian, Highway, Rail, and Public Transit. The MPO receives 10 project submittals for each mode. Projects should be in an approved plan prior to submission to NCDOT. All projects are included in the 2050 MTP.

All projects were approved by the TAC on September 25, 2025 and submitted by September 30, 2025. No projects were submitted 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.

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.

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 office September 30, 2025
SPOT office reviews and scores all projects submitted throughout NC October 2025 - April 2026
Public comment period 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

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.