Annual transportation planning process underway

The Cape Cod Commission’s transportation department serves as staff to the  Cape Cod Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Cape Cod Joint Transportation Committee (CCJTC). The MPO oversees regional transportation planning and recommends the distribution of transportation funds on Cape Cod. The CCJTC serves as an advisory group to the MPO.  

Each year, these groups meet publicly to review the development of the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP).  The process for the development of these programs for the upcoming federal fiscal year began in January.  Project selections take place in March, and draft documents are released in April for public comment. The draft documents are finalized and voted on by the MPO in May.  

The TIP is a five-year list of transportation infrastructure projects to be implemented with federal and state funds available for Cape Cod. Funding comes from a combination of state and federal sources and totals more than $150 million over the five-year plan. Discussions at MPO meetings help establish a preference for funding projects through the TIP.  

Typical projects include reconstructing existing intersections or roadways, constructing new shared-use paths, and purchasing new buses to support regional bus service. Safety and congestion concerns for all transportation modes are key in project design. Recent projects include the reconstruction of the Route 28 and Bearses Way intersection in Barnstable, the Cape Cod Rail Trail extension project in Dennis and Yarmouth, and new buses for the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority.   

The UPWP is a list of planning activities anticipated to be performed by Cape Cod Commission transportation staff over the next year. Funding for UPWP projects comes from a combination of state and federal sources. Typical UPWP projects include data collection efforts, safety studies, bicycle planning initiatives, and coastal resiliency projects. Projects seek to address safety and congestion concerns for all transportation modes, including vehicle, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian travel. 

Recent UPWP projects include the Top Crash Location Report and Crash Dashboard, the Mashpee Rotary Study, and the Rail Trail Crossing Inventory. 

A presentation on these draft plans can be coordinated with interested groups by request.