Planning for the Future of Transportation on Cape Cod 

MPO approves TIP and UPWP 

From concept to design to construction, road work projects are developed over the course of several years.  

Each year, the Cape Cod Commission works with the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), a group comprised of representatives of state agencies, regional organizations and Cape Cod towns, to develop the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), documents that guide future transportation projects in our region. These documents are informed by public input, including over 200 public comments this year, the majority of which were in support of the Bourne Rail Trail/Shining Sea Bikeway Extension project. 

The TIP is a five-year schedule of regional priority roadway, transit, and multimodal projects receiving federal funding. It includes both highway and transit projects. Highway projects include intersection upgrades, roadway reconstruction, pavement preservation projects, and multimodal improvements such as sidewalk installation and shared-use paths. Transit projects are managed by the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, and include operating assistance, bus purchases, shelter improvements, and other capital improvements.  

The Federal Fiscal Year 2022-2026 TIP includes a total of $200 million in funding that benefits all 15 Cape Cod towns. 

During the project selection process, elements such as project cost, project evaluation score, project qualification for different funding programs, greenhouse gas impacts, equity, and community support are considered.   

TIP-funded projects that are currently underway include work at Route 28 and Osterville-West Barnstable Road in Marstons Mills, intersection upgrades at Route 6A and Main Street and Route 28 and Main Street in Orleans, improvement to Belmont Circle in Bourne, and the Route 28 at Yarmouth Road intersection project in Hyannis. 

The current TIP, approved by the MPO on May 24, 2021 includes culvert improvements, shared-use path installations, pavement preservation projects, intersection improvements, transit investments, and more. Details and a full list of projects can be found at capecodcommission.org/tip. 

The UPWP is a list of planning activities anticipated to be performed by Cape Cod Commission staff in the coming year. Typical projects include data collection efforts, Living Streets studies, safety studies, bicycle planning initiatives, and coastal resiliency projects. Planning efforts are designed to address safety and congestion concerns for all transportation modes, including vehicle, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian travel. 

A highlight of the 2022 UPWP is Climate Action Plan implementation. The Cape Cod Climate Action Plan identifies the transportation sector as both a significant contributor to climate change, responsible for 55% of regional greenhouse gas emissions, and a sector that will be greatly impacted by the effects of climate change. Efforts under this task are focused on supporting the priority strategies of reducing vehicle miles traveled, supporting low and no carbon transportation options, and accelerating the electrification of the transportation system. 

Details and a full list of projects can be found at capecodcommission.org/upwp.