Greater Madison MPO

Transportation Improvement Program

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), which the Greater Madison MPO updates annually, is a coordinated listing of short-range transportation improvement projects anticipated to be undertaken in the next five-year period. The TIP is the mechanism by which the long-range transportation plan is implemented, and represents the transportation improvement priorities of the region.

Projects within the Greater Madison MPO Planning Area must be included in the TIP in order to be eligible to receive federal funding assistance. Outer county area projects are also listed for information and coordination purposes. The list is multi-modal. In addition to streets/roadways, it includes transit, pedestrian and bicycle, parking, and rideshare/transportation demand management projects.

The coordinated listing of projects in the TIP is prepared as a cooperative effort by state and local implementing agencies and the staff of the Greater Madison MPO, and is primarily based upon capital improvement programs and budgets. Implementing agencies submit their listings of proposed projects to MPO staff to coordinate into a comprehensive listing of proposed transportation improvements, with indications of project scope, cost timing, etc. The listing is subject to review by the MPO Policy Board, MPO Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC), MPO Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC), and local units of government. Opportunities are also provided for public involvement and comments.

The TIP is not a final schedule of project implementation. The time frame shown in the TIP is a "best estimate" at the time of TIP development. The timing of projects can change due to lack of available federal or local funds, delays in project development activities, changes in implementation priorities, and other factors. The annual updating of the TIP allows for these adjustments to project schedules and changes in relative priorities of transportation improvement. In addition, the TIP may be amended after it is adopted in order to add or delete projects, advance a project into the first year, or accommodate cost, phasing, or scope changes to a project. These amendments are usually minor. If a major change is proposed (see Attachment G of TIP for what constitutes “major” change), an opportunity for review and comment and a hearing are provided.

 

Proposed Amendment to 2021-2025 TIP to Add US Highway 51 (McFarland to Stoughton) Reconstruction Project

Written comments regarding the proposed amendment to the Regional Transportation Plan and 2021-2025 Transportation Improvement Program to add the USH 51 (McFarland to Stoughton) reconstruction project should be submitted by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3 or submitted orally at the public hearing. Written comments should be sent by mail to the MPO office, 100 State St., #400, Madison, WI 53703 or by email. The following is the date of the public hearing on the RTP and TIP amendment:

Public Hearing
Wednesday, March 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Virtual Meeting

[Note: See agenda when posted here and on city of Madison website for information on how to register to speak]

 

2021-2025 Transportation Improvement Program (PDF) (12 MB)

 

Interactive Map of the Transportation Improvement Program

 

CY 2019 Listing of Projects with Obligated Federal Funding

 

CY 2018 Listing of Projects with Obligated Federal Funding

 

Greater Madison MPO-ADMINISTERED FUNDING

The Greater Madison MPO solicits applications and selects projects for funding under three federal programs: the FHWA Surface Transportation Block Grant Program – Madison Urbanized Area (STBG – Urban); FHWA STBG Transportation Alternatives Set Aside Program (TA); and, FTA Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program (5310).

FHWA Surface Transportation Block Grant Program – Madison Urbanized Area (STBG – Urban) Funding. Starting with the 2016-2020 program cycle, Greater Madison MPO has solicited projects biennially for FHWA STBG-Urban funding. The STBG (formerly STP) provides flexible funding that may be used for projects to preserve and improve the conditions and performance on any Federal-aid roadway (i.e., classified as an arterial or collector), for bridge projects on any public road, for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure or programs, and for transit capital projects. Eligible recipients are Dane County and local units of government. As a large MPO, Greater Madison MPO receives a sub-allocation of funding under the program, referred to as STBG – Urban, and selects the projects for funding. As of 2019, Greater Madison MPO’s annual allocation of funding is $6.86 million per year. Greater Madison MPO received an additional $3.4 million in supplemental funding for the current 2020-2025 program cycle. The approved 2010 Census urban area boundary for the Madison urban area is the area within which STBG – Urban funds can be spent.

Greater Madison MPO approved revised STBG – Urban program policies and project screening and scoring criteria for evaluating project applications in 2015. A few revisions to the program policies were approved in 2019. The scoring criteria utilize the following nine categories: (1) importance to the regional transportation system; (2) system preservation; (3) congestion mitigation/TSM; (4) safety enhancement; (5) enhancement of multi-modal options; (6) transportation efficient land use, livability, and economic prosperity; (7) environment; (8) environmental justice/health equity; and (9) cost benefit. The STBG – Urban Project Selection Process document, which outlines the process, policies, and project scoring criteria is included as Attachment A of the TIP. It also provides an overview of the program.

FHWA STBG Transportation Alternatives Set Aside Program (TA) Funding. The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) established the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), which replaced the funding from some previously separate federal programs, including Transportation Enhancements (TE), Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS), and Recreational Trails, consolidating them into a single funding source. As a result, WisDOT incorporated its previously separate SRTS, TE, and state funded Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities Program (BPFP) into one program and application process. The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, adopted in December 2015, restructured some of the federal programs, replacing TAP with a set-aside of STBG program funding for Transportation Alternatives (TA).

WisDOT solicits and selects projects for TA funding available statewide. Project solicitation is typically conducted biennially. In addition, one-half of the available statewide TA funding is allocated directly to large MPOs such as Greater Madison MPO. Greater Madison MPO selects projects for funding with that allocation. Madison area projects are still able to compete for the statewide funding. Greater Madison MPO updated its TAP program policies and project scoring criteria in 2013-2014, and again in December 2019. The Madison area received a sub-allocation of $1.99 million for the FY 2016-2020 program cycle and $847,000 for the FY 2018-2022 cycle. The FY 2020-2024 cycle will be conducted during the winter of 2019-2020, with applications due to WisDOT by January 24, 2020.

The eligible project categories under the TA program per federal law and MPO policy are:

• Provision of on- and off-street facilities for pedestrians and bicycles;

• Provision of infrastructure and systems that provide safe routes for non-drivers;

• Conversion and use of abandoned rail corridors for trails; and

• Safe routes to school program activities.

The WisDOT TA program application is available here; projects in the Madison urban area need to submit the Greater Madison MPO Supplemental Application for STBG TA Program Projects as well as the WisDOT TA program application. Prior to completing the applications, interested parties should review the Policies and Scoring Criteria for STBG Transportation Alternatives Set Aside Program Projects.

FTA Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program (5310) Funding. The Section 5310 Program provides formula funding to states and large MPOs to improve mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities. The purpose of the Section 5310 Program is to improve mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities by removing barriers to transportation service and expanding transportation mobility options. This program supports transportation services planned, designed, and carried out to meet the special transportation needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities in all areas. Eligible projects include both traditional capital investment and nontraditional investment beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complementary paratransit services. Section 5310 Program information, including Greater Madison MPO application materials, are available on the Specialized Transportation page