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.

 

2024-2028 Transportation Improvement Program

2023-2027 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Amendment to the 2023-2027 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

  • Clarification: The majority ($24 million) of the line-item increase in local funding for the Madison E/W BRT Project (5309 Small Starts) is the result of the separate line-item for the BRT Bus Maintenance Facility being merged with the 5309 Small Starts-funded BRT project. Increased funding for articulated 60’ electric buses, a Connecting Communities grant, and a budgeted capacity to cover project overages compose the remainder of the increase in local funding.

2022-2026 Transportation Improvement Program

[Note:  Amendment No. 1 was technical amendment revising an appendix and is included in the full document.]

 

Interactive Map of the Transportation Improvement Program

 

CY 2022 Listing of Projects with Obligated Federal Funding

 

CY 2021 Listing of Projects with Obligated Federal Funding

 

CY 2020 Listing of Projects with Obligated Federal Funding

 

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.

The MPO STBG-Urban supplemental program application is available here. Applicants must also submit the WisDOT STBG-Urban application, which will be posted in early June. Communities within the MPO urban area boundaries are eligible to apply for funding. Prior to completing the applications, interested parties should review the Selection Process for Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) – Urban Program, updated in May 2023.

 

FHWA STBG Transportation Alternatives Set Aside Program (TA) Funding.

As a metropolitan planning organization serving an urban area with a population over 200,000, the Greater Madison MPO receives a direct suballocation of federal funding under the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set Aside Program. The Greater Madison MPO selects projects for funding with this allocation. Once the projects are selected, WisDOT oversees the projects to ensure that all federal requirements are met and disburses the federal funding to the project sponsors.

Project solicitation is typically conducted biennially. Greater Madison MPO updated its TAP program policies and project scoring criteria in 2013-2014, in December 2019, and again in October 2021. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), increased the amount of funding available in this program considerably. As a result, several supplemental solicitations for applications have been required in the last two years. Two solicitations were conducted in 2022, the first one using the MPO’s “base” funding allocation for FY 2023-2026 not factoring in the increase from the IIJA and the second one for planning projects only using the increased FY 2022 funding under the IIJA. A third solicitation was conducted during the winter of 2022-2023 using the increased FY 2023-2026 funding from the IIJA. This solicitation is for projects in years 2024-2028, with applications due to the MPO by 4:30 PM on Friday, September 1.*

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 (non-infrastructure).

The WisDOT TA program application and program guide are 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.

*The MPO’s list of projects selected for funding is due to WisDOT by October 13, 2023, which is why applications are due to the MPO on September 1. Applications for projects outside the Madison TMA/Greater Madison MPO area are due to WisDOT by October 27, 2023.

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