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TIP – Evaluation Process
OVERVIEW • INTERACTIVE DATABASE • DEVELOPMENT PROCESS: HIGHWAY
INITIATION AND DEVELOPMENT • EVALUATION PROCESS • AIR QUALITY CONFORMITY
TIP CONTACTS • TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMMING INVENTORY
The MPO developed criteria to make the process of evaluating and selecting highway projects for programming in the TIP both more logical and transparent. There are three tiers of criteria:
  • Threshold criteria that a project must satisfy to be considered for TIP programming
  • Comparative-evaluation criteria for prioritizing projects
  • Readiness criteria for determining whether a project is prepared for programming
These three types of criteria are explained below.

Threshold Criteria
Each major regional project must be consistent with the Regional Transportation Plan and other relevant statewide and regional plans (for example, the MBTA Program for Mass Transportation or the Massachusetts Statewide Bicycle Transportation Plan). All projects must also be eligible for federal-aid funds.

Evaluation Criteria
Boston Region MPO Staff evaluates projects that request federal transportation funding against the TIP Criteria. The TIP criteria and the corresponding evaluations are reflective of the visions and policies adopted by the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) on April 22, 2010 and are used as the starting point for transportation funding decisions.




The results of MPO Staff evaluations are listed in the Evaluation Criteria Table. The table contains total project ratings for the Universe of Projects, and it is sortable by the six categories.


Readiness Criteria
Projects that will receive federal transportation funding must be made ready for project advertisement in the federal fiscal year they are listed in the TIP. If a project is not advertised in the year it is listed in the TIP, the MPO can amend the TIP to replace that project or lose the funding associated with that project. Boston Region MPO staff relies on the MassDOT Highway Division to provide the information associated with potential year of advertisement. A project is then programmed in that year or after that year as funding is available.

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