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TIP – Initiation and Development
OVERVIEW • INTERACTIVE DATABASE • DEVELOPMENT PROCESS: HIGHWAY
INITIATION AND DEVELOPMENT • EVALUATION PROCESS • AIR QUALITY CONFORMITY
AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT • TIP CONTACTS

Transit


The selection of transit projects for the TIP draws from the project selection and development processes conducted by the transit authorities in the region. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA) will be joined in the selection process in the future by the newly established MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA).

The MPO develops its universe of transit projects for the TIP largely from the MBTA´s planning and project selection processes. The MBTA develops two documents in these processes. The Program for Mass Transportation is the MBTA´s long-range capital planning document, which lays out the major investments to a 25-year horizon. The Capital Investment Program is its rolling five-year plan, which outlines the transit system´s infrastructure needs and planned investments within this shorter time frame.

Highway


In order for any highway project to receive federal funding from the Boston Region MPO, it must first go through the MassDOT-Highway Division project-initiation process. Most roadway projects begin at the local level, with the identification of a particular need or deficiency by a municipality, which then submits a MassDOT-Highway Division project need form (PNF) to the appropriate MassDOT-Highway Division district office.

If the district and the municipality agree on the parameters of the project, the district submits a project initiation form (PIF) to the MassDOT-Highway Division central office. The project request is then submitted to the MassDOT-Highway Division Project Review Committee (PRC) for a determination of funding eligibility and project feasibility. If the project is approved by the PRC, it is entered into the MassDOT-Highway Division database of active projects and assigned to a project manager.

Details of the project initiation process can be found in chapters 1 and 2 of the MassDOT-Highway Division Project Development and Design Guidebook.