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Prioritization

The North Carolina Department of Transportation uses a transparent, systematic and data-driven process for prioritizing major transportation projects in the state. This process is known as Strategic Prioritization.

Every two years, Rural & Metropolitan Planning Organizations in North Carolina are allocated a specified number of project submittal slots for each of the following categories: Aviation, Bicycle & Pedestrian, Ferry, Highway, Public Transit, and Rail. The Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) and Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) of each respective RPO or MPO will approve which projects are submitted in each category.

Once projects are submitted by staff, they are evaluated and scored based on their merit through an analysis of the existing and future conditions, the benefits the project is expected to provide, the project's multi-modal characteristics, and how the project correlates with local priorities. A "quantitative" score is then produced by NCDOT and released to RPOs and MPOs. Similar to project submittal slot allocations, each RPO and MPO is given a calculated amount of "local input points" to place on projects that they believe are their highest priority. Highway Divisions are also allocated local input points, which may also be placed on projects. At the conclusion of this process, a final score is produced.

Projects that score high-enough will be inserted into the draft State Transportation Improvement Program, a ten-year schedule for projects that will receive funding. Once the draft STIP is finalized, it is officially adopted by the North Carolina Board of Transportation.

The seventh cycle of Prioritization (Prioritization 7.0 or P7.0) is currently underway. 

Prioritization 7.0

Mid-East RPO staff began developing projects and preparing for Prioritization 7.0 in Winter 2023. Staff met individually with the TCC Representatives from Beaufort, Martin and Pitt Counties to present and solicit input for Prioritization 7.0 project submittals. MERPO was allocated 18 project submittals for each of the six mode categories, based off centerline highway miles and population within the three-county region. The TCC and TAC were presented with a draft list of projects for each of the six mode categories in July 2023 for preliminary approval. In September 2023, upon TCC recommendation, the TAC officially adopted MERPOs P7 Project Submittal List. All projects were submitted to NCDOT in October 2023.

Tasks Completed to-date:

May 2024: MERPO's Local Input Point Assignment Methodology was adopted by the TAC.

May 2024: Quantitative scores for all projects submitted in Prioritization 7.0 were released.

July 2024: MERPO staff individually met with representatives from Beaufort County, Martin County, Pitt County, NCDOT Division 1, and NCDOT Division 2 to assign their respective local input point priority scores for projects competing in the regional impact category.

July 2024: MERPO staff developed draft local input point assignments for projects competing in the regional impact category.

August 2024: Upon recommendation by the TCC, the TAC adopted MERPO's local input point assignments for projects competing in the regional impact category.

August 2024: Staff submitted the TAC-adopted regional impact local input point assignments to NCDOT.

September 2024: NCDOT released regional impact total scores and programmed projects.

October 2024: MERPO staff met individually with representatives from Beaufort County, Martin County, Pitt County, NCDOT Division 1, and NCDOT Division 2 to assign their respective local input point priority scores for the division needs category.

October 2024: MERPO staff developed draft local input point assignments for projects competing in the division needs category.

November 2024: Upon recommendation by the TCC, the TAC adopted MERPO's local input point assignments for projects competing in the division needs category.

Upcoming Tasks:

November 2024: MERPO staff will submit the TAC-adopted division needs local input point assignments to NCDOT.

January 2025: NCDOT will release the draft 2026-2035 STIP.

June 2025: The North Carolina Board of Transportation will adopt the 2026-2035 STIP.
 

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Prioritization Archives

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