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: MERPO 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.

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

Upcoming Tasks:

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

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