Prepared by

The Central Transportation Planning Staff:

Staff to the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization

Directed by the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization,

which is composed of the

Massachusetts Department of Transportation

Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

MBTA Advisory Board

Massachusetts Port Authority

Regional Transportation Advisory Council

City of Boston

City of Beverly

City of Everett

City of Framingham

City of Newton

City of Somerville

Town of Arlington

Town of Acton

Town of Brookline

Town of Burlington

Town of Hull

Town of Norwood

Town of Wrentham

Federal Highway Administration (nonvoting)

Federal Transit Administration (nonvoting)

This document was funded in part through grants from the US Department of Transportation. Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the US Department of Transportation.

Notice of Nondiscrimination Rights and Protections

CIVIL RIGHTS NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

Welcome. Bem Vinda. Bienvenido. Akeyi. 欢迎. 歡迎

You are invited to participate in our transportation planning process, free from discrimination. The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is committed to nondiscrimination in all activities and complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency). Related federal and state nondiscrimination laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, sex, disability, and additional protected characteristics.

For additional information or to file a civil rights complaint, visit www.bostonmpo.org/mpo_non_discrimination.

To request this information in a different language or format, please contact:

Boston Region MPO Title VI Specialist

10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150

Boston, MA 02116

Phone: 857.702.3700

Email: civilrights@ctps.org

For people with hearing or speaking difficulties, connect through the state MassRelay service, www.mass.gov/massrelay. Please allow at least five business days for your request to be fulfilled.

Contact MPO staff:

By mail:

Boston Region MPO

MPO Activities Group, Central Transportation Planning Staff

10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150

Boston, MA 02116

By telephone:

857.702.3700 (voice)

For people with hearing or speaking difficulties, connect through the state MassRelay service:

Relay Using TTY or Hearing Carry-over: 800.439.2370

Relay Using Voice Carry-over: 866.887.6619

Relay Using Text to Speech: 866.645.9870

For more information, including numbers for Spanish speakers, visit
https://www.mass.gov/massrelay

By email:

tip@ctps.org

[Certification letter]-coming soon

Executive Summary

Introduction

The Federal Fiscal Years (FFYs) 2026–30 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) five-year capital investment plan for the Boston region’s transportation system.

Guided by the Boston Region MPO’s vision, goals, and objectives, the TIP prioritizes investments that preserve the current transportation system in a state of good repair, provide safe and reliable transportation for all modes, enhance livability, support clean air and healthy communities, promote equity, resiliency, and sustainability, and improve mobility throughout the region. These investments fund arterial roadway and intersection improvements, maintenance and expansion of the public transit system, shared-use path construction, first-and-last-mile improvements for users of active transportation, and major highway reconstruction.

The Boston Region MPO is guided by a 23-member board with representatives of state agencies, regional organizations, and municipalities. Its jurisdiction extends roughly from Boston north to Ipswich, south to Marshfield, and west to municipalities along Interstate 495. Each year, the MPO conducts a process to decide how to spend federal transportation funds for capital projects. The Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS), which is the staff to the MPO, manages the TIP development process.

MPO staff coordinates the evaluation of project funding requests, proposes programming of current and new projects based on anticipated funding levels, supports the MPO board in developing a draft TIP document, and facilitates a public review of the draft before the MPO board endorses the final document.

FFYs 2026–30 TIP Investments

The complete TIP project list is available in Chapter 3 of this document and online at bostonmpo.org/tip. The TIP tables provide details of how funding is allocated to each programmed project and capital investment program. These tables are organized by federal fiscal year and are grouped by highway and transit programs.

Highway Program

The Highway Program of the TIP funds the priority transportation projects advanced by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the cities and towns within the Boston region. The program is devoted primarily to preserving and modernizing the existing roadway network by reconstructing arterial roadways, resurfacing highways, and replacing bridges.

In Massachusetts, Federal-Aid Highway Program funding is apportioned by MassDOT, which allocates funding to Grant Anticipation Notes (GANs) payments, various statewide programs, and Regional Targets for the state’s MPOs. In the FFYs 2026–30 TIP, roadway, bridge, and bicycle and pedestrian programs account for more than $2.56 billion in funding to the Boston region. The Regional Target funding provided to the MPOs may be programmed for projects at the discretion of each MPO, whereas MassDOT has discretion to propose its recommended projects for statewide programs such as those related to bridge repairs and interstate highway maintenance.

Transit Program

The Transit Program of the TIP provides funding for projects and programs that address the capital needs prioritized by the three transit authorities in the region: the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), the Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA), and the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA). The Transit Program is predominantly dedicated to achieving and maintaining a state of good repair for all assets throughout the transit system.

The FFYs 2026–30 TIP includes $7.75 billion in transit investments by the transit authorities that will support state of good repair, modernize transit systems, and increase access to transit.

Regional Target Program Details

During FFYs 2026–30, the Boston Region MPO plans to fund 58 projects with its Regional Target funding. In total, 18 new projects were added to the MPO’s Regional Target Program during this TIP cycle. These 18 projects included seven in the Community Connections program and three in the Transit Transformation program. Ten roadway projects were newly funded in the FFYs 2026–30 TIP Regional Target program, including five design projects, one project previously listed under MassDOT’s Statewide Highway Program, and four construction projects new to the TIP. Details on these projects are available in Table ES-1.

Table ES-1
New Regional Target Projects Funded in the FFYs 2026–30 TIP

Note: Funding amounts in this table include both federal and non-federal funds, including matching funds.

CTPS = Central Transportation Planning Staff. FFY = federal fiscal year. GHG = greenhouse gas.  MassDOT = Massachusetts Department of Transportation. MBTA = Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. MPO = metropolitan planning organization. N/A = not applicable. RRFB = rectangular rapid flashing beacon. TIP = Transportation Improvement Program.

Source: Boston Region MPO.

The signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), on November 15, 2021, increased the amount of Regional Target funding available to the Boston Region MPO in the FFYs 2024–28 TIP cycle by approximately nine percent from the funding levels in the FFYs 2023–27 TIP. This funding level was sustained in the development of the FFYs 2025–29 and  FFYs 2026–30 TIPs.

During the development of the FFYs 2026–30 TIP, the MPO had significant amounts of funding available to program in FFYs 2026 and 2030. However, there were significant shortfalls of funding in FFYs 2027, 2028, and 2029 as a result of delayed programming of nine projects and substantial cost increases.

Another three projects programmed for FFY 2025 were delayed until FFY 2026 as part of both the development of the FFYs 2026–30 TIP and an accompanying Amendment 10 to the FFYs 2025–29 TIP. The unprogrammed balance in FFY 2025 was addressed through Amendment 10 by adding the following nine transit projects that originally had applied to MPO staff for FFY 2026 funding:

• Additional funding to support CATA’s Gloucester Facility Modernization project ($312,500)
• Automatic Passenger Counting (APC) and Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) deployments for CATA operations ($680,000)
• Funding to replace three buses operated by CATA ($1,800,000)
• Priority improvements for the MBTA’s Plan for Accessible Transit Infrastructure (PATI) near bus stops ($1,000,000)
• Overhauls of two catamaran ferries for the MBTA ($2,634,000)
• Addressing a cost increase on the MBTA’s Natick Center Station Accessibility Improvements Project ($2,500,000)
• Funding for accessibility improvements at the MBTA’s Wellesley Square Station ($5,000,000)
• Additional funding for the procurement of six more 29-foot compressed natural gas (CNG) buses for the MWRTA ($4,200,000)
• Construction funding for the MWRTA’s Blandin Hub Redesign Initiative ($6,000,000)

For FFY 2026, no programmed projects could be accelerated to utilize the balance; so, the MPO worked with former proponents from the FFY 2025 Project Design Pilot, regional transit authorities, the MBTA and MassDOT to identify projects that could be funded. The MPO selected 15 projects for funding in FFYs 2026.

Five of these projects were selected for design funding:

• Design of improvements to Route 2A/Route 119, Great Road in Acton ($860,000)
• Design of a crossing over the MBTA Fitchburg commuter rail line in Cambridge near Danehy Park ($2,000,000)
• Design of the Massachusetts Central Rail Trail extension through Hudson, from Felton Street to Priest Street ($909,700)
• Design of improvements to Route 60 in Malden between Franklin Street and Lynn Street ($800,000)
• Redesign of the Broad Street and Dalton Parkway Corridor in Salem ($1,068,780)

Seven projects were funded through the Community Connections program:

• Replacement of 20 Bluebikes BikeShare stations in Boston ($783,860),
• Purchase and installation of three new Bluebikes stations and 10 electric Bluebikes in south Brookline ($238,646),
• Replacement of seven Bluebikes stations and 123 docks in Cambridge ($268,458)
• Replacement of 40 Bluebikes, 40 docks, and 10 concrete slab station platforms in Somerville ($107,417)
• Purchase and installation of three new Bluebikes stations, 28 bikes, and three electric Bluebikes in Chelsea ($86,228)
• Procurement of 22 bicycle racks with 117 spaces in Marblehead ($6,250)
• Purchasing and installing 67 bicycle racks, two bike shelters, and 12 rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) in Newton ($473,132).

Three projects were selected through the Transit Transformation program:

• MBTA—Better Bus Project Operational Safety Improvements at Bus Stops ($3,216,897)
• MBTA—Bus Priority and Accessibility Improvements ($6,000,000)
• MBTA—Operational Enhancement of Bus Routes 714 and 716 ($1,875,000)

Lastly, the MPO funded the initial phase of the construction of the Lynnfield Rail Trail from Ford Avenue to Nichols Lane in FFY 2026 for $6,062,695. This project was previously programmed in the FFY 2029 Statewide Highway Program, with phasing of the project enabling acceleration of one component to FFY 2026.

Unlike in prior TIPs, where projects were often identified later in the project evaluation life cycle and could not be scored in time for programming scenarios, MPO staff worked closely with project proponents to ensure that the majority of these projects were evaluated using the MPO’s scoring criteria. While a small number of these projects could not be scored in time, a qualitative assessment showed that they align well with MPO goals, including enhancing connectivity between regional trails and improving the state of good repair for the regional transit system.

Figure ES-1 shows how the Regional Target funding for FFYs 2026–30 is distributed across the MPO’s investment programs. As the chart shows, the Boston Region MPO’s Regional Target Program is devoted primarily to enhancing mobility and safety for all travel modes through significant investments in Complete Streets projects. A large portion of the MPO’s funding also supports the modernization of key regional roadways and transit infrastructure through investments in Major Infrastructure and Transit Transformation projects. The MPO also elected to leave approximately $44.82 million unprogrammed.

Figure ES-1
FFYs 2026–30 TIP Regional Target Funding by MPO Investment Program

FFY = federal fiscal year. MPO = metropolitan planning organization. TIP = Transportation Improvement Program.

Source: Boston Region MPO.

As noted in Figure ES-1, the MPO has programmed more than 94 percent of its available funding over five years. Table ES-2 further details the number of projects and the allocation of funds across each program in the FFYs 2026–30 TIP. More details about every project funded through the MPO’s Regional Target Program are available in Chapter 3.

Table ES-2
FFYs 2026–30 Boston Region MPO Regional Target Investment Summary

Note: Funding amounts in this table include both federal and non-federal funds, including matching funds.

* This figure includes $8 million in BikeShare Support funding.

FFY = federal fiscal year. MPO = metropolitan planning organization. N/A = not applicable.

Source: Boston Region MPO.

When making decisions about which projects to fund, the MPO considers how the allocation of funds to each investment program compares to the funding goals outlined in the MPO’s current Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Destination 2050. The funding goals for investment programs set forth in the LRTP reflect the types and mix of projects the MPO seeks to fund to help it achieve its goals and objectives for the region, from enhancing safety for all users to promoting mobility and accessibility across the region. More information on the MPO’s goals and objectives is available in Chapter 1, and a comparison between LRTP investment program goals and program funding levels in the FFYs 2026–30 TIP is shown in Figure ES-2.

Figure ES-2
FFYs 2026–30 TIP: Regional Target Funding Levels Relative to LRTP Investment Program Goals

FFY = federal fiscal year. LRTP = Long-Range Transportation Plan. TIP = Transportation Improvement Program.

Source: Boston Region MPO.

The investments made in the FFYs 2026–30 TIP will be implemented in 36 cities and towns throughout the Boston region. Figure ES-3 illustrates the distribution of Regional Target funding among the eight subregions within the Boston Region MPO’s jurisdiction, as defined by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). This figure also shows how the distribution of funds compares to key metrics for measuring the need for funding by subregion, including the percent of regional population, employment, and Federal-Aid roadway miles within each subregion.

Figure ES-3
FFYs 2026–30 TIP: Regional Target Funding Levels Relative to Key Indicators

Note: Unprogrammed funds and funds held for the MPO’s Transit Transformation  and Community Connections programs are not included in this figure.

FFY = federal fiscal year. MAGIC = Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination. MAPC = Metropolitan Area Planning Council. MetroWest = MetroWest Regional Collaborative. NSPC = North Suburban Planning Council. NSTF = North Shore Task Force. SSC = South Shore Coalition. SWAP = South West Advisory Committee. TIP = Transportation Improvement Program. TRIC = Three Rivers Interlocal Council.

Source: Boston Region MPO.

Additional information on the geographic distribution of Regional Target funding across the region, including a breakdown of funding by municipality, is included in Appendix D.

Financing The FFYs 2026–30 TIP

Highway Program

The TIP Highway Program was developed with the assumption that funding for Massachusetts from the Federal-Aid Highway Program would range between $858 million and $918 million annually over the next five years. These figures do not include matching funds provided for projects by the state or local entities. With the addition of matching funds, approximately $1.07 billion to $1.15 billion was available statewide for projects in FFYs 2026–30.

The process of determining the MPO’s share of this federal funding for the Boston region follows several steps. First, MassDOT reserves funding for GANs debt service payments for the Accelerated Bridge Program; these payments are expected to conclude in FFY 2026. Then, the remaining Federal-Aid Highway Program funds are budgeted to support state and regional (i.e., MPO) priorities. The funding for regional priorities is referred to as Regional Target funds. 

The remaining Federal-Aid Highway Program funds are budgeted to support state and regional (i.e., MPO) priorities. MassDOT customarily provides the local match (which can also be provided by other entities). Projects are typically funded with 80 percent federal dollars and 20 percent state dollars, but the share may vary depending on the funding program. Costs for project design are often borne by the proponent of the project, though the Boston Region MPO has allocated Regional Target funds for design support in the FFYs 2025–29 and FFYs 2026–30 TIPs.

Next, MassDOT allocates funding across the following funding categories:

• Reliability Investments: These programs include the Bridge Program—comprising inspections, systematic maintenance, and National Highway System (NHS) and non-NHS improvements—the Pavement Program, the Roadway Improvements Program, and the Safety Improvements Program.
• Modernization Investments: These programs include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Retrofit Program, the Intersection Improvement Program, the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Program, and the Roadway Reconstruction Program.
• Expansion Investments: These programs include the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program and transit network expansions.

Finally, MassDOT allocates the remaining funding among the state’s 13 MPOs for programming. This discretionary funding for MPOs is suballocated by formula to determine the Regional Target amounts. The Boston Region MPO receives the largest portion of MPO funding in the state, with approximately 43 percent of Massachusetts’ Regional Target funds allocated to the region. MassDOT develops these targets in consultation with the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA). This TIP was programmed with the assumption that the Boston Region MPO will have between $125 million and $161 million annually for Regional Target amounts, which consist of federal funding and state funding for the local match.

Each MPO may decide how to prioritize its Regional Target funding. Given that the Regional Target funding is a subset of the Highway Program, the MPO typically programs the majority of funding for roadway projects; however, the MPO has flexed portions of its highway funding to the Transit Program for transit expansion projects and through its Transit Transformation and Community Connections programs. The TIP Highway Program details the projects that will receive Regional Target funding from the Boston Region MPO and statewide infrastructure projects within the Boston region. Details on these investments are outlined in Chapter 3.

Transit Program

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) allocates the funds programmed in the TIP Transit Program according to formula. The three regional transit authorities in the Boston Region MPO area that are recipients of these funds are the MBTA, CATA, and MWRTA. The MBTA, with its extensive transit program and infrastructure, is the recipient of the preponderance of the region’s federal transit funds.

The current federal transportation legislation, the BIL, allocates funding to transit projects through the following formula programs:

• Section 5307 (Urbanized Area Formula Grants): Provides grants to urbanized areas to support public transportation based on levels of transit service, population, and other factors
• Section 5337 (Fixed Guideway/Bus): Seeks to maintain public transportation systems in a state of good repair through replacement and rehabilitation capital projects
• Section 5309 (Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grants): Provides grants for new and expanded rail, bus rapid transit, and ferry systems that reflect local priorities to improve transportation options in key corridors
• Section 5339 (Bus and Bus Facilities): Provides funding to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment, and to construct bus-related facilities
• Section 5310 (Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities): Provides funding to support transportation to meet the special needs of older adults and persons with disabilities

The TIP Development Process

Overview

When determining which projects to fund through the Regional Target funding process, MPO members collaborate with municipalities, state agencies, members of the public, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders. The MPO board uses evaluation criteria in its project selection process to help identify and prioritize projects that advance progress across the MPO’s six goal areas:

• Safety
• Mobility and Reliability
• Access and Connectivity
• Resilience
• Clean Air and Healthy Communities
• Transportation Equity

More information on the MPO’s goal areas can be found on the Destination 2050 web page:bostonmpo.org/lrtp.

As shown in Figure ES-1 and Table ES-2, the MPO has established investment programs designed to direct Regional Target funding towards MPO priority areas during the next 20 years.:

• Intersection Improvements
• Complete Streets
• Major Infrastructure
• Bicycle Network and Pedestrian Connections
• Community Connections, which includes a Bikeshare Support Program
• Transit Transformation

Projects that the MPO selects to receive Regional Target funding through the TIP development process are included in one of the six investment programs listed above. More information about the MPO’s investment programs are available in Chapter 2.

The MPO incorporates performance-based planning and programming (PBPP) practices into its TIP development and other processes. These practices are designed to help direct MPO funds towards achieving specific and measurable outcomes for the transportation system. MPO investments directly relate to the PBPP framework and further the MPO’s goals and performance targets. With the development of the FFYs 2026-30 TIP, the MPO leveraged funding availability across all fiscal years to program new projects to address transit system reliability, traffic safety for all users, NHS bridge condition, and other priorities. The MPO will continue to closely link its performance targets, investment decisions, and monitoring and evaluation activities. More information on PBPP is available in Chapter 4 and Appendix A (Table A-2).

Outreach and Data Collection

The outreach process begins early in the federal fiscal year. Cities and towns designate TIP contacts and begin developing a list of priority projects to be considered for federal funding, and the MPO staff asks the staff of cities and towns in the region to identify their priority projects. MPO staff compiles the project funding requests into a Universe of Projects, which is a list of all projects identified as potential candidates to receive funding through the TIP.

Priority projects from regional transit authorities and the MBTA are typically identified as part of the authorities’ annual program development process. The MPO staff accepts applications for Transit Transformation funding in the fall. Projects that MPO staff receive applications for, that are not funded through the TIP or the Capital Investment Plan, may be added to the Universe of Projects.

The Universe includes projects at varying levels of readiness, from those with significant engineering and design work complete to those still early in the conceptual or planning stage. MPO staff collects data on each project in the Universe so that the projects may be evaluated.

Project Evaluation

MPO staff evaluates projects based on how well they address the MPO’s goals. For MPO staff to conduct a complete project evaluation, projects eligible for Bicycle Network and Pedestrian Connections, Complete Streets, Intersection Improvements, and Major Infrastructure program funding must have a functional design report or the project plans must include the level of detail defined in a functional design report, a threshold typically reached when a project nears the 25 percent design stage. To complete an evaluation for projects under consideration through the MPO’s Community Connections program, project proponents must submit a completed application to MPO staff.

In response to significant cost increases in recent TIP cycles for projects already programmed for funding, the MPO board created a committee in the wake of the FFYs 2022–26 TIP cycle to further explore the causes of project cost increases and devise MPO policy changes to support more reliable project delivery. The TIP Project Cost Ad Hoc Committee began its work in June 2021 and advanced a set of policy recommendations to the full MPO board in September 2021. These changes were formally adopted by the MPO on November 4, 2021, and were in effect for the development of the FFYs 2026–30 TIP.

Among other changes, the MPO elected to codify its policy of requiring that project proponents submit 25 percent designs and obtain an updated cost estimate for their projects prior to being programmed in the TIP. Given persistent project readiness issues witnessed across multiple TIP development cycles, the MPO formed a new committee, the TIP Process, Engagement, and Readiness Committee, which recommended full enforcement during the development of the FFYs 2027–31 TIP. This committee will review additional or revised policies to complement the new policy. 

The evaluation results for all projects are presented to the MPO board members for their consideration for programming in the TIP. Draft scores are shared directly with project proponents, at which point proponents are encouraged to review the scores and provide feedback so that MPO staff may make any warranted adjustments to arrive at appropriate final results. Once the review process is complete, final scoring results are posted on the MPO’s website where MPO members, municipal officials, and members of the public may review them.

TIP Readiness Day

An important step toward TIP programming takes place midway through the TIP development cycle at a meeting—referred to as TIP Readiness Day—that both MassDOT and MPO staff attend. At this meeting, MassDOT project managers provide updates about cost and schedule changes related to currently programmed projects. These cost and schedule changes must be taken into account as MPO staff helps the MPO board consider updates to the already programmed years of the TIP and the addition of new projects in the outermost year of the TIP.

Among the other new policies advanced by the TIP Project Cost Ad Hoc Committee, the MPO board adopted a policy requiring proponents of projects that experienced a cost increase of 25 percent or more (for projects costing less than $10 million) or $2.5 million or more (for projects costing more than $10 million) to present to the MPO board on the reasons for these cost increases. The MPO would then compare these projects—at the new costs—to other projects and consider this cost-effectiveness evaluation when deciding whether or not to fund the projects at the higher costs. These cost changes are most often revealed through conversations between MassDOT staff and MPO staff during TIP Readiness Day, making this new policy especially relevant at this stage of TIP development.

Staff Recommendation and Draft TIP

Using the evaluation results and information about project readiness (i.e., the extent to which a project is fully designed and ready for construction), MPO staff prepares a recommendation or a series of programming scenarios for how to program the Regional Target funding in the TIP. Other considerations, such as whether a project was included in the LRTP, addresses an identified transportation need, or promotes the distribution of transportation investments across the region, are also incorporated into these programming scenarios. The staff recommendation is always financially constrained—meaning, subject to available funding. There was approximately $754 million of Regional Target funding available to the Boston Region MPO for FFYs 2026–30. In this TIP cycle, the MPO board members discussed several scenarios for the Regional Target Program and selected a preferred program in April 2025.

In addition to prioritizing the Regional Target funding, the MPO board reviews and endorses the statewide highway program that MassDOT recommends for programming. The board also reviews and endorses programming of funds for the MBTA’s, CATA’s, and MWRTA’s transit capital programs.

Approving The TIP

After selecting a preferred programming scenario, usually in April, the MPO board votes to release the draft TIP for a 30-day public review period. The comment period typically begins in late April, and during this time the MPO invites members of the public, municipal officials, and other stakeholders in the Boston region to review the proposed program and submit feedback. During the public review period, MPO staff hosts public meetings to discuss the draft TIP document and elicit additional comments.

After the public review period ends, the MPO board reviews all municipal and public comments and may change elements of the document or its programming. The MPO board then endorses the TIP and submits it to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for approval. MassDOT incorporates the MPO-endorsed TIP into the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The FHWA, FTA, and United States Environmental Protection Agency review the STIP for certification by September 30, the close of the federal fiscal year.

Updates To The TIP

Even after the TIP has been finalized, administrative modifications, amendments, and adjustments often must be introduced because of changes in project schedules, project costs, funding sources, or available revenues. This may necessitate reprogramming a project in a different funding year or programming additional funds for a project.

Notices of administrative modifications and amendments are posted on the MPO’s website. If an amendment is necessary, the MPO notifies affected municipalities, stakeholders, and members of the public via email. The MPO typically holds a 21-day public review period before taking final action on an amendment. In extraordinary circumstances, the MPO may vote to shorten the public comment period to a minimum of 15 days. Administrative modifications and adjustments are minor and usually do not warrant a public review period.

Stay Involved With The TIP

Public engagement is an important aspect of the transportation planning process. Please visit bostonmpo.org for more information about the MPO, to view the entire TIP, and to submit your comments. You also may wish to sign up for email news updates and notices by visiting bostonmpo.org/subscribe and submitting your contact information. To request a copy of the TIP in accessible formats, please contact the MPO staff by any of the following means:

Mail: Boston Region MPO c/o CTPS MPO Activities Group, 10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150, Boston, MA 02116-3968

Telephone: 857.702.3700 (voice)

For people with hearing or speaking difficulties, connect through the state MassRelay service:

• Relay Using TTY or Hearing Carry-over: 800.439.2370
• Relay Using Voice Carry-over: 866.887.6619
• Relay Using Text to Speech: 866.645.9870

Email: publicinfo@ctps.org

Translations of the Executive Summary of the FFYs 2026–30 TIP are also available:

• 執行總結 (PDF)
• 执行总结 (PDF)
• Rezime Egzekitif (PDF)
• Resumen Ejecutivo (PDF)
• Resumo Executivo (PDF)

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Chapter 1: 3C Transportation Planning in the Boston Region

Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) were first given the authority to approve the use of federal funds for transportation planning and capital projects in a region through 1970s federal legislation. MPOs are established based on an agreement between the governor of a state and at least 75 percent of the local representation in a metropolitan area (typically representation through local elected officials) to provide a forum that engages state, regional, and local stakeholders in the transportation planning process. Each metropolitan area in the United States with a population of 50,000 or more is required by federal legislation to have an MPO.

MPOs establish regional transportation visions that are the overarching framework for the decision-making about how to allocate federal transportation funds in a metropolitan area. This vision is based on the input and needs of the full range of stakeholders in a region, including elected officials, municipal planners and engineers, transportation advocates, and residents. 

The Boston Region MPO is the designated MPO for the 97 municipalities in eastern Massachusetts that comprise the MPO’s planning area. The Boston Region MPO develops plans for funding transportation projects and programs; maintains transportation models and data resources to support studies, system performance monitoring, and air quality determinations; and conducts an ongoing public engagement process.

The Transportation Planning Process

The federal government regulates the funding, planning, and operation of the surface transportation system through the federal transportation program, which was enacted into law through Titles 23 and 49 of the United States Code  Section 134 of Title 23 of the Federal Aid Highway Act, as amended, and Section 5303 of Title 49 of the Federal Transit Act, as amended.

The most recent reauthorization of the federal surface transportation law is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The BIL sets policies related to metropolitan transportation planning and requires that all MPOs carry out a continuing, comprehensive, and cooperative (3C) transportation planning process. This process must result in plans and programs that support metropolitan community development and social goals and lead to the development and operation of an integrated, intermodal transportation system that facilitates the efficient, economic movement of people and goods.

The Boston Region MPO, which is responsible for carrying out the 3C planning process in the Boston region, has established the following objectives for the process:

• A comprehensive, continuing, and cooperative transportation planning process resulting in plans, programs and operations consistent with the planning objectives of the metropolitan area.

• Comprehensive, including the effective integration of the various stages and levels of transportation planning and programming for the entire region and examining all modes to ensure a balanced planning effort. There is simultaneous analyses of various related non-transportation elements, such as land use, economic and residential development, demographics, sustainability, and community impact within an integrated planning and programming process.

• Continuing, affirming the necessity to plan for the short- and long-range needs of the regional transportation system, emphasizing the iterative character of the progression from systems planning to project planning, programming, operations, and implementation. Frequent updating and reevaluation of data and plans is necessary.

• Cooperative, requiring effective coordination among public officials at all levels of government, and inviting the wide participation of all parties, public or private, at all stages of the transportation planning process. A key objective of the process is to resolve issues and controversies by providing a forum for negotiation and consensus building. At the same time, the process is not intended to operate, and cannot operate, to dilute the ultimate authority or responsibility of those state, regional, or local public officials who, pursuant to statute or under contract, review and/or implement transportation plans, programs, and projects.

• Compliance with the requirements of the BIL, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Clean Air Act of 1990, the Civil Rights Act of 1964,  and Executive Order 13330 (regarding the coordination of human-services transportation)

More information about the federal, state, and regional guidance governing the transportation planning process, and about the regulatory framework in which the MPO operates can be found in Appendix E.

The Boston Region MPO

Planning Area

The Boston Region MPO’s planning area extends across 97 cities and towns from Boston north to Ipswich, south to Marshfield, and west to Interstate 495.

Figure 1-1 shows the map of the Boston Region MPO’s member municipalities.

Figure 1-1
Municipalities in the Boston Region

MPO Board Members and Staff

MPO decision-making is carried out by a board comprising 23 voting members, supported by staff work. Several state agencies, regional organizations, and the City of Boston are permanent voting members, while 12 municipalities are elected as voting members for three-year terms. Eight municipal members represent each of the eight subregions of the Boston region, and there are four at-large municipal seats. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) participate on the MPO board as advisory (nonvoting) members. More details about the MPO’s permanent members can be found in Appendix F.

Figure 1-2 shows Boston Region MPO membership.

Figure 1-2
Boston Region MPO Membership

The Boston Region MPO staff is comprised of transportation planners, data analysts, data scientists, engagement and communications experts, graphic designers, editors, and administrative support staff. The MPO also employs part-time data collectors to support its planning work. These staff are organized into a number of teams that reflect the type of planning work that the agency does. 

Figure 1-3 shows the organization of the Central Transportation Planning Staff, which serves as staff to the Boston Region MPO.

Figure 1-3
Boston Region MPO Organizational Chart

A Vision for the Region

The following paragraph is the MPO’s vision statement, as adopted in Destination 2050, the MPO’s current Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), which was adopted in July 2023:                                                                                                                           

The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization envisions an equitable, pollution-free, and modern regional transportation system that gets people to their destinations safely, easily, and reliably, and that supports an inclusive, resilient, healthy, and economically vibrant Boston Region.

When developing this vision statement, the MPO members considered the significant public input received during the drafting of the Needs Assessment for Destination 2050. 

 More information on the MPO’s vision, goals, and objectives for the transportation system resulting from the long-range plan development process is available in Figure 1-4.

Figure 1-4
LRTP Goals and Objective

Source: Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Certification Documents

As part of its 3C process, the Boston Region MPO produces the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) annually, and the LRTP every four years. These documents, referred to as certification documents, are required for the federal government to certify the MPO’s planning process. This federal certification is a prerequisite for the MPO to receive federal transportation funds. A robust public engagement process accompanies the development of each certification document.

The Long-Range Transportation Plan

The LRTP guides decision-making on investments that will be made in the Boston region’s transportation system over the next two decades. It defines an overarching vision of the future of transportation in the region, establishes goals and objectives that will lead to achieving that vision, and allocates projected revenue to transportation projects and programs consistent with the established goals and objectives.

Destination 2050, the current LRTP, was endorsed by the MPO board in July 2023 and took effect on October 1, 2023.

The Transportation Improvement Program

The TIP is a multimodal program of transportation improvements, consistent with the LRTP, that describes and prioritizes transportation projects that are expected to be implemented during a five-year period. The types of transportation projects funded include major highway reconstruction and maintenance, arterial and intersection improvements, public transit expansion and maintenance, paths and other facilities designated for people walking, biking, and rolling, and first- and last-mile connections to transit or other key destinations.

The TIP contains a financial plan that shows the current or proposed revenue sources for each project.

An MPO-endorsed TIP is incorporated into the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for submission to the FHWA, FTA, United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for approval. Investments programmed in the TIP and STIP are also reflected in Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Capital Investment Plan, which shows capital expenditures in the state over a five-year period.

The Unified Planning Work Program

The UPWP describes the transportation planning work that will be conducted by MPO staff during the course of a federal fiscal year, which runs from October 1 through September 30. The document includes ongoing planning work as it will be advanced in the federal fiscal year, supportive planning activities undertaken by MPO staff to enable that work, such as information technology management, and discrete, single-year initiatives all as approved by the MPO Board. The UPWP also describes work undertaken by MPO staff with partner agencies or to carry out grant-funded activities. 

The UPWP documents the collaborative metropolitan transportation planning process by describing all regionally significant, federally funded transportation planning work in the region. This information, incorporated into the appendix of the document, includes work carried out by Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA), Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA), and municipalities and other partners in the Boston Region. 

Performance-Based Planning

The three certification documents are intrinsically interconnected. The Long-Range Plan sets the vision, goals, and objectives framework to guide the ongoing work of the MPO captured in the UPWP and the investment decisions programmed in the TIP. Much of the planning work included in the UPWP is a means to study transportation issues and alternatives before advancing to further design, construction, and possible future programming through the TIP. Finally, performance-based planning processes ensure that the MPO’s planning and capital investments are resulting in progress towards the MPO’s goals. 

Figure 1-5 depicts the relationship between the three certification documents and the MPO’s performance-based planning and programming process.

Figure 1-5
Relationship between the LRTP, TIP, UPWP, and
Performance-Based Planning Process

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Chapter 2: The TIP Process

INTRODUCTION TO THE TIP PROCESS

Transportation improvements are part of the solution to many critical regional, state, national, and even global problems, such as traffic congestion, air quality, fatalities and injuries on roadways, and environmental degradation. Therefore, one of the most important decisions a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) faces is deciding how to allocate limited funds for transportation projects and programs. Because there is insufficient funding available for all projects that would address these problems, an MPO’s investment choices must be guided by policies that help identify the most viable and effective solutions.

The Boston Region MPO is guided by the policies in its Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and the MPO develops a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to prioritize the expenditure of federal funds on transportation projects. The MPO staff manages the development of both plans.

During the annual development process for the TIP, the MPO staff supports the MPO board by evaluating project funding requests from municipalities and state transportation agencies. The staff proposes a range of alternative scenarios for the programming of new and ongoing projects based on anticipated yearly funding levels, and staff works with the board to create a draft TIP document. The staff also facilitates a public engagement process that affords the public an opportunity to comment on proposed projects and review the draft TIP before the MPO board endorses the final document.

FUNDING the TIP

Federal Funding Framework

The first step in allocating federal transportation funds is the passage by the United States Congress of a multiyear act that establishes a maximum level of federal transportation funding per federal fiscal year (FFY). The establishment of this level of funding is referred to as an authorization. The most recent authorization act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), was signed into law on November 15, 2021. The BIL governed the development of the FFYs 2026–30 TIP by establishing new formula funding levels, reauthorizing existing discretionary grant programs and creating new ones, and setting policy priorities. (More information on the impacts of the BIL on the development of the FFYs 2026–30 TIP is available throughout this report. Specific guidance on new BIL Planning Emphasis Areas is available in Appendix E.)

After the authorization level has been established, the United States Department of Transportation annually allocates funding among the states according to various federal formulas. This allocation is referred to as an apportionment. The annual apportionment rarely represents the actual amount of federal funds that are ultimately committed to a state because of federally imposed limitations on spending in a given fiscal year, referred to as the obligation authority. In Massachusetts, TIPs are developed based on the estimated obligation authority.

Federal Highway Program

The TIP Highway Program was developed with the assumption that funding for Massachusetts from the Federal-Aid Highway Program would range between $858 million and $918 million annually over the next five years. These figures do not include matching funds provided for projects by the state or local entities. Projects are typically funded with 80 percent federal dollars and 20 percent state dollars, but the share may vary depending on the funding program. Costs for project design are often borne by the proponent of the project. With the addition of matching funds, approximately $1.07 billion to $1.15 billion was available statewide for projects in FFYs 2026–30.

The process of determining the MPO’s share of this federal funding for the Boston region followed several steps. First, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) reserved funding for Grant Anticipation Notes (GANs) debt service payments for the Accelerated Bridge Program; these payments are expected to conclude in FFY 2026. Then, the remaining Federal-Aid Highway Program funds were budgeted to support state and regional (i.e., MPO) priorities. The funding for regional priorities is referred to as Regional Target funds. 

Regional Targets

The Regional Targetsare discretionary funds for MPOs, suballocated by formula to each metropolitan planning region. The Boston Region MPO receives about 43 percent of the total funds available statewide for Regional Targets. MassDOT developed the target formula for determining this distribution of funds in consultation with the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies (MARPA).

Each MPO in the state can decide how to prioritize its Regional Target funding. The Boston Region MPO does this by engaging its 97 cities and towns in an annual TIP development process. Given that the Regional Target funding originates from the Federal-Aid Highway Program, the Boston Region MPO board typically programs the majority of its target funding on roadway projects; however, the MPO board has flexed portions of its TIP Highway Program funding to the TIP’s Transit Program, most notably when the MPO board provided funding in support of the Green Line Extension transit expansion project.

In addition, this FFYs 2026–30 TIP includes an annual allotment of funding to the MPO’s Transit Transformation program. This commitment to flex Federal-Aid Highway funds to transit projects on a yearly basis is an affirmation of the MPO’s goals to meaningfully support multimodal transportation options. More information on the MPO’s investment strategy is discussed later in this chapter.

During the next five years, the Boston Region MPO’s total Regional Target funding will be approximately $754.2 million, an average of $150.83 million per year. The MPO’s Regional Target funds increased 3.6 percent per year in the FFYs 2026–30 TIP relative to the levels planned for in the development of the FFYs 2025–29 TIP. The continued absence of GANs funding in FFY 2030 drove this increase. Funding levels in FFYs 2026 through 2030 remain largely the same from the previous TIP outside of small adjustments made as a result of population changes for the MARPA formula.

Federal Highway Administration Programs

The Federal-Aid Highway Program dollars discussed in this chapter are delivered through several Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding programs, each of which has unique requirements. Table 2-1 lists the programs in the BIL that fund projects in the FFYs 2026–30 TIP.

Table 2-1
Federal Highway Administration Programs Applicable to the FFYs 2026–30 Transportation Improvement Program

Source: Federal Highway Administration.

Federal Transit Program

Federal aid for public transit authorities is allocated by formula to urbanized areas (UZAs). MassDOT is the recipient of this federal aid in the Boston MA-NH-RI UZA. In UZAs with populations greater than 200,000, such as the Boston MA-NH-RI UZA, the distribution formula factors in passenger-miles traveled, population density, and other factors associated with each transit provider. The three regional transit authorities (RTAs) in the Boston Region MPO area are the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA), and Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA). The MBTA, with its extensive transit program and infrastructure, is the recipient of the preponderance of federal transit funds in the region.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) distributes funding to transit agencies through several different programs. As previously noted, the MPO converts some of its FHWA funding to FTA to support transit investments. Table 2-2 shows FTA programs in the BIL that support transit investments in the FFYs 2026–30 TIP.

Table 2-2
Federal Transit Administration Programs Applicable to the FFYs 2026–30 Transportation Improvement Program

Source: Federal Transit Administration.

INVESTMENT FRAMEWORKS

MPO Investment Framework

Each MPO in the state prioritizes the Regional Target funding it receives through the processes established by FHWA and MassDOT. The Boston Region MPO’s LRTP defines the investment framework that informs the specific investment decisions made in the TIP by establishing

• the MPO’s transportation vision, goals, and objectives, which shape the MPO’s project evaluation criteria;
• MPO investment programs; and
• other guidelines that help the MPO determine how to allocate funding across its investment programs.

MPO Goals and Objectives

The MPO’s goals and objectives provide the foundation for the evaluation criteria that the MPO board uses when selecting transportation projects to be funded with Regional Target dollars. MPO staff compares candidate projects’ characteristics to these criteria to evaluate whether individual projects can help the MPO advance its various goals. The criteria used to select projects for this TIP are based on the MPO’s goals and objectives, adopted as part of Destination 2050, which is the LRTP the MPO endorsed in July 2023. Chapter 1 lists these goals and objectives.

MPO Investment Programs

In Destination 2050 and the prior LRTP, Destination 2040, the MPO strengthened the link between its spending and improvements to transportation performance by revising its investment programs to include a broader range of prospective projects. These investment programs focus on specific types of projects that the MPO expects will help achieve its goals and objectives for the transportation system. The MPO created these programs to give municipalities the confidence that if they design these types of projects, the MPO will be willing to fund them through the TIP:

• Complete Streets
• Intersection Improvements
• Bicycle Network and Pedestrian Connections
• Major Infrastructure (including highway funds flexed to major transit infrastructure)
• Community Connections
• Transit Transformation    
• Bikeshare Support

The MPO has taken a clear stance that investing in transit is central to improving the region’s broader transportation system. The MPO established the Transit Modernization program in Destination 2040, which became the Transit Transformation program in Destination 2050. The Transit Transformation program represents a significant shift in the MPO’s investment strategy as funding will be allocated to transit projects on an annual basis. In prior years, the MPO only funded transit projects on a one-off basis when funding was requested for specific projects in the region. By creating the programming infrastructure to reallocate Regional Target highway funds to transit projects annually, the Boston Region MPO has established itself as a leader among MPOs nationally by crafting an investment strategy that is truly multimodal.      

The MPO continued to fund multiple Transit Transformation projects in FFY 2026 to make use of funding surpluses. The MPO has also continued to reserve funding for allocation in future TIP years. The MPO will continue to work with municipalities and transit providers in the region to identify transit needs and determine the most effective use of this funding; the FFYs 2026–30 TIP invested in five projects from regional transit authorities. More transit projects were added to the FFYs 2026–30 timeframe as a result of Amendment 10 to the FFYs 2025–29 TIP, which the MPO approved to address project delays.

In this FFYs 2026–30 TIP, the MPO funded seven Community Connections projects in addition to the 44 projects funded in the previous five TIP cycles. Funding for the Community Connections, Transit Transformation, and Bikeshare Support Programs continues to be reserved in FFYs 2027–30 for allocation in future TIP cycles.

In FFY 2025 of the FFYs 2025–29 TIP, the MPO selected six projects to fund in a Project Design Pilot, where the MPO would allocate federal funding to design projects that would eventually seek construction funding on the TIP. Projects selected for design funding are categorized within existing MPO investment programs, typically Complete Streets, Intersection Improvements, Bicycle Network and Pedestrian Connections, and Major Infrastructure.

The objective of the Project Design Pilot was two-fold: to increase resources for municipalities to advance high-scoring TIP projects and increase project application volumes, and to ensure that access to a steady source of design funding would lead to fewer delays and cost increases. In the FFYs 2026–30 TIP, the MPO selected another five projects for FFY 2026 design funds, including two projects listed in the MPO’s LRTP: the Route 4/225 Hartwell Avenue Interchange at Route 128 in Lexington and the Route 126/135 Grade Crossing in Framingham. The MPO also set-aside $2 million in FFY 2027 and $3 million in FFY 2028 and beyond for allocation to future applications.

More information on the projects selected for funding in each of the MPO’s investment programs can be found in Chapter 3.

Other Funding Guidelines

Major Infrastructure Projects

The MPO classifies Major Infrastructure projects as follows:

• Roadway projects:
• Capital projects that improve facilities that are important to regional travel, which include
• interstate highways
• principal arterial freeways and expressways
• all sections of roadways classified as principal arterial “other” that have fully or partially controlled access
• Regionally significant projects that cost $50 million or more
• Transit projects:
• Capital projects that add new connections to or extend the rail or fixed guideway transit network
• Regionally significant projects that cost $50 million or more

This definition is intended to focus the Major Infrastructure investment program on those projects that are of significant scale or that are truly important for the broader region.

Categorizing Projects

When developing the LRTP, the MPO sets funding allocation goals for each of its investment programs to ensure limited Regional Target funding is programmed in ways that best achieve the goals for transportation in the region. Because the MPO considers the five-year distribution of TIP funds across its investment programs relative to the goals set forth in the LRTP (as shown in Figure 2-1), properly categorizing projects is a critical component of the MPO’s decision-making process.    

Figure 2-1
Destination 2050 Funding Goals by MPO Investment Program

Source: Boston Region MPO.

Project Cost Estimates

The MPO strongly prefers that project proponents submit 25 percent designs and obtain an updated cost estimate for their projects before the projects are programmed in the TIP. This standard was set by the MPO as part of a multi-pronged effort to reduce the prevalence of cost increases and delays for projects that have already been selected for funding in the TIP. The MPO also prefers that project proponents continue to demonstrate steady and consistent design progress after their projects are programmed on the TIP by regularly conveying design milestones and statuses to the MPO board via MPO staff.

MassDOT and Transit Agency Investment Frameworks

MassDOT and the MBTA each update their rolling five-year Capital Investment Plans (CIPs) on an annual basis. MassDOT’s CIP identifies priority roadway, bridge, and statewide infrastructure projects for the five MassDOT divisions and includes funding for specific transit projects such as the South Coast Rail. The MBTA’s CIP outlines the agency’s five-year investment strategy for transit projects in its service area. Both CIP processes use a similar framework that prioritizes funding according to statewide strategic goals for the transportation system. Reliability is the top priority for MassDOT and the MBTA, followed by modernization and then expansion. Both agencies have created investment programs for their respective CIPs that relate to these strategic goals and allocate funding to these programs in ways that emphasize their priority. These goals and investment programs are as follows:

• Reliability: These investments are oriented toward maintaining and improving the overall condition and reliability of the transportation system. They include capital maintenance projects, state-of-good-repair projects, and other asset management and system preservation projects. The MassDOT Highway Division programs in this area include the Bridge Program—including inspections, systematic maintenance, and National Highway System (NHS) and non-NHS improvements—the Pavement Program, the Roadway Improvements Program, and the Safety Improvements Program. MBTA reliability programs include its Revenue Vehicles Program; Track, Signals, and Power Program; Bridge and Tunnel Program; Stations Program; Facilities Program; and Systems Upgrade/Other investments.

• Modernization: These investments enhance the transportation system to make it safer and more accessible and to accommodate growth. These projects address compliance with federal mandates or other statutory requirements for safety and/or accessibility improvements; exceed state-of-good-repair thresholds to modernize existing assets; and provide expanded capacity to accommodate current or anticipated demand on transportation systems. The MassDOT Highway Division programs in this area include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Retrofit Program, the Intersection Improvement Program, the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Program, and the Roadway Reconstruction Program. MBTA programs in this area include the Red and Orange Line Improvements Program, the Commuter Rail Safety and Resiliency Program, the Accessibility Program, the Risk Management and Mitigation Program, the Automated Fare Collection (AFC) Program, the Rail Transformation Program, and the Customer Experience and Technology Improvements Program.

• Expansion: These investments provide more diverse transportation options for communities throughout the Commonwealth. They expand highway, transit, and rail networks and/or services, or they expand bicycle and pedestrian networks to provide more transportation options and address health and sustainability objectives. The MassDOT Highway Division programs in this area include the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program and the Capacity Program. The MBTA’s major expansion program is for the Red-Blue Connector extension of the Blue Line from Bowdoin Station to Charles/MGH Station.

DEVELOPING THE TIP

Project Selection Process

Overview

The MPO applies its investment framework when developing the TIP. The MPO board’s process for selecting projects to receive Regional Target funding relies on evaluation criteria to help identify and prioritize projects that advance the MPO’s goals. The criteria are based on the MPO’s goals and objectives outlined in the LRTP. All projects are required to show consistency with the LRTP and other statewide and regional plans. Other considerations include the readiness of a project for construction and municipal support for the project. Background information about the TIP project evaluation process is presented in Appendix A.

The MPO updates its LRTP every four years. With each LRTP update, the MPO reviews and updates the region’s goals, objectives, and investment programs. Following the adoption of Destination 2050 in July 2023, the MPO revised the TIP evaluation criteria to better align with the updated goals, objectives, and investment programs, including a new resilience goal area. The final criteria were informed by robust public engagement conducted during the development of Destination 2050, and developed through an update process that engaged MPO members, staff, and external stakeholders. The most significant update to the criteria for the FFYs 2025–29 TIP was the development of new and broader resilience evaluation metrics to align with the resilience goal area in Destination 2050 and elevate resilience to equal consideration in project prioritization alongside other goal-focused TIP criteria. To develop these metrics, staff held a stakeholder workshop that engaged advocates, community-based organizations, municipalities, and environmental agencies, and also distributed a survey and held one-on-one meetings with stakeholders. The outcomes of this process are discussed further in the Project Evaluation section on the following pages. These new criteria were employed during the project selection process for the FFYs 2026–30 TIP.

More information on these criteria is available in the Project Evaluation section of this chapter, as well as in Appendix A.

Outreach and Data Collection (October–November)

The TIP development process begins early in the federal fiscal year when cities and towns in the region designate staff as TIP contacts and begin developing a list of priority projects to be considered for federal funding. Each fall, the MPO staff asks these TIP contacts to identify their city or town’s priority projects and then MPO staff elicits input from interested parties and members of the general public.

These discussions about municipalities’ priority projects mark the start of a robust dialogue between MPO staff and project proponents that continues through the duration of the TIP cycle. The outreach for this TIP cycle began in November of 2024 when MPO staff held two virtual workshops for municipalities in the region to develop an understanding of the TIP process. In January 2025, MPO staff held inaugural Subregional Readiness Days—three meetings for municipalities to provide status updates on their projects to MPO staff.  MPO staff also regularly hosted one-on-one virtual office hours throughout the year for proponents to ask more detailed questions about advancing specific projects for funding.

Once project proponents have decided to pursue TIP funding, they must begin the formal project initiation process. All new Bicycle Network and Pedestrian Connections, Complete Streets, Intersection Improvements, and Major Infrastructure projects must be initiated with the MassDOT Highway Division before they can be considered for programming in the TIP. These include projects seeking design funding as well as construction funds. MassDOT details this process on its project initiation web page, mass.gov/info-details/massdot-highway-initiating-a-project. To be considered for programming, proponents of Community Connections, Bikeshare Support, and Transit Transformation projects must apply for funding directly to MPO staff, as these projects do not require initiation with MassDOT. Municipalities seeking to advance Transit Transformation projects must apply for funding via their transit provider.

The MPO staff compiles project funding requests for projects into a Universe of Projects list, which consists of all identified projects being advanced for possible funding in a future TIP cycle. The Universe includes projects that are at advanced stages of project design, those that are undergoing preliminary engineering and design, and projects still in the conceptual planning stage. Applications for projects that are active municipal priorities and are feasibly ready to be programmed in the current TIP cycle continue forward into the MPO’s project evaluation process. Projects that are not ready for programming remain in the Universe for consideration in future TIP cycles.   

Project Evaluation (December-February)

The MPO staff uses project evaluation criteria to logically and transparently evaluate and select projects for programming in the TIP that advance the MPO’s vision for transportation in the region. This process favors projects that support the following goals:

• Facilitate an inclusive and transparent transportation-planning process and make investments that eliminate transportation-related disparities.      
• Achieve zero transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries and improve safety for all users of the transportation system.    
• Support easy and reliable movement of people and freight.    
• Provide transportation options and improve access to key destinations to support economic vitality and quality of life.    
• Provide transportation that supports sustainable environments and enables people to respond and adapt to extreme weather events and other changing conditions.    
• Provide transportation free of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants and that supports good health.    

As noted previously, the MPO undertook a process of revising the TIP evaluation criteria prior to the launch of the FFYs 2025–29 TIP to enhance the alignment between the TIP project selection process and the MPO’s updated goals, objectives, and investment programs outlined in Destination 2050. In terms of the overall structure of the criteria, this process resulted in the following outcomes:

• The creation of criteria for the MPO’s Transit Transformation program    
• Revisions to the existing criteria for the MPO’s Bicycle Network and Pedestrian Connections, Complete Streets, Community Connections, and Intersection Improvements, allowing for each program to have a distinct set of criteria that better evaluates the specific aspects of each type of project
• Consolidation of Major Infrastructure criteria to be classified under Complete Streets or Transit Transformation, depending on the nature of the project  

In addition to these broader structural changes, several updates were made to individual criteria to better accomplish the MPO’s goals in the LRTP:     

• Safety criteria were revised to provide emphasis in all areas for investments that enhance usability for those at higher risk.
• The ways in which the MPO considers resiliency in project selection was broadened by adding a dedicated resiliency scoring category.    
• New criteria were added to emphasize projects that provide access to existing or planned residential and mixed-use developments, with additional points for projects sited near 40B or Section 3A MBTA Communities developments and districts.1     

Several other changes were made to the project evaluation criteria, which are detailed in Appendix A. The point distributions by MPO investment program and LRTP goal area are also available in Figure 2-3. Some of the projects in the FFYs 2026–30 TIP were scored prior to the criteria revisions in each of these six investment programs, so both sets of criteria are referenced throughout this document.

During the FFYs 2025–29 TIP cycle, the MPO also undertook a parallel process to update its evaluation criteria for the smaller-scale, first-and-last-mile projects considered for funding through the Community Connections program. These adjustments were based on the lessons learned from the past four years of administering the program. In these revisions, MPO staff created a more focused set of criteria that better aligned with the types of projects pursuing funding through this program.

Revisions to the Community Connections criteria addressed the discrepancies between projects that serve a limited set of locations, such as small-scale purchases of bicycle racks or transit signal priority installations versus projects that serve larger areas, such as on-demand microtransit. The original criteria favored projects that had broad service areas. The new criteria are specific to each project type: Bicycle Lanes, Bicycle Racks, Bikeshare (Expansion and Replacement), Microtransit Pilots, and Wayfinding Signage.2 These adjustments result in more balanced scores to better reflect the goals of the program. More information on the scoring areas for these criteria is provided in Figure 2-4.

Figure 2-2
TIP Project Evaluation Criteria: Point Distributions by Project Type
(All Investment Programs except Community Connections)

LRTP = Long-Range Transportation Plan.

Source: Boston Region MPO.

Figure 2-3
TIP Project Evaluation Criteria: Point Distributions by Community Connections Project Type

Source: Boston Region MPO.

In order for the MPO staff to conduct a complete project evaluation, each project proponent must provide enough information so that staff can meaningfully apply the evaluation criteria. Proponents of projects that are candidates for Bicycle Network and Pedestrian Connections, Complete Streets, Intersection Improvements, and Major Infrastructure funding must have submitted 25 percent design plans to MassDOT, or the plans must include the level of detail defined in a functional design report.3

Proponents of projects seeking design funding are required to provide a written scope or vision for development consistent with the information provided in a MassDOT Project Initiation Form. For Community Connections projects, proponents must submit a complete application to the MPO, including required supporting documentation such as budget sheets, letters of support from partner entities, and work estimates. Transit Transformation project applicants must submit an application with all relevant forms, budget sheets, and designs based on the scope of work proposed.

After MPO staff has completed an initial round of project scoring, draft scores are distributed to project proponents for their review. The MPO’s goal is to assess all projects fairly and accurately, making this review a critical component of the TIP process. Proponents are encouraged to submit feedback to MPO staff on their projects’ scores if they feel any criteria have been applied inaccurately. Proponents are also encouraged to submit additional supporting documentation on their projects if doing so would help clarify or correct any elements of the draft scoring. MPO staff takes all proponent feedback into consideration and makes any necessary adjustments to project scores before considering the evaluation process final and preparing the scores for presentation to the MPO.

For more details about the criteria used to score projects and project evaluation results for projects considered for programming in this TIP, see Appendix A.

TIP Readiness Day (February)

On TIP Readiness Day, MPO staff meets with members of the MassDOT Highway Division and Office of Transportation Planning to review cost and schedule changes related to currently programmed projects, which are undergoing design review, permitting, and right-of-way acquisition. The MPO board then considers these updated project construction costs and changes to the expected dates for construction advertisement when making decisions about changes to TIP programming. These changes have an impact on the ability of the MPO to program its Regional Target funds for new projects in the five-year TIP.

Between the development of the FFYs 2021–25 TIP and the FFYs 2022–26 TIP, more than half of the projects programmed by the MPO experienced cost increases, many of which represented significant increases in percentage terms or in absolute cost. These changes placed severe limitations on the MPO’s ability to consider new projects for funding during the FFYs 2022–26 TIP cycle. As a partner to MassDOT’s Highway Division and Office of Transportation Planning, the MPO recognizes its role in supporting the on-time and on-budget delivery of projects by proponents. For this reason, the MPO board created a committee in the wake of the FFYs 2022–26 TIP cycle to further explore the causes of project cost increases and devise MPO policy changes to support more reliable project delivery by all parties.

The TIP Project Cost Ad Hoc Committee began its work in June 2021 and advanced a set of policy recommendations to the full MPO board in September 2021. These changes were formally adopted by the MPO on November 4, 2021, and went into effect for the development of the FFYs 2023–27 TIP. In addition to the requirement that project proponents submit 25 percent design plans and obtain an updated cost estimate for their project prior to obtaining funding in the TIP, the committee’s work resulted in several other policy changes. Most notably, the MPO board adopted a policy that proponents of any projects that experienced a cost increase of 25 percent or greater (for projects less than $10 million in cost) or of greater than $2.5 million (for projects more than $10 million in cost) would be required to present to the MPO board on the reasons for these cost increases. The MPO would then compare this project—at its new cost—to other projects based on a cost-effectiveness evaluation before deciding whether or not to fund the project at its higher cost. These cost changes are most often revealed through conversations between MassDOT staff and MPO staff during TIP Readiness Day, making this policy especially relevant at this stage of TIP development.

More information on the work of the TIP Project Cost Ad Hoc Committee is available in Chapter 3.

Staff Recommendation and Project Selection (March-April)

Using the evaluation scores and information gathered about project readiness (when a project likely would be fully designed and ready for advertisement) and cost, staff prepares possible TIP project programming scenarios for the MPO’s consideration. When developing these scenarios, MPO staff also considers whether a project was programmed in the LRTP, LRTP-based guidelines for allocating funds to different programs or project types, the distribution of investments across the region, and availability of sufficient funding. The MPO staff gathers feedback from board members, project proponents, and the public to inform a final staff recommendation. The recommendation is then presented to the MPO for approval before it is included in the draft TIP for public review.

In the FFYs 2026–30 TIP, the MPO selected and funded 13 new projects for implementation during this TIP cycle, including the following:

• 1 Complete Streets project
• 3 Transit Transformation projects
• 1 Bicycle Network and Pedestrian Connections project
• 7 Community Connections projects, including
• 2 Bicycle Racks projects
• 2 Bikeshare Expansion project
• 3 Bikeshare Replacement projects
• 1 Administrative Project

In addition to these projects, the MPO also selected five new projects to be funded for design work, with construction anticipated in future TIP development cycles:

• 3 Complete Streets projects
• 2 Bicycle Network and Pedestrian Connections projects

In total, the MPO allocated more than $44 million in this TIP cycle to projects not previously funded in the Regional Target program. More information on the projects funded in the FFYs 2026–30 TIP is available in Chapter 3.

Selection Process for Projects Prioritized by the State and Transit Agencies

As discussed above, the selection of transit, bridge, and statewide infrastructure projects for programming in the TIP draws primarily from the CIPs produced by MassDOT and the MBTA. These agencies evaluate projects for inclusion in CIP programs using criteria established by the independent Project Selection Advisory Council (PSAC). The following criteria are from the PSAC process guide project evaluation:

• System Preservation: Projects should contribute to a state of good repair on the system and align with asset management goals.
• Mobility: Projects should provide efficient and effective modal options for all users.
• Cost Effectiveness: Projects should result in benefits commensurate with costs and should be aimed at maximizing the return on the public’s investment.
• Economic Impact: Projects should support strategic economic growth in the Commonwealth.
• Safety: Projects should contribute to the safety and security of people and goods in transit.
• Social Equity: Projects should equitably distribute the social, economic, and health benefits of investments among all communities.
• Environmental and Health Effects: Projects should advance state goals of improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.
• Policy Support: Projects should get credit if they support local or regional policies or plans, or state policies not addressed through the other criteria.

Projects that receive the highest priority are those that meet each agency’s goals for maintaining and improving the overall condition and reliability of the system; modernizing the system to make it safer and more accessible and to accommodate growth; and expanding and diversifying transportation options for communities. These project-prioritization processes may also reflect other planning initiatives, such as Focus40, the MBTA’s 25-year investment plan, or MassDOT’s modal plans. More information on regulatory and planning guidance governing TIP project prioritization is available in Appendix E.

Once project prioritization is complete, programming decisions are made based on these evaluations and information regarding project readiness, program sizing, and existing asset management plans.

As discussed previously, the transit element of the TIP also includes the Federal-Aid Programs of the other two RTAs in the region, CATA and MWRTA. Once selection processes are complete for all four agencies, these agencies submit their lists of bridge and roadway projects, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, statewide infrastructure items, and transit capital projects to the MPO for review.

APPROVING THE TIP

Approval of the Draft TIP for Public Review

The MPO board considers the project evaluation results and staff recommendation when prioritizing projects for Regional Target funding. The board also considers public comments, the regional importance of projects, and other factors. In addition to prioritizing the Regional Target funding, the MPO board reviews MassDOT’s proposed statewide highway programming and the proposed capital programs for the MBTA, CATA, and MWRTA before voting to release a draft TIP for public review.

The MPO board votes to release the draft document for public review and invites members of the public, municipal and elected officials, and other stakeholders in the Boston region to review the proposed TIP. The MPO staff hosts outreach events during the public review period to elicit comments on the draft document. (See Appendix C for a full list of public comments submitted on this draft TIP.)

Approval of the Draft TIP

After the public review period ends, the MPO staff and board review all public comments, and the board may change the programming or the document as appropriate before endorsing the TIP. MassDOT staff incorporates the MPO-endorsed TIP into the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and submits it to the FHWA and FTA for approval. The FHWA, FTA, and US Environmental Protection Agency review the STIP and certify it by September 30, the end of the federal fiscal year.

UPDATING THE TIP

The TIP is a dynamic program that may be amended and adjusted throughout the year. Administrative modifications and amendments are often introduced because of changes in project status (advertisement readiness), project cost, project design scope, or available revenue. An amendment is a revision that requires public review and a demonstration of fiscal constraint.

Consistent with federal guidelines, the Boston Region MPO must release an amendment if there is (1) a change in project cost of $500,000 or more for projects valued at $5 million or less, or (2) a change of 10 percent or more of the project cost for projects valued greater than $5 million. TIP amendments are also released if there is a proposal to add or remove a project from the TIP or if the programming year of a project is changed. Cost changes that are less than the above threshold amounts may be considered in the form of administrative modifications or adjustments, which must still undergo MPO board action for approval. Administrative modifications or adjustments are also undertaken in the event that a project’s funding source changes. Although a public review period is not required for administrative modifications or adjustments, one may be offered at the MPO board’s discretion.

Regardless of the nature of an amendment, all proposed TIP amendments are presented in a public setting at an MPO meeting, and details are posted on the MPO’s website, bostonmpo.org. Public notices are distributed through the MPO’s email contact list, which members of the public may join by signing up on the MPO’s website. Municipal staff who are TIP contacts at the affected municipalities and the public are notified of pending amendments at the start of an amendment’s public review period.

A history of TIP Amendments can be found at https://www.ctps.org/tip.

Public Notice

Notices of draft TIP amendments include a summary of the amendment’s contents, dates of the public review period, contact information for submitting a comment to the MPO, and the date, time, and location that the MPO will vote on that amendment. Municipal representatives and members of the public are invited to submit written or oral testimony at the MPO meetings at which amendments are discussed or voted upon.

The MPO typically holds a 21-day public review period before taking final action on an amendment. In extraordinary circumstances, the MPO may vote to shorten the public review period to a minimum of 15 days. These circumstances are detailed in the MPO’s Public Engagement Plan.

The MPO’s website is the best place to find current information about the TIP. All changes to the draft TIP and changes to the endorsed TIP, such as amendments and modifications that have been approved by the MPO, are available on the TIP web page, bostonmpo.org/tip.

Comments or questions about the draft TIP materials may be submitted directly to the MPO staff via the website, email, or US mail, or voiced at MPO meetings and other public MPO events.

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Chapter 3: Highway and Transit Programming

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) tables included in this chapter present a listing of all the projects and programs funded with federal highway and transit aid in the Boston region during federal fiscal years (FFYs) 2025–29. These funding tables are also included as part of the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).

Table 3-1 presents a summary of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) share of Regional Target funds from the Federal-Aid Highway Program. The allocation of these funds is constrained by projections of available federal aid. As shown in Table 3-1, the MPO has programmed much of the available discretionary funds within the limits of projected funding for highway funding programs. As such, the FFYs 2025–29 TIP Regional Target Program complies with financial constraint requirements.

Table 3-1

Boston Region MPO Regional Target Program

Source: Boston Region MPO.

As discussed in Chapter 2, the signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), on November 15, 2021, increased the amount of Regional Target funding available to the Boston Region MPO in the previous FFYs 2024–28 TIP cycle by approximately nine percent from the funding levels in the FFYs 2023–27 TIP. This funding level was sustained in the development of this FFYs 2025–29 TIP. The projects selected by the MPO for funding for the first time in the FFYs 2025–29 TIP are listed in Table 3-2.

During the development of the FFYs 2025–29 TIP, the MPO had significant amounts of funding available to program in FFYs 2025, 2026, and 2029.  However, there were significant shortfalls of funding in 2027 and 2028 as a result of delayed programming of 14 projects.

Projects already programmed in the TIP to receive Regional Target funds could not be accelerated, so the MPO worked with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA), and Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA) to identify other projects that could be funded in FFYs 2025 and 2026. Jointly, these agencies presented more than 13 projects to the MPO for consideration, from which the MPO selected 11 projects for funding in the Transit Transformation program in FFYs 2025 and 2026:

• Additional funding for Columbus Avenue Bus Lanes, Phase 2 ($7,500,000)
• Additional funding for Rail Transformation Early Action Items—Reading Station and Wilbur Interlocking ($6,000,000)
• Additional funding for Jackson Square Station Accessibility Improvements ($7,250,000)
• Procurement of three 29-foot compressed natural gas (CNG) buses for the MWRTA ($1,980,000)
• Design funding for improvements to customer and personnel facilities at the MWRTA’s Blandin Hub ($2,500,000)
• Funding to modernize CATA’s Gloucester facility ($1,293,000)
• Funding for procurement of four hybrid buses to replace four vehicles in CATA’s fleet at the end of their useful life ($2,460,000)
• Funding to upgrade cashless fare payment systems for CATA’s ADA and Dial-A-Ride services ($65,000)
• Partial funding to support accessibility improvements to Central Station on the MBTA Red Line, with a focus on adding a new elevator ($5,000,000)
• Funding for bus circulation improvements at Nubian Station in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood ($5,000,000)
• Funding to support the modernization of MBTA’s “Pedal and Park” bicycle storage facilities at 13 MBTA stations in nine municipalities regionwide ($2,500,000).

The MPO also voted to fund two projects in FFY 2025 that were previously incorporated into MassDOT’s Statewide Highway Program:

• 609531 – Arlington– Stratton School Improvements (Safe Routes to Schools) ($1,625,250)
• 611982 – Medford– Shared-Use Path Connection at the Route 28/Wellington Underpass ($5,509,294)
•  

Because many of these projects were identified later in the project evaluation life cycle—that is, months after the regular cycle of project submissions—scoring information is included in the TIP with some delay compared to other project line items. While these projects were identified too late in the TIP cycle to be quantitatively evaluated using the MPO’s scoring criteria, these projects align well qualitatively with many of the MPO’s goals, including enhancing bicycle and pedestrian safety and access, and expanding the accessibility of and maintaining a state of good repair for the region’s transit system. These projects may be scored using the MPO’s scoring criteria in a later TIP cycle.

Table 3-2

New Regional Target Projects Funded in the FFYs 2025–29 TIP

Note: Funding amounts in this table include both federal and non-federal funds, including matching funds.

* These projects are funded starting in FFY 2029 of the TIP, with further funding expected to be programmed in FFY 2030 of the FFYs 2026–30 TIP.

ADA = Americans with Disabilities Act. CATA = Cape Ann Transportation Authority. FFY = federal fiscal year. MassDOT = Massachusetts Department of Transportation. MBTA = Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. MWRTA = MetroWest Regional Transit Authority. N/A = not applicable. NB = northbound. TIP = Transportation Improvement Program.

Source: Boston Region MPO.

In addition to the project selection, several other key decisions were made by the MPO in the drafting of the FFYs 2025–29 Regional Target Program:

• The MPO allocated additional funding to three MBTA projects that it had voted to support in prior TIPs. These were the Jackson Square Station Accessibility Improvements, Rail Transformation Early Action Items at Reading Station and Wilbur Interlocking, and the Columbus Avenue Bus Lanes, Phase 2, projects. The Jackson Square project received $7.25 million in addition to the $26.25 million programmed in the FFYs 2024–28 TIP. The Rail Transformation project received $6 million in addition to the $14 million programmed in the FFYs 2024–28 TIP to address a cost increase at the Reading turn track location. The Columbus Avenue, Phase 2, project received $7.5 million in addition to the $11.75 million in FFY 2024 of the FFYs 2024–28 TIP and an additional $14.8 million programmed in FFY 2021 of the FFYs 2021–25 TIP. The total contribution by the Boston Region MPO to these projects is $33.5 million for Jackson Square Station Accessibility Improvements, $20 million for Rail Transformation Early Action Items at Reading Station and Wilbur Interlocking, and $34.05 million for Columbus Avenue Bus Lanes, Phase 2.
• The MPO programmed $6.15 million for six projects in eight municipalities in FFY 2025 for a design pilot funding program intended to reduce barriers for municipalities that plan to advance projects for Regional Target funding, as programming on the TIP requires the completion of 25 percent design plans.
• The MPO programmed $3.05 million to design two projects in FFY 2026. These projects, the Route 4/225 Interchange project in Lexington and Intersection Improvements at Route 126/135/MBTA and CSX Railroad in Framingham, are listed in the MPO’s Long-Range Transportation Plan. These projects will be scored in the development of the FFYs 2026–30 TIP for their design funding as FFY 2026 approaches.
• The programmed amount of Project 607981, Somerville—McGrath Boulevard Construction, was increased to $30,310,000 in FFY 2029.  Prior advance construction schedules for the project recommended $20,000,000 in FFY 2029 and $13,840,000 in FFY 2030. This action was taken to alleviate financial pressures on future TIP cycles.
• The programmed amount of Project 606226, Boston–Reconstruction of Rutherford Avenue from City Square to Sullivan Square, was increased to $45,000,000 in FFY 2029. Prior advance construction schedules for the project recommended $33,500,000 in FFY 2029. This action was taken to alleviate financial pressures on future TIP cycles through FFY 2032.

In order to address funding constraints in FFY 2027, the MPO voted to delay Project 610662, Woburn–Roadway and Intersection Improvements at Woburn Common, Route 38 (Main Street), Winn Street, Pleasant Street and Montvale Avenue, to FFY 2029 given a lack of significant design progress on the project since the FFYs 2021–25 TIP cycle.

Additional details of the specific projects programmed with Regional Target funding are shown in Section 1A of each annual element of the TIP tables (Table 3-7). The other sections in Table 3-7 (Sections 1B, 2A, 2B, 2C, and 3B) list the following:

• Projects funded with earmarks or discretionary grant funds
• State-prioritized bridge repairs and rehabilitation, pavement maintenance, safety improvements, retrofits for accessibility (as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act), intersection improvements, roadway reconstruction, and bicycle and pedestrian projects

Tables 3-8, 3-9, 3-10, and 3-11 list the federally funded transit projects and programs in the Boston region that the MBTA, MWRTA, and CATA plan to undertake.

Detailed descriptions of projects funded through both the Regional Target and statewide portions of the Highway Program follow the tables. The descriptions note the evaluation scores (for MPO-funded projects), project proponents, and funding details. The pages are organized alphabetically by the municipality in which each project is located.

INVESTMENT SUMMARY

This section summarizes the investments made by the Boston Region MPO, MassDOT, MBTA, CATA, and MWRTA that are documented in the FFYs 2025–29 TIP. Table 3-3 shows the Boston Region MPO’s investments of Regional Target funding—including both the number of projects and the dollar amount—by investment program. These investments are aimed at making progress towards the MPO’s goals for the region, including enhancing safety for all users, preserving and modernizing the transportation system, promoting mobility and reducing congestion, supporting clean air and sustainability, ensuring all have equitable access to the transportation system, and fostering economic vitality in the region through investments in transportation.

The MPO’s Regional Target Program increased in size by approximately $30.4 million between the FFYs 2024–28 TIP and the FFYs 2025–29 TIP to a total program size of more than $727.9 million.

Table 3-3

FFYs 2025–29 Boston Region MPO Regional Target Investment Summary

.

Note: Funding amounts in this table include both federal and non-federal funds, including matching funds.

* This figure includes $8 million in BikeShare Support funding.

FFY = federal fiscal year. MPO = metropolitan planning organization. N/A = not applicable.

Source: Boston Region MPO.

Table 3-4 shows MassDOT’s FFYs 2025–29 TIP investments—including both the number of projects or programs and the dollar amount—organized by MassDOT program. MassDOT’s investments are distributed across a variety of programs and will support bridge and pavement improvements, roadway improvements and reconstruction, new bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and safety improvements. More details on these investments are available on the project description pages in the second section of this chapter.

As detailed above for the MPO’s Regional Target Program, the BIL significantly increased the funding available to MassDOT for programming projects in the statewide Highway Program. Most notably, the BIL’s Bridge Formula Program allowed MassDOT to increase the funding allocated to federal-aid bridge projects. Furthermore, FFY 2026 represents the conclusion of Grant Anticipation Notes (GANS) payments for MassDOT’s Accelerated Bridge Program (ABP). As this program winds down, the passage of the 2021 Massachusetts Transportation Bond Bill and the new federal funding available through the BIL has allowed for the creation of MassDOT’s Next Generation Bridge Program (NGBP).

Like the ABP, the NGBP leverages state bonding capacity to accelerate the rehabilitation and replacement of critical or structurally deficient bridges in Massachusetts. In the FFYs 2025–29 TIP, 13 bridge projects are funded by MassDOT through the NGBP using state bond bill funds. These projects are shown in the TIP as debt payments on these bonds, which will use future federal formula funding.

Continued funding from the BIL supports increased investment across MassDOT’s other programs represented in the FFYs 2025–29 TIP, including the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program, the Intersection Improvements Program, the Interstate and Non-Interstate Pavement Programs, the Roadway Reconstruction Program, and the Safety Improvements Program. MassDOT’s Highway Program is substantively similar in total programming between the FFYs 2024–28 TIP and FFYs 2025–29 TIP. The FFYs 2025–29 TIP introduces a new Highway Resiliency Improvement Program.

Table 3-4

FFYs 2025–29 MassDOT Highway Program Investment Summary

Note: Funding amounts in this table include both federal and non-federal funds, including matching funds. FFY = Federal Fiscal Year. MassDOT = Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

Table 3-5 shows the MBTA’s programs and associated FFYs 2025–29 TIP funding amounts. Additional details on the MBTA’s programs and projects are in Tables 3-8 and 3-9. The MBTA’s capital program is substantively similar between FFYs 2024–28 TIP and the FFYs 2025–29 TIP, decreasing from a total program size of $3.99 billion to $3.85 billion. Investments made through these programs allow the MBTA to continue to maintain and modernize its infrastructure in support of the agency’s role as the largest transit provider in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The MBTA caters to a wide range of needs, serving the Boston region with commuter rail, light rail, subway, fixed-route bus, and paratransit services. The MBTA prioritizes projects that keep the existing transit system in a state of good repair, including the purchase of new rolling stock, accessibility and resiliency improvements to stations, the rehabilitation of bridges and tunnels, and the replacement of tracks and signals to support system-wide reliability. Limited system expansion projects are also undertaken through the MBTA’s federal capital program. Further information on how the MBTA’s investments support system safety and condition is available in Chapter 4.

Table 3-5

 FFYs 2025–29 MBTA Transit Program Investment Summary

Note: Federal Transit Administration formula funds (Sections 5307, 5337 and 5339) are based on estimated apportionments for FFYs 2026–30. TIP programs and projects are based on a preliminary draft Capital Investment Plan (CIP) as of April 2025. Adjustments will be made to federal projects and budgets as the CIP process is finalized. Funding amounts in this table include both federal and non-federal funds, including matching funds.

*The "Green Line CIG-Core Capacity (Proposed Funding)" line item represents a preliminary estimate of the MBTA’s future FTA CIG-Core Capacity grant application and is a demonstration of the MBTA’s participation in the discretionary program. If awarded, this grant would support a number of Green Line Projects intended to increase system capacity by no less than 10 percent. Each project will be funded by a combination of FTA Core Capacity grant funds, FTA Boston UZA formula funds and MBTA local match. This line item only reflects the proposed Core Capacity funding. Projects P0591, P1010, P0921, P1102, P1105, P0920, P1011, P1103, P1101, P1336, P0923, P1334, P0922, P1337, P1338, and P0924 are approved in the transit element of the endorsed FFYs 2025-29 Boston Region TIP and the Transit Investment Report of the FFYs 2025-29 Massachusetts STIP. These projects are elements of the MBTA’s Core Capacity application and are identified in the table above. Through the MBTA CIP, Boston Region TIP, and Massachusetts STIP, MBTA has committed the use of $370,308,314 of Boston UZA 5307 formula funding to support the completion of these projects. Upon award, projects, budgets, and funding sources will be amended as required.                             

† RRIF/TIFIA financing program funding is an initial estimate and will be refined as projects are identified and loans are finalized with the Build America Bureau.

CRP = Carbon Reduction Program. FFY = federal fiscal year. MBTA = Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. N/A = not applicable. RRIF = Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing. STIP = State Transportation Improvement Program. TIFIA = Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. TIP = Transportation Improvement Program. UZA = urbanized area.

Sources: MBTA and the Boston Region MPO.

Table 3-6 summarizes CATA and MWRTA investments included in the FFYs 2025–29 TIP, and more information is available on each agency’s investments in Tables 3-10 and 3-11. Though the MBTA provides commuter rail service to the Cape Ann communities of Rockport and Gloucester, CATA provides additional paratransit and fixed-route bus services to these communities and to Danvers, Peabody, Ipswich, Essex, and Beverly. CATA’s federal capital program supports its role in providing critical transportation alternatives to residents and visitors of the area, including through the replacement of buses, the modernization of facilities, and the maintenance of assets.

MWRTA similarly complements MBTA commuter rail service, operating fixed-route bus, on-demand microtransit, and commuter shuttle services to a number of communities in the MetroWest subregion. MWRTA’s federal capital program supports this mission by funding vehicle replacements, station and facility maintenance and improvements, and operating assistance for paratransit services, among other efforts. Other MWRTA projects funded in the MWRTA’s capital program include the electrification of the agency’s paratransit fleet and investments in technology to support travel training and customer service efforts.

The program sizes for CATA and MWRTA increased greatly between the FFYs 2024–28 TIP and FFYs 2025–29. This was driven by a 91 percent increase in the state budget for regional transit authorities in state fiscal year 2024. These agencies collectively received an approximate $41.52 million increase in funding levels in this TIP, increasing from $65.36 million to a total program size of $106.88 million. This funding level also includes approximately $8.3 million in flexed funding from the Boston Region MPO’s Regional Target Program between FFYs 2025 and 2026.

Table 3-6

FFYs 2025–29 CATA and MWRTA Transit Program Investment Summary

Note: Funding amounts in this table include both federal and non-federal funds, including matching funds.

CATA = Cape Ann Transportation Authority. FFY = federal fiscal year. MWRTA = Metro West Regional Transit Authority. N/A = not applicable. RTA = regional transit authority.
Sources: CATA, MWRTA, and the Boston Region MPO.

Tables 3-7 through 3-11 build on the summary tables listed above by detailing investments made through both the Highway and Transit Programs by project, program, and funding year.

Table 3-7

FFYs 2025–29 TIP Highway Table

Table 3-8

FFYs 2025–29 TIP Transit Table (MBTA Federal Capital Program)

Note:                                                                                        

FTA formula funds (5307, 5337 and 5339) are based on estimated apportionments for FFY25-29.                                                  

TIP programs and projects are based on the draft FY 2025-29 CIP and planned federal obligations as of April 24.  Adjustments may be made to federal projects and budgets as the FY 2025-29 CIP is finalized.

The Activity Line Item (ALI) codes are preliminary only and generally reflect the bulk of the TIP program. Within a program there may be several different ALI codes used.

RRIF loan funding for the PTC/ATC/Fiber Resiliency project is based on the currently planned drawdown schedule and is subject to change.                             

RRIF/TIFIA financing program funding is an initial estimate and will be refined as projects are identified and loans are finalized with the Build America Bureau.

Table 3-9

FFYs 2025–29 TIP Transit Table (MBTA Federal Capital Program – Project List and Descriptions [80% Federal Share])

Note: Project descriptions and dollar amounts are preliminary only and are provided for informational purposes.  In many cases, the scopes of work and project budgets will become more fully developed as the design process proceeds and is completed.  The MBTA may also opt to fund a project from a different FTA funding source based on the timing of projects and the availability of FTA funds.

Table 3-10

FFYs 2025–29 TIP Transit Table (MWRTA)

Table 3-11

FFYs 2025–29 TIP Transit Table (CATA)

DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS

Field Definitions

Proponent: This field lists the primary advocate for each project, who is responsible for seeing the project through to completion.

ID Number: This number references the project’s identification number in MassDOT’s project-tracking system.

Project Type: This field provides the type of project programmed. For those projects programmed with Regional Target funds (projects listed in Section 1A of the TIP tables), the projects are categorized according to the MPO’s six investment programs (Bicycle and Pedestrian, Complete Streets, Intersection Improvements, Major Infrastructure, Community Connections, and Transit Transformation). For those projects programmed directly by MassDOT (projects listed in Sections 1B, 2A, 2B, 2C, and 3B), MassDOT’s STIP Program categories are applied.

Cost: This figure is the total project cost as programmed in the TIP across all fiscal years, including years outside of FFYs 2025–29.

Funding Source: The funding source indicates whether a project is funded using the MPO’s Regional Target funds or MassDOT’s statewide highway funds.

Scoring Summary: This table shows the number of points awarded to the project across each of the MPO’s project evaluation categories. MPO staff has not evaluated all projects in the TIP; staff only evaluates projects that are being considered for funding with the MPO’s Regional Target funds. The field definitions for the tables are as follows for all projects scored in the MPO’s Bicycle and Pedestrian, Complete Streets, Intersection Improvements, Major Infrastructure, and Transit Transformation investment programs:

• Safety: Safety
• MR: Mobility and Reliability
• AC: Access and Connectivity
• RES: Resilience
• CA/HC: Clean Air/Healthy Communities
• TE: Transportation Equity
• Total: This figure is the summation of the project’s scores across the above six categories (100 possible points).

Projects within the MPO’s Community Connections Program are scored using different categories, given the unique nature of this program. The field definitions for those tables are as follows:

• Conn: Connectivity
• Coord: Regional and Interlocal Coordination
• Plan: Plan Implementation
• TE: Transportation Equity
• CCM: Climate Change Mitigation
• PM: Performance Management
• Total: This figure is the summation of the project’s scores across the above six categories (100 possible points).

As mentioned in Chapter 2, the MPO adopted a revised set of project selection criteria in October 2023. These new criteria were used to score new projects under consideration for funding using the MPO’s Regional Target funds for both the FFYs 2025–29 TIP cycle.  For this reason, the scoring criteria and point allocations vary based on when a project was evaluated for funding and programmed in the TIP. Point allocations are specified for each project, and some project pages feature additional information in this section to provide context for how projects were evaluated. Further details on all of the MPO’s project selection criteria are available in Appendix A.

Project Description: The description of the project is based, in part, on the written description of the project on MassDOT’s Project Information website. In some cases, these descriptions have been modified to clarify the details of the projects. Projects evaluated by the MPO tend to have more detailed descriptions, as more complete project documentation was provided to MPO staff for these projects.

Funding Summary: Funding tables are included for each project and show the following information:

• Year: This field provides the federal fiscal year(s) during which the project is programmed for funding.
• Federal and Non-Federal Funds: These fields show a breakdown of project funding from federal and non-federal sources. Typically, these fields will show an 80/20 split, with federal funds accounting for 80 percent of project funding and a 20 percent state match accounting for the remaining funds.
• Total Funds Programmed: This field shows the total funding programmed for the project in the FFYs 2025–29 TIP by the year of expenditure. Information regarding TIP projects changes periodically, so funding amounts for all projects are subject to adjustment throughout the fiscal year.

For more information on all projects, please visit MassDOT’s Project Information website, https://hwy.massdot.state.ma.us/projectinfo/projectinfo.asp, the Boston Region MPO’s website, bostonmpo.org, or contact Ethan Lapointe, TIP Manager, at elapointe@ctps.org.

ACTON: INTERSECTION AND SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS ON ROUTES 2 AND 111 (MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE) AT PIPER ROAD AND TAYLOR ROAD

Scoring Summary

This is a MassDOT-prioritized project and is therefore not directly evaluated using the MPO’s TIP scoring criteria.

Project Description

Work consists of intersection Safety upgrades for signs, pavement markings, and traffic signals as identified through a Road Safety Audit Process in the town of Acton.

ACTON: RECONSTRUCTION OF ROUTE 2A/119 (GREAT ROAD), FROM DAVIS ROAD TO HARRIS STREET (DESIGN ONLY)

Scoring Summary

Project Description

This line item will support design for a project to resurface Great Road and implement a five-foot sidewalk and 10-foot shared-use path along the corridor. The project area features a large number of multifamily dwellings and currently lacks safe bicycle or pedestrian infrastructure. The project also would make significant improvements to safety for all roadway users at the intersections of Great Road and Harris Street, and Great Road and Davis Road near the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.

ACTON-SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT ROUTE 2A/119 (GREAT ROAD)

Scoring Summary

This is a MassDOT-prioritized project and is therefore not directly evaluated using the MPO’s TIP scoring criteria.

Project Description

This project addresses safety concerns at several intersections along Great Road in Acton.

ASHLAND: REHABILITATION AND RAIL CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS ON CHERRY STREET

Scoring Summary

Project Description

The primary purpose of the project is to improve the safety features for the roadway corridors of Cherry Street and Main Street in order to establish a Federal Railroad Administration Quiet Zone surrounding the railroad crossings on those two roadways. This goal will primarily be accomplished through the installation of roadway medians and the enhancement of existing railroad crossing signals and gates. In addition, the project addresses a critical gap in the pedestrian sidewalk network through the construction of new sidewalks. The project’s other goals include improving the existing roadway condition through pavement reconstruction and enhancing stormwater drainage in the project area.

BELLINGHAM: ROADWAY REHABILITATION OF ROUTE 126 (HARTFORD ROAD), FROM 800 NORTH OF THE I-495 NB OFF RAMP TO MEDWAY TOWNLINE, INCLUDING B-06-017

Scoring Summary

Project Description

The project includes roadway rehabilitation along 1.5 miles of Route 126, improved pedestrian and bicycle accommodations with full bilateral sidewalks and a shared-use path, and improvements to the bridge over Hopping Brook (B-06-017).  An existing traffic signal at Maple Street will be upgraded and a new signal installed at Pearl Street.  The project not only improves drainage throughout the project area but will incorporate improvements for better conveyance of Stall Brook under Route 126 for riverine flood mitigation alongside other drainage improvements.

BELMONT: COMMUNITY PATH, BELMONT COMPONENT OF THE MASS CENTRAL RAIL TRAIL (PHASE 1)

Scoring Summary

Project Description

This project will construct the Belmont Community Path between the existing Fitchburg Cutoff Path and Belmont Center, creating a direct off-street connection between the heart of Belmont, the Alewife MBTA station, and destinations beyond in Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston. The project proposes a 12-foot paved facility with two-foot grass shoulders and additional landscaping along the length of the path that will buffer the new facility from the adjacent railroad tracks and neighboring properties. The project includes an underpass beneath the commuter rail tracks at Channing Road and Alexander Avenue to provide a safe connection between the Winnbrook neighborhood that lies on the north side of the tracks with the bike lanes on Concord Avenue and the adjacent new school serving students in grades 7-12.

BEVERLY-SALEM: BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, B-11-005=S-01-013, KERNWOOD AVENUE OVER DANVERS RIVER AND B-11-001, BRIDGE STREET OVER BASS RIVER (HALL-WHITAKER DRAWBRIDGE)

Scoring Summary

This is a MassDOT-prioritized project and is therefore not directly evaluated using the MPO’s TIP scoring criteria.

Project Description

A preliminary type study and a value engineering study shall help to determine whether this bridge should be replaced or rehabilitated. If replacement, then three options shall be explored: a fixed high span bridge; replacement of only the approach timber spans; and a complete bridge replacement with a movable span and fixed approach spans.

BIKESHARE STATE OF GOOD REPAIR SET-ASIDE

Scoring Summary

This line item sets aside funding to be programmed for projects that will be scored separately using the Bikeshare Support criteria of the MPO’s Community Connections program.

Project Description

This line item sets aside funding to support Bikeshare investments within the Community Connections program. Example uses of this set-aside include bikeshare system expansion, as well as replacement and upgrades to existing stations. FFY 2025 was the inaugural year of funding projects through this set-aside, and four bikeshare replacement projects were funded to replace 127 bicycles and 36 docks.  The four projects funded by this effort are listed in this TIP.

BOSTON-BLUEBIKES STATION REPLACEMENT, 20 STATIONS

Scoring Summary