The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the five-year rolling capital plan for the 97 cities and towns in the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization's (MPO) planning area. The TIP documents all transportation projects that will receive federal funding in the region over the next five years. Projects in the TIP include those supported by Regional Target funds—the federal transportation dollars that the MPO has direct discretion over—and federally funded projects of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA), and the Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA).
The Draft FFYs 2027–31 TIP
The Boston Region MPO Board voted to release the Draft FFYs 2027-31 TIP for public comment at the May 7, 2026 board meeting. The public comment period began May 8 and will last until May 29, 2026. Comments may be submitted to TIP@ctps.org. The TIP programs approximately $6.5 billion in investments by the MPO, MassDOT, MBTA, MWRTA, and CATA across five years for the Boston region. The MPO has prioritized 41 projects for funding through this TIP, 12 of which are new projects.
FFYs 2027–31 TIP (PDF) opens in a new window FFYs 2027–31 TIP Appendices (PDF) opens in a new window FFYs 2027–31 TIP and Appendices (HTML)
FFY 2027–31 Executive Summary Translations (Kreyòl Ayisyen, Português, 简体中文, 繁体中文, Tiếng Việt, Español)
The above link includes PDF and HTML versions of the Executive Summary translated for Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
The TIP Project Dashboard
The TIP Project Dashboard provides a searchable application to explore projects funded within the Regional Target and Statewide Highway programs. Each project features a geospatial reference that reflects its limits and a record that lists its evaluation score, funding information, and project description.
The Current FFYs 2026–30 TIP
The FFYs 2026–30 TIP was endorsed by the Boston Region MPO board on June 5, 2025 and went into effect on October 1, 2025. The TIP programs approximately $10.3 billion in investments by the MPO, MassDOT, MBTA, MWRTA, and CATA across five years for the Boston region. The MPO has prioritized 59 projects for funding through this TIP, 21 of which are new projects.
FFYs 2026–30 TIP (PDF) opens in a new window FFYs 2026–30 TIP Appendices (PDF) opens in a new window FFYs 2026–30 TIP (HTML) FFYs 2026–30 TIP Appendices (HTML)
FFY 2026–30 Executive Summary Translations
The above link includes PDF and HTML versions of the Executive Summary translated for Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Developing the New TIP: FFYs 2027–31
Project Applications and Evaluation
The MPO considers projects for funding through its six investment programs. When applying for TIP funding, please use the links below to review how each project is considered and to access the application portal for each project type. Proponents who are unsure of which application to submit should contact MPO staff for more information.
Core Investment Programs:
Transit Transformation Program:
Community Connections Program:
- Bicycle Racks Application [Scorecard (PDF)]
- BikeShare Expansion and Support Application [Scorecard (PDF)]
- Bikeshare Replacement/State-of-Good-Repair Application [Scorecard (PDF)]
Major Infrastructure Program:
Note: MPO Staff will determine if a project application in the above programs can be classified as Major Infrastructure. Major infrastructure projects may cost more than $50 million, improve and increase capacity of regionally-significant roadway facilities, and/or extend or add new rail or fixed guideway transit connections. To learn more about qualification for Major Infrastructure projects, please refer to Destination 2050, the MPO’s Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).
MPO Project Programming Policies
In November 2021, the MPO Board adopted a set of policies intended to mitigate the consequences of cost increases for projects funded through the TIP Regional Target Program (PDF). In December 2025, the MPO Board updated these policies to require project proponents to demonstrate continued design progress and provide regular updates to project cost estimates in order to remain programmed on the TIP. More information on the 2025 TIP Project Readiness Guidelines is available here (PDF).
In October 2025, the MPO Board adopted a policy requiring the regular rescoring of projects, including regional Target Program projects previously evaluated under retired scoring criteria. The first set of projects was rescored as part of the development of the FFYs 2027-31 TIP, and included projects last evaluated for inclusion in the FFYs 2021–25 and earlier TIPs. More information on the TIP Project Rescoring Policy may be found here (PDF).
Project Initiation
- Municipal TIP contacts are responsible for communicating with MPO staff about TIP project-related matters. MPO staff created several resources to guide TIP contacts and project proponents.
- To be considered for TIP funding, a project must be approved by MassDOT’s Project Review Committee. Projects must be submitted to MassDOT through the Massachusetts Project Intake Tool (MaPIT). To access MaPIT, project proponents must obtain a login for MassDOT’s GeoDOT Open Data Portal. Projects under consideration for funding through the MPO’s Community Connections and Transit Transformation Programs do not need to be initiated through MassDOT. Please refer to the MassDOT Highway project initiation guide for any initiation questions.
Resources
MassDOT Project References:
- MassDOT Project Viewer
- MassDOT Highway Project Development Tools
- Design Guides and Manuals
- Safe Routes to School Funding Programs
- MassDOT Highway Project Information Database
Federal Guidance:
FFYs 2026–30 TIP Amendments and Adjustments
Adjustment One
Adjustment One programs cost increases in the FFYs 2026 and 2027 Regional Target Program. The projects include a Cambridge Bluebike Station Replacement, the Procurement and Installation of Five Air Quality Sensors for Greenhouse Gas Monitoring, and the design of a New Bridge and Shared-Use Path Construction over Fitchburg Line at Danehy Park in Cambridge. For more information, refer to the Adjustment One (PDF) table.
Amendment One
Amendment One involves changes to the FFY 2026 program. These include the programming of several Earmark Discretionary Projects with funds not obligated in FFY 2025 and funding source changes and a cost increase for two projects in the Statewide Highway Program. The Amendment also includes changes to the Regional Target Program, consisting of a cost increase and funding source change for the Shared Use Path Connection at the Route 28/Wellington Underpass in Medford, a delay from FFY 2025 to FFY 2026 for the Stratton School Improvements in Arlington, and a cost increase for Chelsea’s Bluebike Expansion project. For more information, refer to the Amendment One (PDF) Table.
Adjustment Two
Adjustment Two consolidates three projects for the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority into a single line item and adjusted the project cost for the Cape Ann Transportation Authority’s Automatic Passenger Counting and Automatic Vehicle Location project. For more information, refer to the Adjustment Two (PDF) table.
Amendment Two
Amendment Two includes the reprogramming of federal earmarks for six projects, a change in the funding source for the planning and preliminary design of safety improvements at Route 126 and 135 in Framingham, delays for nine projects in the Statewide Highway Program, and additional changes across MBTA projects and programs. For more information, refer to the Amendment Two (PDF) table.
Adjustment Three
Adjustment Three included changes to the balance of matching funds for the Cape Ann Transportation Authority’s Automatic Passenger Counting and Automatic Vehicle Location project to move funds to the purchase of small equipment. The adjustment also increased the share of federal funding to support vehicle acquisitions by the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority. For more information, refer to the Adjustment Three (PDF) table.
Amendment Three
TIP Amendment Three includes cost increases for projects programmed in the FFY 2026 Regional Target and Earmark Discretionary programs, including delays of three projects programmed in FFY 2026, and the funding of new transit and bikeshare support projects. The amendment also includes a federal design earmark for a trail project and cost increases for three Statewide Highway Program projects. For more information, refer to the Amendment Three (PDF) table.
Federal Reporting
The MPO must publish a complete list of obligated projects within 90 days after the close of the FFY. Obligated projects are projects that have funds committed to them through the approval of a construction contract. The list includes the amount of money approved in the TIP, the total amount obligated, and the remaining balance for each project or program. The FFY 2024 Federal Obligation Report (PDF) lists the MassDOT, MBTA, CATA, and MWRTA projects within the MPO area that spent federal funds during FFY 2024 (October 1, 2023–September 30, 2024). Federal obligation reports from previous FFYs may be found in the TIP Archive.
More Information
- What is the TIP? (PDF) opens in a new window (HTML)
- ¿Qué es el Programa de mejoramiento de transporte? (PDF) abre en una nueva ventana (HTML)
- O que é o Programa de Melhoria do Transporte? (PDF) abre em uma nova janela (HTML)
- Kisa Pwogram Amelyorasyon Transpò a Ye? (PDF) louvri nan yon nouvo fenèt (HTML)
- 什么是“交通改善计划”？(PDF) 在新窗口中打开 (HTML)
- 什麼是交通改善計劃？(PDF) 在新視窗中開啟 (HTML)
- Chương Trình Cải Thiện Giao Thông Là Gì? (PDF) mở trong cửa sổ mới (HTML)
TIP Archive
Older TIP documents and the lists of projects that were advertised for construction in prior years are available in the archive.
Contact
Ethan Lapointe, Senior Transportation Planner and TIP Manager
857.702.3703
elapointe@ctps.org
Adriana Jacobsen, Transportation Planner and Capital Programming Planner
857.702.3663
ajacobsen@ctps.org