Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) - 1520

To maintain a Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) based on an objective project selection prioritization process and to program for funding the most cost-effective and environmentally sound transportation projects based upon policies and actions identified in the Regional Transportation Plan.

MCAG is designated as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Merced region. In that capacity MCAG is required by Federal law to prepare a Federal Transportation Improvement Program to indicate how the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) will be implemented. With the enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, the subsequent SAFETEALU, and the Federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the FTIP is subject to provisions for project selection and funding. Of primary consideration is the provision that the MPO develop a project nomination and selection process that will enable the most cost-effective projects to be programmed. The FTIP identifies projects programmed regionally for funding under several programs in the SAFETEA-LU including Surface Transportation Program (STP), Hazard Elimination and Safety Program (HES), Highway Bridge Program (HBP), Transportation Enhancement Activity (TEA), Federal Transit Administration Section 5307 and 5311 Programs, Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality Program (CMAQ), Regional Improvement Program (RIP) Interregional Improvement Program (IIP) and other federal transportation funding programs.

Prior to adopting the FTIP, MCAG must prepare an air quality conformity analysis and find that implementing the FTIP will meet all applicable air quality requirements. MCAG last adopted the 2009 Interim Federal Transportation Improvement Program in July 2009 and processed a formal amendment with an air quality conformity analysis in Jan. 2009. An FTIP is required to be updated every two years.