Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP)

Every two years, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) adopts a new Fund Estimate, which comprises of anticipated Federal and State revenues for the next five years. This adopted Fund Estimate includes County Shares, referred to as Regional Improvement Program (RIP) monies, which could be used by Regional Transportation Planning Agencies (RTPA's) to propose the financing of regional transportation projects in their Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) documents. RTPA's are required to submit their adopted RTIP's to the CTC by December 15th for programming consideration and possible inclusion in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Only projects programmed in the STIP may request funding allocations for implementation.

Being the designated RTPA for the Merced Region, MCAG is responsible for preparing and submitting the adopted RTIP proposal to the CTC for programming consideration.

DOCUMENTS

• August 19, 2021 - Concept report presented to the Board (PDF)
• August 27, 2021 - Draft 2020 RTIP (PDF)
• August 27, 2021 - Public Notice (PDF)
• Final 2022 RTIP (adopted by MCAG Board on 10-21-2021)

STIP FUND ESTIMATE

At the March 24th meeting, the CTC adopted the 2021 Mid-Cycle STIP Share Distribution of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) funds. The CRRSAA STIP share for the Merced Region is $1,561,898. MCAG proposes to program to Phase 1 of the Pioneer Road Improvements Project for construction and to also program the available PPM.

The CTC adopted the 2022 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Fund Estimate (FE) on August 18, 2021. From the 2022 STIP FE, Merced Region’s Target Share is $5,968,000. This Target Share includes the $496,000 of unprogrammed, carryover County Share (RIP) balance. MCAG proposes to only program the available PPM and have the remainder carryover to the next STIP cycle.

PUblic Participation Process

The projects considered in the 2022 RTIP were consistent with the adopted MCAG 2018 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), a comprehensive 25-year plan for the region's transportation systems. The RTP included a prioritized list of highest-priority, regionally-significant projects.

To kick off the development process, staff prepares the 2022 RTIP concept for presentation to the MCAG committees and board. The RTIP concept addresses the background, process, draft fund estimate (expected County Share / region’s programming capacity), schedule, and possible projects (status, costs, and prior actions). The RTIP concept provides the following information:

• What is the RTIP?
• What is the RTIP Fund Estimate?
• What are the prerequisite STIP requirements for programming?
• What are the possible projects, and their outlooks?
• What funding opportunities exist, such as partnering with Caltrans?
• What is the schedule for developing (and for submitting) the RTIP?
• What is the schedule for the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)?
• Given available funding and circumstances, what is the staff recommendations for the RTIP programming proposal?

A RTIP development flowchart is included with the concept to visually depict the overview process for better understanding.

Following the MCAG Board’s direction, staff prepares the draft RTIP document, which gets released for a 30-day public review and comment period. This Draft 2022 RTIP proposal gets circulated through the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), the Technical Review Board (TRB), and the MCAG Board for review and comments.

A public hearing is scheduled to receive public comments. In preparing the Final 2022 RTIP, staff reviews comments and addresses them as appropriate. 

The Final 2022 RTIP will again be brought before the CAC and the TRB. In October, the MCAG board will take action on the Final 2022 RTIP.

Development Schedule

PROPOSAL FOR PROGRAMMING

PIONEER ROAD WIDENING PROJECT

Phase 1 of the Pioneer Road project is the Pioneer/Ortigalita Intersection Signalization and Traffic Flow Improvements Project. Phase 1 includes installing a new traffic signal, widening the approaches to four lanes, constructing raised medians, adding left and right turn pockets, and installing ADA curb ramps.

The total project cost for Phase 1 is $5,487,000. For construction, the cost is $4,583,898 and is partly funded with the region’s $1,300,000 Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ). MCAG proposes to program the CRRSAA STIP Share of $1,483,898 ($1,561,898 – 78,000) in FY 2023/24 to supplement the cost for constructing Phase 1.

MCAG proposes to program the available PPM from the region’s 2022 STIP Target Share. The balance of the Target Share will be carried over to the next STIP cycle

PPM

MCAG proposes the programming of $78,000 CRRSAA PPM in FY 2022/23. 

With the region’s 2022 STIP Target Share, MCAG proposes the programming of available PPM: $137,000 PPM in FY 2025/26 and $137,000 PPM in FY 2026/27.