The IMPO develops, in collaboration with its planning partners and the public, the Indianapolis Regional Transportation Improvement Program (IRTIP), which is a four-year schedule of transportation projects proposed by government and transportation agencies in the Central Indiana region using Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funds, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds, that are exchanged with Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) funds. Each year the IMPO hosts a call for projects to include projects in the TIP using IMPO-managed funds. In addition, other projects that are considered “regionally significant” (for air quality conformity purposes) are included, regardless of the funding source. The IRTIP is incorporated into the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which is developed and maintained by INDOT. Learn more.

The IMPO will release specific dates for the upcoming call for projects each spring. Typically, the call for projects will open and close in the fall.

IMPO staff will score and rank each project in relation to the MTP allocation goals and funding sources then prepare a list of projects recommended for funding. That list will be released for public comment then reviewed by the IMPO’s Transportation Technical Committee and Transportation Policy Committee which may give approval of the recommendation. The Transportation Policy Committee meeting will include a public hearing.

In August 2020, the IMPO signed an agreement with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to exchange the IMPO’s annual allocation of Federal transportation program funds for State funds. This agreement means starting in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025, the IMPO will use state funds for its IMPO-managed funding programs and is not required to use the exact eligibility criteria of the above federal programs. Nevertheless, the IMPO attempts to remain closely aligned with federal programs when determining the distribution of IMPO-managed funds. Thus, the IMPO distributes funding closely aligned to project types that could be funded by the distribution of each federal program if we were using those federal fund programs. This target may change year by year as determined by our state and federal partners. State funds are easier to use and manage and thus makes managing projects easier (and less expensive) for our member communities.

The Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) sets funding goals for the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). Currently, the MTP allocation goals are 27% pavement preservation, 20% expansion, 18% bridge preservation, 18% operations and maintenance, 10% transit, and 7% bike and pedestrian projects. The IMPO’s funding programs do not fund operations and maintenance so that percentage is proportionately distributed to the other funding types for the purposes of TIP funding.

The MTP also lists future “regionally significant” projects which are projects that could have a significant impact on air quality such as road widening. Local public agencies proposing “regionally significant” projects must have those projects listed in the MTP before they can apply for IMPO funding programs. Learn more.

All regionally significant transportation projects (those that affect air quality) including road widenings, new roadways, and new capital transit routes must be in the 2050 MTP project list, prior to applying in this year’s call for projects. If a regionally significant project is not in the proposed 2050 MTP, the application will not be accepted.

Advance Construction Advance Construction (AC) is an innovative financing tool in which the MPO allows local public agencies to accelerate transportation projects using non-federal funds while maintaining eligibility to be reimbursed with federal funds at a later date. To utilize advanced construction financing the local public agency should apply and for funding during a call for projects. Agencies should apply for planned projects. The MPO will not fund projects that have already have construction underway or completed.

A local agency intending to use advance construction financing must selected the “advance construction” option in MiTIP at the time of application. The agency will be asked to indicate which years they plan to complete construction of the project so they project may be properly modeled for air quality. The “programming information” section should be filled out with the requested reimbursement amounts and years (typically dependent on what year the call for projects is for). The agency is asked to include a letter acknowledging that the agency will fully fund the project at construction, acknowledge funding has been budgeted for the project in the correct year(s), and the agency is aware of what year it will be reimbursed. Advanced construction projects must submit for cost increases within the Federal Fund Exchange policy time-frame. Additional MPO-managed funding will not be available for cost increases past that time period.

AC itself is not a funding category and does not provide additional federal funding. As no federal funds are actually obligated when in AC status, these funds are not subtracted from available revenues when determining constraint. When the MPO is ready to seek federal reimbursement of these funds, typically upon receiving an invoice for work completed, a conversion from AC to federal obligation is requested.

You can contact IMPO programming staff with any questions about the TIP. For more information on contacting us check out our staff page.