Prioritization/STIP Projects

Strategic Transportation Investments Prioritization Process

The Strategic Transportation Investments (STI), also know as Prioritization is how North Carolina prioritizes and funds transportation projects, for all modes, to ensure they provide the maximum benefit for our state. This formula enables NCDOT to use existing revenues more efficiently to improve transportation infrastructure as well as create jobs to boost the economy. The formula was developed because the state gas tax, highway use tax, and DMV fees can no longer provide enough funding to build all of the transportation improvements needed to attract new industries, reduce congestion, and connect citizens to new opportunities in North Carolina.

This formula is data-driven and requires local input from NCDOT Divisions 1 and 4, as well as the Peanut Belt RPO. All transportation projects are broken down into three (3) categories: Statewide, Regional, and Division.

  • Statewide Projects receive 40% of the available revenue over 10 years. The project selection process is 100% data-driven or based on facts such as benefit/cost, congestion, economic competitiveness, and safety. Additional input is not accepted from NCDOT Divisions 1 and 4 or the Peanut Belt RPO in the ranking of Statewide projects.
  • Regional Projects receive 30% of the available revenue based on the regional population. Peanut Belt RPO projects in Region A compete with projects in NCDOT Divisions 1 and 4. The process is 70% data-driven with rankings from the Peanut Belt RPO and NCDOT Divisions 1 and 4 making up the remaining 30%.
  • Division Projects receive 30% of the available revenue, which is shared equally between the 14 NCDOT Divisions. The process is 50% data- driven with rankings from the Peanut Belt RPO and NCDOT Divisions 1 and 4 making up the remaining 50%.

Prioritization 8.0

P8.0, the eighth round of Prioritization, began in the fall of 2024, you can view the most recent schedule of P8.0 activities here.

The Peanut Belt RPO TAC and TCC approved the following list of project for submittal at their September 18th meeting

Local Input Points

The SPOT office within NCDOT calculates quantitative scores for all projects in the Statewide, Regional, and Division categories. These scores are released to the MPOs, RPOs, and Divisions to assist with their local input point assignments. Statewide scores are 100% quantitative and these projects do not receive local input points. Statewide projects funded are programmed into the new STIP, any other Statewide projects cascade to the Regional category for scoring, and any Regional projects that are not funded cascade to the Division category for funding.

Quantitative scores for projects submitted by the PBRPO are shown by mode

P8 Quantitative Scores- Aviation

P8 Quantitative Scores- Bike/Ped

P8 Quantitative Scores- Highway

P8 Quantitative Scores- Rail

RPO’s and Divisions assign local input points to Regional and Division projects using an approved methodology. The Peanut Belt RPO TAC approved local input methodology can be found here.

NCDOT 2026-2035 Current STIP (Adopted by NCDOT BOT July 9, 2025)