Planning for Transportation Improvements

If you’ve driven around Cape Cod recently, you’ve probably encountered orange barrels and cones marking construction zones at busy intersections. These projects, such as the reconstruction of Route 28 and Yarmouth Road in Hyannis, upgrades to Route 151 in Mashpee, and improvements at the intersection of Route 6 and Main Street in Wellfleet, aim to improve safety and traffic flow for everyone who travels the region.

Moving a transportation project from concept to completion takes time and teamwork. The Cape Cod Commission guides these efforts, with a staff of transportation planners supporting two regional organizations: the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Joint Transportation Committee (JTC). These bodies help set priorities and ensure that state and federal funds support the right local improvements.

A Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is a federally required regional group that plans how federal transportation dollars are spent in areas with 50,000 or more people. While the term “metropolitan” might suggest a big city, in this context, it simply means a region where towns are closely connected by people’s daily activities, like commuting, shopping, or going to school. Established by Congress in 1962, MPOs ensure that transportation investments are made through a collaborative, data-driven process involving local governments, transportation agencies, and the public. This process helps align spending decisions with a shared regional vision.

The Cape Cod Joint Transportation Committee (JTC) is the main advisory group for regional transportation planning. The JTC reviews plans and project proposals, evaluates the region’s transportation needs, and coordinates efforts among local, state, and federal partners. As an advisor to the MPO, the JTC makes recommendations on key planning documents, such as the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and related studies.

Cape Cod Commission staff support the MPO and JTC by providing technical analysis and administrative coordination. By working together, transportation investments reflect regional goals, public input, regulatory requirements, and long-term objectives for mobility, safety, and sustainability.

Each year, the MPO, guided by input from the JTC, Commission staff, and the public, creates documents that steer transportation funding on Cape Cod. The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a five-year list of projects funded by both state and federal sources. The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) outlines the planning studies and data collection that Commission staff will undertake in the coming year. These studies often focus on safety, corridors, bicycle planning, and climate resiliency, helping shape future improvements across Cape Cod.

Improving transportation infrastructure goes beyond making travel easier. Decision-makers focus on projects that increase safety for everyone, ensure access for people with disabilities or limited mobility, serve low-income communities, and account for climate resiliency now and in the future.

Public input is essential, since travelers are directly affected by both improvements and construction. Residents are encouraged to attend monthly JTC and MPO meetings, as well as other public events held throughout the planning process.

To learn more about the transportation planning process, visit www.capecodcommission.org/transportation