Summary
Staff said INDOT central office has accepted many proposed functional classification changes for Tippecanoe County; the MPO plans to prepare the formal application and seek signature approvals from mayors and the county commissioner representative once remaining questions are resolved.
MPO staff updated the board on proposed changes to the federal functional classification of roads within Tippecanoe County and said INDOT central office has largely incorporated the MPO’s recommendations into draft maps.
Doug told the committee the submitted maps use numeric codes for functional class (for example, 7 = local road, 6 = minor collector) and that most of the MPO’s suggested changes were reflected in INDOT’s edits. He said a handful of segments required follow‑up and that staff will return the maps to the committee for review before filing the formal two‑page application and required signatory letter(s). The signature packet must include the MPO and the cities’ mayors plus the county commissioner representative.
Board members asked how roads that are under construction or planned (for example, Park East Boulevard and 425 North) are handled. Doug said the MPO included roads expected to be built “within the next couple years” in the submittal so those segments will be part of the proposed functional‑class system. He explained that federal funding eligibility is linked to a road’s federal functional class (major collector or higher), except for certain safety funds, and said staff can request case‑by‑case reclassifications later if traffic volumes or built conditions warrant it.
Why it matters: Functional class determines which federal funding programs are eligible for improvements on a roadway. Including roads that are near construction or will be built soon can affect future grant eligibility and project programming.
What’s next: Staff will finalize the map changes, circulate them earlier to committee members for review, prepare the formal application and obtain required jurisdictional signatures prior to submittal to INDOT central office.
