Tippecanoe technical committee approves FY2026–30 funding plan, prioritizes South Ninth, Soldier's Home and 600 North/50 West projects

Today the Tippecanoe County Technical Transportation Committee approved a recommended allocation of federal Group 2 funds for FY2026–2030 and formalized eligibility findings needed for federal funding. The committee unanimously voted to affirm Complete Streets compliance for three locally requested projects, to confirm eligibility for Carbon Reduction Program funds and for PROTECT resilience funding, and to adopt staff’s recommended constrained funding plan for the five-year TIP.

The committee’s staff presenter, Doug, framed the meeting as critical to developing the new Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). "Today is a very critical day in terms of developing of the new transportation improvement program," he said, explaining that staff had reviewed projects for Complete Streets compliance, Carbon Reduction eligibility and PROTECT eligibility before recommending allocations.

Why it matters: The MPO must program specific federal funds in the year they are available unless it negotiates a trade with another MPO. Staff reported five-year Group 2 requests totaling about $42.3 million while available Group 2 funds total roughly $32.7 million, producing a shortfall of about $9.6 million. The committee’s allocations prioritize construction and advancing projects that are already moving through design or right-of-way stages in order to maximize safety and deliverability.

What the committee approved: The committee took these formal actions: - Affirmed that Soldier's Home Road phase 3 (Calvert Road to County Road 425 North), the South/Salisbury/Navajo roundabout (identified through the NDOT safety program) and South Street phase 3 (Creasy Lane to Red Cloud Trail) meet the MPO’s Complete Streets policy; the motion passed unanimously. - Determined that the projects requesting federal funds meet at least one of the five Carbon Reduction Program activity categories (alternative fuels, energy efficiency, active transportation, demand management or technical solutions); the committee voted to confirm eligibility. - Determined that projects reviewed are eligible for PROTECT program funding (projects that address resilience to natural hazards); the committee voted to confirm eligibility. - Approved the FY2026–2030 allocation approach as discussed: staff’s constrained-year programming prioritizes construction phases (notably South Ninth Street and Soldier’s Home Road phases), programs key right-of-way and PE phases where needed, and relies on limited MPO trades (including a previously arranged $2 million trade in 2029 with the South Bend MPO) to balance a heavy 2030 demand.

Key numbers and priorities: Staff presented an annual programming ceiling of up to $6,541,470 for Group 2 funds and a categorical breakdown (STBG ≈ $4.3M/year; a 10% bicycle/pedestrian set-aside; Transportation Alternatives ≈ $1.1M; Carbon Reduction under $1M; PROTECT ≈ $178k; HSIP ≈ $797k; penalty funds ≈ $186k). With requests exceeding available funds by about $9.6M over five years, the committee agreed to prioritize projects that are advancing and to limit the number of MPO trades where feasible.

Notable project sequencing and committee decisions: Committee members debated sequencing and potential contract packaging (for example, letting a roundabout contract separately from road construction to accelerate delivery). Jeremy, referencing the MPO’s trail master plan, noted that planned trails for South Street show trail on both sides. Natalia and others flagged NEPA and right-of-way timing as constraints that could prevent moving some right-of-way work earlier. To make FY2026 financially constrained, West Lafayette representatives indicated willingness to reduce their FY2026 request by about $12,522 so the year would net to zero balance. For 2027–2028 staff recommended programming Soldier’s Home Road phase 2 ROW in 2028 and South Ninth Street construction in 2027, while anticipating a roughly $2.2M MPO trade to fully fund 2028 construction demand.

Public outreach: Staff summarized an outreach survey that found most respondents use personal vehicles and get information via internet platforms; respondents prioritized repaving/reconstructing poor-condition roads and improving dangerous intersections when asked where gas tax funds should go. Several respondents (about 168) used the survey’s "other" option and submitted suggestions such as improving railroad crossings and street lighting.

Next steps and procedural notes: The committee recorded its allocation decisions and several spreadsheet changes during the meeting to make the first cut recommendation financially constrained. Staff will incorporate the committee’s direction into the draft TIP and continue to pursue MPO trades only when necessary. The committee also voted to formally recognize a set of long-range priority projects for Tippecanoe County (including State Road 38 sidewalks/reconstruction, SR 52 reconstruction, I‑65 corridor improvements and a windbreak/snow-drift mitigation need) and received a brief APC progress report on federal fund obligations and upcoming bid lettings.

The committee took the allocation and priority actions by unanimous vote and adjourned; the chair announced the next meeting will be held in February.