Cape Cod MPO endorses TIP updates, approves Provincetown cost adjustment and releases multiple items for public comment

The Cape Cod Metropolitan Planning Organization on a recorded roll call endorsed Amendment No. 2 to the federal fiscal years 2026–2030 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Amendment No. 1 to the 2024 Regional Transportation Plan and approved several subsequent TIP actions.

At the meeting Colleen Maderos, transportation program manager at the Cape Cod Commission, told the MPO staff had updated background documentation for the canal‑bridges program and clarified project names; staff reported no public comments during the 21‑day comment period and recommended endorsement. Kevin Galligan moved to endorse the two amendments; Liz Argo seconded and the roll‑call motion passed.

Maderos then presented a TIP adjustment for the Provincetown Shankpainter Road (Route 6) project, reporting a final PS&E cost estimate of approximately $18,117,008.26, an increase of $981,005.00. Because that increase is under 10% of the total project cost, staff characterized it as an administrative adjustment and recommended using regional target funds in 2026 and 2027 so the project can be advertised for construction. Liz Argo moved to approve the adjustment; Robert Lawton seconded and the MPO approved the measure by roll call, allowing the project to proceed toward bid advertisement.

Maderos also presented Amendment No. 3 to the TIP, which includes: approximately $9 million in statewide TIP funds recently identified for the Barstow Route 132 park‑and‑ride expansion; roughly $2 million in MassDOT community transit grant awards programmed to the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority for the purchase of 15 fully accessible transit vans; and a series of Steamship Authority requests intended to position ferry and terminal projects to pursue discretionary grants (including a Woods Hole terminal amenities project). Mark, representing the Steamship Authority, described components of their package — solar canopies and EV charging, procurement of four rescue boats, replacement of hybrid/diesel‑electric 35‑foot buses, Hyannis terminal pump‑out relocation, and parking‑lot access‑control upgrades.

Kevin Galligan moved and Liz Argo seconded release of TIP Amendment No. 3 for a 14‑day public comment period; the motion passed on a roll‑call vote. The MPO separately voted to release the draft 2027–2031 TIP for a 14‑day public comment period; staff noted the draft lists regional target projects, statewide TIP programming (including more than $830 million in statewide funds dedicated to the canal bridges program), equity screening, and greenhouse‑gas analyses for selected multimodal projects.

What happens next: the TIP amendments and the 2027–2031 draft TIP are on public comment for the specified windows; staff will bring public comments back to the MPO for possible action at the May meeting. The Provincetown project will proceed with final bid preparations reflecting the updated cost estimate.

Attribution: Colleen Maderos (Cape Cod Commission) presented the amendments and adjustments; Kevin Galligan and Liz Argo sponsored the key motions recorded on roll call.