MDOT
MDOT’s draft 2026-2030 Five-Year Transportation Program (5YTP) and interactive map have been approved by the State Transportation Commission and are ready for public comment through Sept. 1 (see above and watch overview below).
The 5YTP contains a list of planned projects for the MDOT Highway Program (state-maintained roads, bridges and facilities), as well as information on the public transportation, rail, and aeronautics programs, according to MDOT. The document’s aim is to help MDOT connect its long-range goals and strategies for asset management with project programming and monitoring of performance measures and budget targets.
According to MDOT, the 5YTP is required to be delivered to the Michigan Legislature by March 1 each following calendar year; serves as a foundation for the biennial State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP); and aids in the development of the annual state budget.
Highlights of this year’s 5YTP include:
- $15.2 billion in anticipated state and federally funded investments with $10.6 billion in Highway Program projects focused primarily on repairing and rebuilding MDOT roads and bridges, with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s $3.5 billion Rebuilding Michigan program contributing $31 million to that total in 2026; $3.7 billion for the Public Transportation Program, covering local bus, intercity bus, marine passenger, vanpooling, port, freight rail, and passenger rail programs; and $900 million for the Aeronautics Program, including federal, state and local aviation programs.
- A list of trunkline Highway Program construction projects by county planned for state and/or federal funding over the next five years.
- Highlights on MDOT initiatives that relate to transportation equity and inclusion, transportation resiliency, complete streets/mobility, and upcoming enhancements to the capital program development process.
As part of the 5YTP, MDOT’s Passenger, Freight Rail and Port Program is estimated at approximately $809 million. “This reflects state and federal funds to preserve and enhance Michigan’s intercity passenger rail services and safety at railroad crossings as well as promote economic development,” MDOT said. Programs rely primarily on CTF revenue as federal rail funding is available only through competitive opportunities, it noted. Specific investments include:
- Amtrak operating support and equipment for three Michigan routes.
- Maintenance and capital investments in the Kalamazoo-Dearborn corridor to facilitate and maintain passenger train speeds of up to 110 mph.
- Capital projects, including track curve modification and signal work; the study of a new intercity passenger connection in Battle Creek; and preliminary engineering and environmental review for the replacement of four bridges.
- Plans for the existing Wolverine, Blue Water and Pere Marquette corridors and a potential new corridor serving Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit.
- Local crossings with 40-60 surface improvements and warning device enhancements at 30-40 locations, as well as state trunkline crossing improvements and/or device upgrades at 20-25 locations annually.
- Improvements on the 530-mile state-owned freight-only system, including capacity, safety and rail enhancements, support for new/expanding businesses, and replacement of the Manistee River Bridge.
- Detroit-Wayne County Port Authority administrative and marketing expenditures.
Following are the options for commenting on the Draft 2026-2030 5YTP:
Visit the 5YTP interactive map and leave a project-specific comment.
- Leave a general comment using the general comment form.
- Send a comment by email to MDOT-Five-Year-Program@Michigan.gov.
- Mail a comment to: Michigan Department of Transportation, Program Development Unit, Five-Year Transportation Program, 425 W. Ottawa St., P.O. Box 30050, Lansing, MI 48909.
NCDOT
The public comment period for what projects should be included in NCDOT’s next 10-year transportation plan (2028-2037) is open through Aug. 29.
With a goal of “increasing safety, reducing congestion and promoting economic growth,” NCDOT said it uses data and local input to determine which projects get funded in the 10-year State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) based on a specific formula created by the Strategic Transportation Investments law. It is also said to allow NCDOT to use its funding more efficiently to improve North Carolina’s infrastructure and support job creation and a higher quality of life.
The public can send project suggestions through a short, interactive online survey or attend one of the weeklong drop-in sessions at NCDOT offices across the state. The online survey and in-person meeting dates can be found on NCDOT’s website.
“Projects can be as large-scale as an interstate improvement or as small as a new turn lane or intersection improvement and can be for any of NCDOT’s six modes of transportation—highway, aviation, bicycle and pedestrian, ferry, public transportation and rail,” according to NCDOT, which noted that comments may not include maintenance-related projects, such as patching potholes, resurfacing, or ditches, since NCDOT uses a different method to prioritize those projects.
Projects can cover freight movement (such as improving the main routes used by trucks, trains, and ports so goods move smoothly and on time though better highway interchanges, safer highway/rail grade crossings, and upgraded port facilities); multi-modal options (such as expanding travel choices beyond driving alone—like bus and rail service, bike lanes, sidewalks, and rideshares); accessibility and connectivity; congestion relief; safety; and economic development.
NCDOT said it will also collect input from local transportation planning organizations and its own staff throughout the state as it puts together the list of potential projects.
Project scores and a draft list of projects identified for funding at the Statewide Mobility level—the first of three tiers in the project prioritization process—are expected to be released by spring 2026. Additional public comment periods regarding Regional Impact- and Division Needs-level projects will be held later in 2026.
NCDOT said the 2028-2037 draft STIP is expected to be released in early 2027, followed by adoption by the Board of Transportation that summer.
CTDOT
CTDOT has published its second-annual Customer Experience (CX) Action Plan Progress Report (see above). Actions are categorized into three areas: “improved service”; “easier to use”; and “enhanced accessibility and comfort.”
According to CTDOT, progress made in the past year includes notable improvements on the following action items:
- New microtransit options to fill the gaps in fixed-route local bus service and rail service improvements that can get riders from New Haven to Grand Central in under 90 minutes.
- More than 6,000 trips using contactless fare technology during the pilot of Tap & Ride on select transit buses.
- Rail station ADA accessibility improvements for eight stations statewide, including the start of construction at the relocated Naugatuck Rail Station.
CTDOT unveiled its first CX Action Plan in June 2023, which was drafted after statewide public outreach throughout 2022. The Action Plan outlines programs, policies, and investments to improve bus and rail services for all of Connecticut. In the CX Action Plan, CTDOT committed to providing annual updates on progress.
