Prioritization 8.0 will play a key role in the development of the 2028-2037 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Below is a summary of completed and upcoming milestones related to P8.0.

Completed:


March 2025: MERPO P8.0 Subcommittee was formed by the TCC and TAC.

March-June 2025: RPO staff, in coordination with the P8.0 Subcommittee, developed the draft project submittal list.

July 2025: The NC Board of Transportation adopted the Statewide Prioritization Workgroup's recommendations for P8.0.

July 2025: The Mid-East RPO TCC & TAC voted to preliminarily approve the draft P8.0 project submittal list.

August 2025: A three-week (August 1-22) period was held for TCC and TAC members to provide feedback on the draft P8.0 project submittal list.

August-September 2025: RPO staff and the Prioritization 8.0 Subcommittee will reviewed feedback and used it to develop the final draft project submittal list.

September 2025: The TCC and TAC voted to adopt the Prioritization 8.0 Project Submittal List at their 9-11-2025 joint meeting.

September 2025: RPO staff submitted the adopted list of projects to NCDOT.

January-February 2026: RPO staff began developing the Mid-East RPO's draft Prioritization 8.0 Local Input Point (LIP) Assignment Methodology

March 2026: Upon recommendation by the TCC, the TAC voted unanimously to preliminarily approve the draft P8.0 LIP Assignment Methodology

March 2026: RPO staff submitted the preliminarily-approved P8.0 LIP Assignment Methodology to the NCDOT SPOT Office for review and approval.

March 2026: The NCDOT SPOT Office approved the Mid-East RPO's P8.0 LIP Assignment Methodology.

April 2026: RPO staff completed the data review process for all P8.0 project submittals.

May 2026: At their joint meeting on May 14th, the TCC and TAC held a public hearing to receive feedback on the Mid-East RPO's draft P8.0 LIP Assignment Methodology. Following this, the TAC voted unanimously to adopt the methodology.


Upcoming:


May 2026: NCDOT will release quantitative scores and Statewide Mobility-programmed projects.

June - July 2026: RPO staff will meet individually with the County Priority Officials for Beaufort, Martin and Pitt counties, the NCDOT Division 1 Priority Official, and the NCDOT Division 2 Priority Official to document their respective priority scores for projects competing in the Regional Impact category.

July 2026: RPO staff will develop draft local input point assignments for projects competing in the Regional Impact category.

July 2026: RPO staff will present the draft Regional Impact local input point assignments at the July 23rd joint TCC-TAC meeting. Following this, the TAC will adopt the Regional Impact local input point assignments.

July-August 2026: RPO staff will submit the TAC-adopted Regional Impact local input point assignments to NCDOT.

September 2026: NCDOT will release Regional Impact total scores and programmed projects.

October 2026: RPO staff will meet individually with the County Priority Officials for Beaufort, Martin and Pitt counties, the NCDOT Division 1 Priority Official, and the NCDOT Division 2 Priority Official to document their respective priority scores for projects competing in the Division Needs category.

October 2026: RPO staff will develop draft local input point assignments for projects competing in the Division Needs category.

November 2026: RPO staff will present the draft Division Needs local input point assignments at the November 12th joint TCC-TAC meeting. Following this, the TAC will adopt the Division Needs local input point assignments.

November 2026: RPO staff will submit the TAC-adopted Division Needs local input point assignments to NCDOT.