As the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO) for Whatcom County, WCOG is required to prepare a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) every year in cooperation with WCOG’s members and the Washington State Department of Transportation. The TIP provides a comprehensive six-year listing of transportation improvements within the county that are included on the regional transportation network as defined by the region’s long-range transportation plan: Way to Go, Whatcom.
The WCOG TIP also serves as a schedule of accountability to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), who annually review and certify the TIP to ensure the continuation of federal financial assistance for transportation improvements in the region.
The WCOG TIP works in concert with the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) to implement projects. Placement in the STIP is required for most transportation projects that receive federal funding.
TIP projects are separated into three distinct groups:
- Projects with secured funding anticipated and are located within the Metropolitan Planning Area.
- Projects with secured funding but are located outside the Metropolitan Planning Area.
- Unfunded projects (without dedicated funding source) for the entire WCOG region.
To view current WCOG-managed federal program projects please visit the WCOG Interactive Map.
The TIP is adopted and amended regionally through the Whatcom Policy Board that includes a two-week public comment period. The schedule below outlines all the policy board meetings for 2024.
For further information for regional projects or Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) managed projects in the Whatcom region, please visit WSDOT Local Project Search.
WCOG 2025 – 2030 TIP
The Whatcom Transportation Policy Board adopted the 2025 program on October 9, 2024.
WCOG 2025 TIP Appendix: projects details and submittal to the STIP
2025 Schedule for TIP Amendments and Administrative Modifications Coming Soon
Amendments – Policy Board Meeting (Public Hearing) |
Administrative Modifications |
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| Deadline for Notification | Project Submittal Deadline | Policy Board Meeting | WSDOT STIP Post | Project Submittal Deadline | WSDOT STIP Post |
WCOG 2024 – 2029 TIP
The Whatcom Transportation Policy Board adopted the 2024 program on October 13, 2023.
WCOG 2024 TIP Appendix: projects details and submittal to the STIP
TIP Amendments and Administrative Modifications refer to the changes made to the TIP. Amendments are for project changes that are significant enough to require a public hearing and policy board approval. Administrative modifications are less significant changes to a project that are administered by WCOG staff. For more information please refer to the current TIP document. Below is the listing of 2023 TIP Amendments followed by the schedule of Amendments and Administrative Modification dates and deadlines.
Regionally Facilitated Federal Programs
With guidance from the WCOG Transportation Policy Board (WTPB) and Transportation Technical Advisory Group (TTAG), WCOG staff facilitates a competitive selection process to award annually allocated program funds for Federal Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and Transportation Alternatives (TA) programs, as well as the recently established Carbon Reduction Program (CRP). The process is refreshed each selection cycle, typically on a biennial schedule, to ensure the application form to solicit qualifying projects advances the goals outlined in the regional plan, currently Way to Go, Whatcom, and in accordance with state and federal laws and/or policies. Projects are scored and prioritized by TTAG members through a qualitative and quantitative application process. Final project prioritization and federal funding awards are determined by the Whatcom Transportation Policy Board.
WCOG is responsible for implementing a targeted amount STBG and TA funds on an annual basis. On October 12th, 2022, the Whatcom Transportation Policy Board adopted the updated WCOG OA (Obligation Authority) Management Process that guides the effort to ensure successful delivery of STBG and TA funding.
Annual List of Federal Funding Obligations
In accordance with United States Code 23 CFR 450.332, the WCOG 2023 Obligations Listing details the projects that obligated federal funding in the Whatcom Metropolitan Planning Area in 2022.
Contact: Lethal Coe, Principal Planner, at lethal@wcog.org or (360) 685-8390.