Title
Vote to endorse the Preliminary SPOT 8 Project Submittal List provided by the Central Pines RPO
Abstract
Introduction & Background: SPOT 8.0 refers to the prioritization process that guides the development of the 2028-2037 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), the main vehicle for improvement funding in the state as set by the State Transportation Investments (STI) Law.
Discussion & Analysis: The N.C. Department of Transportation's long-range transportation plan - called the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) - identifies the construction funding and schedule for state transportation projects over 10 years. NCDOT updates the STIP approximately every two years. The Strategic Transportation Investments law mandates ongoing evaluation and improvement to ensure that the process responds to North Carolina's diverse needs. This is accomplished by a prioritization work group consisting primarily of professional engineers and transportation planners. The data-driven process to update the STIP is called Strategic Prioritization. The current cycle to update the STIP for the years 2028-2037 is called Prioritization 8.0 or P8.0. It started in summer 2025 when NCDOT divisions and local planning organizations gathered initial public input on projects, which were then submitted for evaluation and scoring.
The Central Pines Rural Planning Organization (RPO) has requested that local jurisdictions seek endorsement of the draft project submittal lists from their respective Boards. The Chatham County Transportation Advisory Committee reviewed the proposed project list during its July 15 meeting. This agenda item provides the Board of Commissioners an opportunity to formally endorse the list of projects for consideration and submittal to the Central Pines RPO. Endorsed projects will be forwarded to the State Prioritization Office of Transportation (SPOT) for future scoring and evaluation.
How does this relate to the Comprehensive Plan: SPOT 8 is the latest round of the Strategic Prioritization Process managed by the NCDOT’s Strategic Prioritization Office of Transportation. It determines which transportation projects across North Carolina are prioritized for funding in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for 2028-2037. The process includes:
• Project submittals (July-September 2025)
• Scoring and evaluation (October 2025-April 2026)
• Assignment of local input points by MPOs/RPOs (mid to late 2026)
• Final programming and STIP adoption (2027)
While Chatham County does not directly build or maintain roads, it plays a critical role in planning and coordination. The Chatham County Planning Department collaborates with NCDOT and the Central Pines RPO to ensure local priorities are reflected in regional and state plans. The county’s Comprehensive Plan outlines long-term transportation goals, such as improving multimodal access, safety, and connectivity, which guides the selection of projects submitted to SPOT 8. The Chatham County Transportation Advisory Committee also provides comments and recommendations to the draft list to help align local needs with regional and state priorities. Projects from Chatham County that are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan are more likely to be supported by local input points during SPOT 8. Chatham’s participation in the SPOT 8 process will ensure local goals such as sustainability, equity, and growth management are advanced.
Budgetary Impact: N/A
Recommendation/Motion: Motion to endorse the Preliminary SPOT 8 Project Submittal List provided by the Central Pines RPO in collaboration with county staff, municipal staff, and NCDOT staff.