Transportation Planning Process

MDOT has jurisdiction over only 8.1 percent of the state's road miles, and local agencies control the rest. MDOT guides the process and selects projects for its capital road and bridge construction/reconstruction program. Projects are selected primarily with a view to meeting pavement and bridge performance goals established in 1997 within federal constraints, and statewide geographic distribution. MPOs coordinate local projects but do not select projects for the state plan. The state transportation commission approves the five-year plan as a broad planning document, but does not select or question specific projects.

Legislative Role in Transportation Planning

Legislative involvement is very limited. The Legislature has made efforts to designate specific projects and to require legislative approval of the five-year MDOT plan. These efforts have largely failed, and the Legislature neither selects projects nor approves the five-year plan.