Strategic Transportation Prioritization (SPOT)

SPOT is the Strategic Prioritization Process and methodology that NCDOT uses to develop the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The process involves FAMPO, in coordination with its municipalities, to submit projects from the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) into the ranking and scoring competition in SPOT. The process involves scoring all projects in transportation mode categories including Highway, Bike and Pedestrian, Rail, Public Transportation, and Aviation. The SPOT process is competitive and FAMPO competes with other MPOs/RPOs for funding. Once the SPOT program scores and programs projects receiving Statewide funding, scoring is returned to the MPOs/RPOs to allow an opportunity for the planning organizations to assign Local Input Points (LIPs), which at the Regional Impact level constitute 30% of the projects final score. After Regional Impact Local Input Points are assigned, SPOT programs Regional Impact projects into the draft STIP and the planning organizations are given another opportunity to assign Local Input Points at the Division Needs level. At this level, LIPs make up 50% of the final score of a project. FAMPO awards LIPs based on methodology which has been approved by the TAC and selects projects which are more likely to be funded across each mode to ensure LIPs are used in the most impactful way.

SPOT 6 Project and Score Map

Prioritization Resources - NCDOT Webpage

Prioritization 6.0 (P6)

Prioritization 5.0 (P5)

Prioritization 7.0 (P7)

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  • 3-C
    Continuing Comprehensive & Cooperative Planning Process
  • AADT
    Annual Average Daily Traffic
  • AASHTO
    American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials
  • ADA
    Americans with Disabilities Act
  • AMPO
    Association of Metropolitan Organizations
  • CAC
    Citizen Advisory Committee
  • CIA
    Community Impact Assessment
  • CIP
    Capital Improvements Program
  • CMS
    Congestion Management System
  • CTP
    Comprehensive Transportation Plan/Community Transportation Program
  • DEIS
    Draft Environmental Impact Statement
  • DOT
    Department of Transportation
  • EA
    Environmental Assessments
  • EDTAP
    Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program
  • EJ
    Environmental Justice
  • EPA
    Environmental Protection Agency
  • FAA
    Federal Aviation Administration
  • FEIS
    Final Environmental Impact Statement
  • FHWA
    Federal Highway Administration
  • FONSI
    Finding of No Significant Impacts
  • FPNP
    Force Protection Needs Plan
  • FRA
    Federal Railroad Administration
  • FTA
    Federal Transit Administration
  • HOV
    High Occupancy Vehicle
  • HSTS
    Human Service Transportation System
  • IHS
    Interstate Highway System
  • ITRE
    Institute for Transportation Research & Education
  • ITS
    Intelligent Transportation System
  • LEDPA
    Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative
  • LOS
    Level of Service
  • MBE
    Minority Business Enterprise
  • MLI
    Minority Low Income
  • MOA
    Memorandum of Agreement
  • MPO
    Metropolitan Planning Organization
  • MSA
    Metropolitan Statistical Area
  • MTIP
    Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program
  • NCBOT
    North Carolina Board of Transportation
  • NCDENR
    North Carolina Department of Environmental & Natural Resources
  • NCDOT
    North Carolina Department of Transportation
  • NEPA
    National Environmental Policy Act
  • NHI
    National Highway Institute
  • NHS
    National Highway System
  • O/D
    Origin & Destination
  • PTD
    Public Transportation Division
  • RFP
    Request for Proposal
  • STIP
    State Transportation Improvement Plan
  • SPOT
    Strategic Prioritization Office of Transportation
  • STP
    Surface Transportation Program
  • TAB
    Transportation Advisory Board
  • TAZ
    Traffic Analysis Zone
  • TCC
    Transportation Coordinating Committee
  • TCM
    Traffic Control Measure
  • TDM
    Transportation Demand Management
  • TIP
    Transportation Improvement Program
  • TMA
    Transportation Management Area
  • TPB
    Transportation Policy Board
  • TSM
    Transportation System Management
  • UZA
    Urbanized Area
  • UPWP
    Unified Planning Work Program
  • VMT
    Vehicle Miles Traveled
  • VOR
    Vehicle Occupancy Rates