In August, the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) at CMPDD approved two documents that shape transportation in the Jackson metro area: the 2027–2030 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the 2027–2028 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP).
The TIP: where federal transportation dollars go
The TIP is a four-year plan showing how federal transportation funds will be invested in the region. CMPDD develops it with local governments, JTRAN and the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT). It puts the region’s long-range Metropolitan Transportation Plan into action, with projects such as:
- Reconstruction, maintenance and operation of major roads and intersections
- Bridge repair
- Public transit maintenance
- Bicycle and pedestrian improvements
Federal rules require an update at least every four years; CMPDD usually updates it every two to keep up with changing priorities, schedules and funding. The new TIP covers October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2030.
The UPWP: the planning work ahead
The UPWP lays out the transportation planning that CMPDD (as the MPO) and JTRAN (as the public transit provider) will do over the next two years, October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2028. It lists who will do each task, when, what it will produce and how it’s funded, across four program areas:
- Program Administration
- System Planning
- Data Collection and Analysis
- Support Activities
Both documents are available in the Transportation section of cmpdd.org.
This story first appeared in the October 2026 issue of Central Update, CMPDD’s quarterly newsletter. Find this issue and past editions on our Publications page.