Cape Cod MPO endorses TIP amendment to fund Woods Hole Terminal solar and Outer Cape transit study

The Cape Cod Metropolitan Planning Organization on its virtual meeting voted to endorse Amendment No. 1 to the federal fiscal year 2024–2028 Transportation Improvement Program, directing federal transit funds to a Woods Hole Terminal solar project and adding a community‑transit grant for regional mobility planning.

Colleen Medeiros, transportation program manager at the Cape Cod Commission, said the amendment includes a Steamship Authority request to allocate $2,500,000 of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5307 passenger ferry grant money to support a Woods Hole Terminal solar‑power project. She also detailed a MassDOT community transit grant (listed in materials as 24992) awarded to Outer Cape Community Solutions Group for a regional work group and needs assessment focused on older adults and people with disabilities. Medeiros said the amendment incorporates Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority project listings for anticipated FY2024 spending and that one MassDOT comment during a 21‑day public comment period corrected the programmed year for one Steamship Authority item.

"The amendment programs the Steamship Authority's request to support the Woods Hole Terminal solar project and programs the Outer Cape community‑transit grant," Medeiros said.

Harold Mitchell moved to endorse the amendment and Peter Smith seconded. A roll‑call vote recorded by the clerk showed members present voting in favor and the MPO endorsed Amendment No. 1.

The approval does not by itself construct the solar installation or execute the grant; it programs the federal funding into the region's TIP so projects can proceed through subsequent design, procurement and construction stages and so that agencies can draw federal funds once other requirements are met. Medeiros said the Steamship Authority and the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority will provide additional project‑level details as planning and procurement proceed.

The MPO’s action allows the regional partners to move forward with project development under the amended TIP and reflects the region’s current programming priorities for transit and multimodal investments. The MPO will publish the amended TIP documents and materials on the Cape Cod Commission website for public review.