President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, i.e. economic stimulus legislation, on February 17, 2009.  The legislation provides funding for transportation projects including highways, transit, rail, airports, enhancements, etc.  The transportation funds are being distributed through the agencies within the U.S. Department of Transportation, primarily the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration.  The DCHC MPO must approve all projects using these funds by adding them to the FY 2009-2015 Transportation Improvement Program.

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a seven-year funding document for bicycle, pedestrian, highway, rail, and public transportation projects.  Every two years, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro (DCHC) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) approves its Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP), and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) produces the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).