Across the United States, government officials in all jurisdictions are quietly publishing multi-year Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs) — roadmaps that translate long-range community visions into shovel-ready projects. A typical CIP spans four to ten years, ranking projects, setting schedules, and identifying funding sources. The first year of each plan generally becomes the municipality’s official capital budget, authorizing the investments that will shape the coming year.
Although there is no national registry tracking these plans, CIPs are now standard practice across most medium and large jurisdictions, and they are required by law in many states. These multi-year documents serve as blueprints for public investment, specifying what will be built, when, and how each project will be financed. Because they outline project costs, funding sources, and construction timelines, CIPs remain one of the most reliable indicators of where and when public dollars will actually be spent.
At Strategic Partnerships, our Research Team monitors and compiles CIP data from across the country — an effort that provides a unique vantage point into nationwide capital priorities. The information reveals how communities are renewing infrastructure, managing growth, and advancing sustainability initiatives while navigating rising costs and tighter funding conditions.
Today’s column highlights a selection of upcoming projects that will depend on public-private collaboration. Most are still in planning or pre-design phases, leaving ample time for firms to evaluate and prepare pursuit strategies.
Officials at the city of Lynchburg, Virginia, plan to make significant improvements to Timberlake Road in the city’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The city council adopted the 2026 operating budget and the CIP on June 30. It is listed as a $30.4 million project.
The city’s five-year CIP now serves as a plan for funding and scheduling capital purchases, construction projects, maintenance, and acquisitions. City departments identify project needs and develop preliminary scopes; this process begins in September each year. Projects outlined in the CIP are evaluated by the city manager’s office for consistency with another approved document — the city’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan before final approval.
The first year of the CIP functions as the city manager’s proposed capital budget, which is reviewed and once adopted, it authorizes the expenditure of city funds for the approved projects.
Lynchburg maintains 821 lane miles of roadways and 78 bridges or major culverts. Transportation projects account for about 25% of the city’s $508 million estimate of capital needs through 2030. The Timberlake Road project will upgrade intersections and crossovers along one of Lynchburg’s busiest corridors to improve traffic flow and safety. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) identified the corridor as a priority through an annual study, which targets improvements that are needed for the region’s transportation network. Construction on the Timberlake Road project is expected to begin in the summer of 2028 and it will be funded jointly by the city and VDOT.
Officials at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) in Ypsilanti, Michigan, have plans to launch a $42.5 million project that will renovate and expand the campus’ Roosevelt Hall. This project is the second phase of a broader $82.5 million master plan to modernize and consolidate the university’s growing engineering, cybersecurity, and technology programs.
The project plan is described within the university’s fiscal year (FY) 2026 Capital Outlay Plan which functions as a comprehensive planning document. It contains facility condition assessments, deferred maintenance needs, project descriptions, and a five-year capital plan that begins in FY 2026.
Michigan law requires higher education institutions and state agencies to submit five-year capital outlay plans each year. This plan was authorized for a $30 million funding allocation.
The 75,639-square-foot Roosevelt Hall will undergo a major renovation and a 10,000-square-foot expansion. The work will replace all major building systems, upgrade mechanical, electrical, and IT infrastructure, and reconfigure interiors for flexible, technology-rich learning environments. Planned spaces include additional labs and student collaboration areas.
Programming for the project is complete, and schematic design work is now underway. Construction is slated to begin in late FY 2027.
A CIP for the city of Phoenix outlines a major $100 million renovation project at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The project will renovate and update Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport’s Terminal 4 public parking garage. Work will include changing numerous joint seals, repair of expansion joints, and addressing deterioration caused by leaks and preventing future leaks. To increase service life, enhance user safety, and reduce long-term maintenance costs, necessary repairs will be made to safeguard structural components and improve drainage.
The city of Phoenix owns and operates the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport system, and the upcoming project is being designed for long term stability and usage. No date for construction solicitations has been announced.
The Texas State University System (TSUS) manages capital planning through a six-year CIP that identifies, prioritizes, and schedules all major construction and renovation projects for all the institution’s campuses. Officials from each campus submit project proposals and funding requests based on facility needs, enrollment growth, and master plan goals. The TSUS Office of Capital Projects reviews and consolidates the submissions, groups them by program year and funding readiness to send to the Board of Regents for approval.
Lamar University officials in Beaumont, Texas, have approved plans for a $70 million comprehensive campus-wide renovation initiative. Various buildings throughout campus will be modernized to accommodate a growing student population. Facilities slated for renovation include the engineering buildings, administration offices, and the student affairs complex. The improvements will focus on upgrading mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems while also enhancing energy efficiency. Interior spaces will be reconfigured to support modern learning and administrative functions, with updated classrooms, offices, and student service areas. The work will be designed to provide upgrades and also to extend the lifespan of core campus buildings and create a safer, more efficient environment for students, faculty, and staff.
With the planning process nearing completion, the design work is expected to begin soon. Solicitation documents for construction firms will likely be released in early 2028.
As capital planning documents continue to expand in scope and sophistication, CIPs offer more than just project lists—they reveal priorities, partnerships, and the direction of future public investment. For private-sector firms, early awareness of these plans provides a clear competitive edge. The projects outlined today represent just a fraction of the nation’s coming infrastructure wave, but each planned project reflects a growing commitment to modernization, resilience, and innovation in public service delivery.
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels
