A transportation improvement program (TIP) is a United States federally mandated requirement (49 U.S.C. § 5303 (j)) for all metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs). The TIP, also known as a short-range plan, lists all transportation projects in an MPO's metropolitan planning area that seek federal transportation funding within at least a four-year horizon.
Contents
The TIP is complementary to the long-range transportation plan (LRTP), or regional transportation plan (RTP), that plans on a twenty or thirty year horizon.
Development of the TIP
MPOs must consider the following when developing a TIP:
- The MPO should involve its member governments, the State, and local public transit operators.
- The TIP should contain transportation projects consistent with the RTP.
- Investment priorities from the RTP should be reflected in the TIP.
- The public should be given an opportunity to comment on the TIP and modifications made to the TIP.
- Reasonable funding estimates should accompany projects included in the TIP.
- The TIP must be approved not only by the MPO but also the Governor.
Relationship to Statewide Planning
The TIPs of various MPOs within a state feed directly into the state transportation improvement program (STIP). Also a federal requirement (23 U.S.C. § 135 (g)), each STIP is approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in conjunction with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).