What Is The TIP?

The TIP is the agreed-upon list of specific priority projects. The TIP lists all projects for which federal funds are anticipated, along with non-federally funded projects that are regionally significant. The TIP represents the transportation improvement priorities of the region and is required by federal law, the most recent of which is the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, or TEA-21. The list is multi-modal; in addition to the more traditional highway and public transit projects, it includes bicycle, pedestrian, and freight-related projects as well.

The TIP shows estimated costs and schedule by project phase. The TIP not only lists the specific projects, but also documents the anticipated schedule and cost for each project phase (preliminary engineering, final design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction). Inclusion of a project phase in the TIP means that it is seriously expected to be implemented during the TIP time period.

The TIP covers four years in Pennsylvania and five years in New Jersey. In Pennsylvania, the TIP is updated every other year. In New Jersey, it is updated annually.

The TIP may be changed after it is adopted. Under the provisions of federal law and regulation, the approved TIP can be modified or amended in various ways in order to add new projects, delete projects, advance projects into the first year, and accommodate cost and phase of work changes or major scope changes to a project.

The TIP is financially constrained. The list of projects in the TIP must be financially constrained to the amount of funds that are expected to be available. In order to add projects to the TIP, others must be deferred to maintain this financial constraint. As a result, the TIP is not a wish list; competition between projects for a spot on the TIP clearly exists.

The TIP is authorization to seek funding. A project's presence in the TIP represents a critical step in the authorization of funding to a project. It does not, however, represent a commitment of funds, an obligation to fund, or a grant of funds.