TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP)

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the agreed-upon four-year list of specific projects for which federal funds are anticipated. Required by federal law, the TIP represents the transportation improvement priorities of the Syracuse Metropolitan Area. The list of projects is multi-modal and includes highway and public transit projects, as well as bicycle, pedestrian, and freight-related projects.

The TIP also represents the translation of recommendations from the SMTC’s Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and UPWP into a short-term program of tangible transportation improvements. All TIP projects are evaluated to assure consistency with the community goals and objectives established in the LRTP. The majority of projects in the TIP are aimed at increasing the efficiency and safety of the existing transportation system, rather than construction of new facilities. In addition, all TIP projects must be in conformance with air quality requirements. Representing the culmination of the transportation planning process, the TIP signifies a consensus among local, state and regional officials as to what improvements to pursue, thereby establishing eligibility for federal funding.

Who Participates in the TIP Process?

Many agencies directly participate in the TIP development process.  They include member governments, operating agencies, and state and federal agencies.  Other groups, the business community, and the general public become involved through the SMTC public participation process in addition to their involvement at the municipal and county level.  This multiplicity of jurisdictions and agencies in the SMTC study area necessitates a high degree of coordination during the TIP development process.

IPP Application Files

  (Adobe PDF) (This document opens in a new window.)
Noted download times for PDF and ZIP files are based on a 56k modem.

IPP Application instructions   (Adobe PDF) (This document opens in a new window.)

The files so noted below are in Zip archive files. Click on a link and save the file to your computer, then open the archive to obtain the application file(s). Save the file(s) to your computer before using. If you have any questions regarding the applications or have difficulty accessing the files, call Mario Colone at 422-5716 x306, or send an email.

Download all IPP Application files (zip file)
174 kb:  24 seconds

Download applications individually:

Application for Air Quality Projects (zip file)

Application for Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects (zip file)

Application for Bridge Projects (zip file)

Application for Highway Projects (zip file)

Application for Safety Improvement Projects (zip file)

Application for Public Transit Projects (zip file)

View the TIP Guidebook
3,093 kb: 7 minutes, 19 seconds  

View Generic Costs for Locally Administered Federal Aid Projects
1,141 kb: 2 minutes, 42 seconds

How are Projects Selected for the TIP?

1. In many cases, municipal planners and engineers generate lists of potential improvements based on their needs, analyses, previous studies, and citizen input.

2. The local proposals are then reviewed at the city, county, and regional level in consultation with the NYS Department of Transportation.

3. Once each city, county, and regional agency has developed its own list of projects and priorities, it presents this list to the SMTC, where the SMTC Capital Projects Committee (CPC) reviews it each proposal before making recommendations to the SMTC Planning and Policy Committees.  The CPC seeks to ensure that the highest priorities of the Syracuse Metropolitan Area are being addressed within the limits of available resources.

4. Finally, the SMTC provides the forum through which its Policy Committee members determine the TIP.  After considering the recommendations of the CPC and the public comment, the SMTC Policy Committee determines the final list of projects, and adopts the three-year TIP for advancement.