Program Summary
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Transportation
Improvement Program Program Summary |
The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a three-year priority list of federally funded transportation projects to be built within Clark County, which is regularly updated (see list below). In addition to federally funded transportation projects, the TIP includes a listing of all other transportation projects that utilize state and/or local funding sources. The TIP must be consistent with the Metropolitan Transportation Plan and meet clean air standards. In order for transportation projects to receive federal funds they must be included in the TIP.
The TIP is developed by Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council (RTC) through a cooperative and coordinated process involving local jurisdictions, the Washington State Department of Transportation and C-TRAN. RTC is required by federal law to maintain a three-year TIP, that is updated at least every two years. As the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the region, RTC selects and prioritizes projects programmed in the TIP.
Current Projects
The current State Transportation Improvement Program is available as a searchable web database. The State Transportation Improvement Program is a compilation of Transportation Improvement Programs from across Washington State. From this page you will be able to locate regionally significant projects by agency, MPO/RTPO, amendment number, or by PIN number (WSDOT).
The Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council (RTC) invites public agencies in the Clark County region to submit applications for available federal Surface Transportation Program-Transportation Management Area (STP-TMA) funds and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds.
The STP-TMA and CMAQ funds are allocated to the Clark County MPO area, through RTC. The STP funds can be used for a wide range of transportation purposes. The CMAQ can be used for transportation projects that will contribute to meeting the attainment of national air quality standards, within the Clark County Vancouver Air Quality Maintenance Area (basically the Vancouver, Camas, Washougal urban areas). For CMAQ funds, priority will be given for diesel retrofit projects and programs and other cost-effective emission reduction activities, and cost effective congestion mitigation activities that provide air quality benefits.
These funds require a minimum 13.5% local match. In order to receive federal funds, the applicant must have either a ‘Certification Acceptance’ (CA) status or have a CA agency agree to manage their project. Project applications are due to RTC on Friday, June 27, 2008. For more detailed information read the Regional Transportation Advisory Committee memo (130K PDF).
Under the federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA21), RTC is responsible for approving the programming and prioritization of projects in the region's three-year TIP. RTC approves projects to be programmed and selected for regionally-managed federal funding programs. These programs include the Surface Transportation Program (STP), Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ), and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) program. The STP program is flexible and can be used for highway, transit and planning projects. The CMAQ program is used for projects which improve air quality. The FTA program is used for transit-related purposes.
Since the need for transportation improvements exceed the available revenue, projects must be reviewed, ranked, and selected for federal funding. The TIP development process approach as adopted in July 1993 by the RTC Board of Directors includes the following steps:
- Project screening for consistency with local land use plans and the Metropolitan Transportation Plan;
- Evaluation and ranking of projects by an adopted set of needs criteria;
- Project selection; and
- Programming of projects.
- The first step of the regional process involves the submittal of the RTC Federal Project Summary Application. Public agencies must ensure that all regionally funded projects are consistent with the Metropolitan Transportation Plan and local land use plans. RTC staff conducts a screening to ensure that all regional projects are consistent with Metropolitan Transportation Plan and local land use plans.
- Project proposals are evaluated and ranked by RTC staff per the adopted regional needs criteria. The Regional Transportation Advisory Committee and RTC Board review and recommend the project rankings. Regional needs criteria are policy based and have been established by the RTC Board. Regional needs criteria are intermodal and multimodal, and address project funding across all funding categories. This wide range of needs criteria include congestion management, reduction of single-occupant vehicles, air quality, preservation, cost participation, safety, intermodal management/connectivity.
- When the scoring process for regional projects is complete, projects are then selected by funding type to represent the best funding picture to meet regional needs. This list of selected projects for funding is discussed by the Regional Transportation Advisory Committee who recommends final project selection by the RTC Board.
- The final step in the TIP development process is the programming of transportation projects in the TIP. The TIP is adopted by the RTC Board.
Friday, April 18, 2008 Call for Projects Friday, June 27, 2008 Project Applications due to RTC June 27 - July 10, 2008 Staff evaluation of projects by selection criteria Friday, July 11, 2008 Agency review of evaluations Friday, July 18, 2008 RTAC recommendation on prioritization July - September 2008 Prepare Draft MTIP/Public Involvement Tuesday, September 2, 2008 RTC Board adopts prioritization Friday, September 19, 2008 RTAC recommends adoption of MTIP Tuesday, October 7, 2008 RTC Board adoption of MTIP
The RTC Federal Project Summary Application is available online (62K) in Microsoft Excel format. The Accident Analysis worksheet is available online (157K) in Microsoft Excel format.
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