UNDERSTANDING the TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP)

In simple terms, a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a formal schedule of upcoming transportation projects. A Long-Range Transportation Plan is a 20-year vision for a region, and the TIP is the short-term action plan that turns those ideas into reality by securing the necessary funding.

Federal law requires every Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to create this document at least every four years. However, to stay in sync with Delaware’s specific budgeting and legislative cycles, the Dover Kent MPO produces a new TIP every two years.

Key Requirements of a TIP

For a project to be included in the TIP, it must meet several strict federal and regional standards:

• Federal Funding Disclosure: The TIP clearly identifies which projects will seek federal investment over a four-year window.
• Regional Consensus: It serves as a shared "to-do list" that reflects the priorities of the community as well as DelDOT.
• Strategic Alignment: Every project in the TIP must directly support the goals laid out in the larger transportation plans done by the MPO and DelDOT.
• Fiscal Constraint: The TIP is not a wish list. It must be financially constrained, meaning the MPO can include only projects the region can afford to build and maintain with projected revenues.
• Environmental Compliance: Projects must conform to federal air quality regulations to ensure that transportation improvements do not negatively impact the environment.