| (a) Explanation of process. An effective transportation
planning and programming process requires continuous cooperation among
many state, local, and federal transportation entities and the integration
of numerous requirements imposed by state and federal law. It is a
multi-step process that is more dynamic than static and more circular
than linear. The process includes development by the department, metropolitan
planning organizations (MPO), and rural planning organizations (RPO)
of separate but interrelated long-range planning documents that identify
projects, strategies, and transportation needs, mid-range programming
documents that contain a listing of prioritized projects expected
to be ready for implementation in identified future years, and short-range
programming documents that contain a listing of prioritized projects
that are likely to be implemented. Underlying the planning and programming
process is the need to develop reliable financial assumptions and
forecasts for common use by all participants at all levels of the
process. Finally, there is the allocation of available state and federal
resources by the department and MPOs to fund individual projects that
will address the long-range needs and goals. Strategic performance
measures are used to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the
process and its participants and to identify areas that need improvement.
(b) Document overview. The planning and programming
process involves a number of documents that have similar names and
overlapping functions.
(1) In this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise,
the words plan or planning refer to documents that identify projects,
strategies, and transportation needs over an extended period of years
to provide for the ultimate development and implementation of an integrated
multimodal transportation system. Long-range planning documents include
the:
(A) statewide long-range transportation plan (SLRTP);
and
(B) metropolitan transportation plan (MTP), which includes
a mid-range component covering a period of ten years.
(2) In this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise,
the words program or programming refer to that part of the transportation
planning process that identifies a prioritized list of transportation
projects proposed for implementation in a specified number of years
in the foreseeable future with funding that is reasonably anticipated
to be available at the designated time. Programming documents include
the:
(A) ten-year statewide unified transportation program
(UTP);
(B) four-year metropolitan transportation improvement
program (TIP);
(C) four-year rural transportation improvement program
(RTIP); and
(D) four-year statewide transportation improvement
program (STIP).
(3) The planning and programming documents are more
particularly described in subsections (c) - (e) of this section.
(c) Long-range planning documents.
(1) The statewide long-range transportation plan (SLRTP)
is a comprehensive, statewide multimodal transportation plan that
covers a minimum forecast period of 24 years and serves as the defining
vision for the state's transportation system and services. It is comprised
of two components: a priority based listing of projects that are expected
to be developed within the financial constraint of forecasted state
and federal funding levels, and a non-financially constrained component
that identifies projects, strategies, and other needs that could be
developed if additional funding resources become available. The priority
based listing of projects is contained in the MTPs and the UTP and
is incorporated by reference into the SLRTP. The SLRTP considers the
long-range plans and strategies of the metropolitan and rural planning
organizations and identifies the state's transportation system strategies,
long-term transportation goals, measurable targets, other related
performance measures, and priority projects and corridors. The SLRTP
includes a rural component for areas not included in the boundaries
of a metropolitan planning organization that covers a period of at
least 20 years and contains a priority based listing of projects for
long-range strategies that lead to the development of an integrated
intermodal transportation system. It also includes by reference the
statewide transportation improvement program developed under §16.103
of this chapter (relating to Statewide Transportation Improvement
Program (STIP)) and the unified transportation program developed under §16.105
of this chapter (relating to Unified Transportation Program (UTP)).
(2) A metropolitan transportation plan (MTP) is a long-range
plan developed by each MPO for areas within its boundaries, that covers
a period of at least 20 years and contains a priority based listing
of projects for long-range, mid-range, and short-range strategies
that are expected to be developed within the financial constraint
of forecasted state, federal, and local funding levels. The funding
levels are estimated in cooperation with the department. The MTP will
include a mid-range component of projects covering a period of ten
years. The first four years of the MTP will be developed to comply
with federally mandated transportation improvement program (TIP) and
statewide transportation improvement program (STIP) requirements and
to identify those projects that have a high probability of implementation
during the four-year period.
(d) Mid-range programming document. The unified transportation
program (UTP) is a ten-year financially constrained program developed
by the department that represents an intermediate timeframe in the
statewide project development process. The UTP includes all of the
projects, or phases of projects, covered in the four-year statewide
transportation improvement program (STIP) plus those projects, or
phases of projects, within the state that the department anticipates
can proceed to letting within the six year period after the four-year
STIP. A project's inclusion in the UTP also represents a commitment
to its continued development.
(e) Short-range programming documents.
(1) A transportation improvement program (TIP) is a
short-range program developed by each MPO in cooperation with the
department and with public transportation operators as defined by
23 C.F.R. Part 450 that covers a four-year period and contains a prioritized
listing of all projects proposed for federal funding and regionally
significant projects proposed for state, federal, and local funding
in a metropolitan area. Projects may include planning, engineering,
design, right of way acquisition, construction, and maintenance. The
TIP also contains an estimate of available state, federal, and local
funding and the estimated project expenditures. A project's inclusion
in the TIP and statewide transportation improvement program (STIP)
generally represents a commitment that it is programmed for implementation
in the near term.
(2) A rural transportation improvement program (RTIP)
is a short-range program developed by the department in cooperation
with rural planning organizations (RPO) that covers a four-year period
and contains a prioritized listing of all projects proposed for federal
funding and regionally significant projects proposed for state, federal,
and local funding in all areas of the state outside of metropolitan
planning areas. Projects may include planning, engineering, design,
right of way acquisition, construction, and maintenance. The RTIP
also contains an estimate of available state, federal, and local funding
and the estimated project expenditures. A project's inclusion in the
RTIP and statewide transportation improvement program (STIP) generally
represents a commitment that it is programmed for implementation in
the near term.
(3) A statewide transportation improvement program
(STIP) is a four-year short-range program developed by the department
as a compilation of all metropolitan transportation improvement programs
(TIP), together with rural transportation improvement programs (RTIP),
that include recommendations from RPOs and department districts for
the areas of the state that are outside of the boundaries of an MPO,
including transportation between cities. The STIP identifies a list
of projects to be implemented statewide with funds that are reasonably
expected to be available over a multi-year period. The first year
of the STIP contains projects that are scheduled for letting of contracts
by the project sponsor. The remaining three years identify projects
and funding sources that also have a high probability of implementation.
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