The TIP is the Transportation Improvement Plan for all of Southwest PA, as compiled by the Southwest Pennsylvania Commission (SPC). Short version: If you want your transpo project to be funded, it needs to be on this list.
http://www.spcregion.org/trans_tip_sched.shtml
That page is HTML, but the whole thing is a large PDF.
From the page:
The current official transportation program for SPC is the 2011-2014 TIP effective through September 30, 2012.
The NEXT TIP (2013-2016) will become effective on October 1, 2012 and include fiscal years 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. For projects not already included in the 2011-2014 TIP, this will be the next opportunity for a candidate project or next phase of a currently programmed project, to be considered for federal or state funding.
So, these things are produced in an on-going four-year cycle. I recommend becoming familiar with the process. Even if you aren't going to be in Pittsburgh, pretty much the same process is followed U.S.-wide for getting projects done.
I haven't looked at it myself, but I recommend going over it (as I will later) to see what IS on there and what ISN'T on there.
There is only one public meeting in Allegheny County about this. Others (starting yesterday) are for outlying counties.
In addition, the list of public meetings for SPC's 10 county region is listed below, and the corresponding legal notice is attached to this e-mail (in pdf format).
* May 24, 6:00 p.m., Allegheny County/City of Pittsburgh, Trust Arts Education Center, Peirce Room, 805 Liberty Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh
Without looking I'm saying 95% PENNDOT, with the remainder to PAT, and miscellaneous County gov's. Maybe a lame City project tied to HUD or CDBG funds. Certainly no suburban municipality has the wherewithal to get on this list...
is this an appropriate place to ask that the Mon-Fayette Expressway get taken off of the TIP?
Yes Erok!
May 24th is the public meeting in Allegheny County to discuss the TIP (what a great birthday present for me!)
reviewing... many City and County projects are not new, and were on the TIP in years past - some even within the first generation, TEA program during Clinton's second term.
Projects I've seen:
Bike Share Pilot Program - $1.9M
Bike/Pedestrian Marketing/Promotion - $100k
South Negley Bridge - $10.4M
South Highland Bridge - $4.6M
(I list these two because it appears as though there may be time in the design process to have discussions with the City/URA and ensure the new structures are multimodal okle dokle)
Keystone Metals Trail - $900k in TE funds
There are very large capacity projects in the interstate maintenance program
The Turnpike's projects are in Appendix 4. They say they're working on widening of the mainline. However, note well that ACT 44 - the Act which told Turnpike to give PennDOT shitloads of money - will expire next year and there is no ACT 44 money for state projects after 2013. By the Turnpike having more fare money to pay down debt, they may have the financial wherewithal to refocus.
scott - that is the lamest birthday present ever
