2025 – 2030 TIP Solicitation, Evaluation and Selection Process

Project Eligibility and Federal Guidance

The 2025 – 2030 TIP will contain all projects in the Transportation Council planning area that are expected to use federal funding in federal fiscal years (FFY) 2025 through 2030. Review the call letter for the solicitation for additional guidance.

Candidate projects must be eligible for at least one federal aid fund source under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law including the National Highway Performance Program (NHPP), the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG), and the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). For more information on the specific eligibilities of each funding program, please refer to FHWA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Guidance Materials.

In general, projects eligible for TIP funding include those related to safety, roadway pavement, bridges, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, transit, intersections, ITS infrastructure, etc. Additionally, for pavement projects, federal funds cannot be used on roads functionally classified as 8, 9, and 19. To determine the functional classification of a specific road visit the NYSDOT Functional Classification viewer webpage.

All project applications require a signed cover letter from the chief elected official or equivalent committing the sponsor to the local (non-federal) match requirement.

Sponsors proposing projects on infrastructure they do not own must submit a letter of support from the roadway or facility owner.

Local Government sponsors are required to administer federally funded projects following the guidelines established by NYSDOT in the Local Projects Manual.

Special Note On Pedestrian Safety Related Projects

Project types listed on the New York State Pedestrian Safety and Projects (ny.gov) website are pre-approved to access Highway Safety Improvement Program funds. There is no need for a benefit/cost analysis. Pre-approved project types include:

• Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI): These pedestrian traffic signals give pedestrians a WALK signal before motorists are allowed to proceed through the intersection. This improves safety by allowing pedestrians to begin crossing the street, increasing their visibility to vehicles attempting to turn across the crosswalk.
• Exclusive Pedestrian Signal: Some signals have a phase that gives pedestrians enough time to complete crossing the street while vehicle traffic is stopped in all directions.
• Accessible Pedestrian Signals: These devices communicate information about pedestrian signal timing in a non-visual format to assist sight and hearing impaired pedestrians.
• Countdown Timers: These signals display the number of seconds left to finish crossing the street before the steady DON’T WALK or upraised hand is displayed. The countdown display begins at the start of the flashing upraised hand or DON’T WALK indication and ends at the termination of that interval. Pedestrians who are already in the road when the countdown begins should continue safely crossing the street. Pedestrians who have not stepped off the curb should not begin crossing the street until the next pedestrian cycle.
• Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon: These devices are used to supplement pedestrian warning signs at unsignalized intersections or mid-block marked pedestrian crosswalks. They include flashing lights that alert motorists that pedestrians are using the crosswalk.
• HAWK Signals: High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk Beacons are used to stop road traffic and allow pedestrians to cross the street. The signal is dark until activated by a pedestrian who wishes to cross.
• Crosswalks: A crosswalk is a portion of the road that is designated for pedestrians to cross the street. All intersections are considered to represent crosswalks, even when there are no pavement markings.
• Median Refuge: Raised pavement between opposing lanes of traffic that allows pedestrians to cross half of the road at a time.

Pavement Only

Eligible projects include all pavement preservation, rehabilitation, and construction / reconstruction activities that do not incorporate bicycle and pedestrian elements. Example projects include pavement overlay, mill and fill, in-place recycling, and reconstruction techniques. Projects may include improvements to drainage, slope stability etc.

Complete Streets

Eligible projects include all pavement preservation, rehabilitation, and construction / reconstruction activities that also incorporate bicycle and pedestrian elements. Example projects include pavement overlay, mill and fill, in-place recycling, and reconstruction techniques that are associated with active transportation infrastructure improvements (i.e. adjacent sidewalk installation, repair or replacement; bike lane installation, repair, or replacement etc.).

Bridge

Eligible projects include bridge preservation and or reconstruction work. Example projects include element specific bridge repairs, bridge rehabilitations, and bridge replacements and combinations of bridge improvements and active transportation infrastructure improvements (i.e. adjacent sidewalk installation, repair or replacement; bike lane installation, repair, or replacement etc.).

Note: The most recent bridge inspection report is required to be uploaded in the bridge application form. Bridge owners may access this information through the NYS EAM Structure Management System (SMS). If BDIS access is needed, see the BDIS Access Request Form.

Bike and Ped Only

Eligible projects include on-road and off-road facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and non-motorized transportation users. Example projects include the installation, repair, or replacement of sidewalks, bike lanes, and multi-use paths. Only use this category if the proposed project does not include improvements to adjacent pavement infrastructure.

Congestion, Freight, and Air Quality

Eligible projects must support strategies identified in the Transportation Council Congestion Management Process (CMP) (i.e. ITS, TSMO, Access Management, Roadway Capacity), on-road freight and air quality improvement, and/or Alternative Fuel Vehicle Infrastructure. Example projects include intersection improvements (including dedicated turn lanes and roundabouts), ITS projects, traffic signal upgrades or optimization, access management improvements, demand management projects, intermodal freight projects, electric vehicle charging, and more.

Other

This application is for the Other project category. Example projects include PEL (Planning-Environmental Linkage) studies and all other projects that may not fit within the previous categories.