The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is our formal capital program that assigns federal funds to highway, bridge, pedestrian, bicycle, and transit projects over a five-year period (by federal fiscal year). Each listing identifies a project's proposed scope, schedule, cost, and fund source. Both federal and state funded projects are shown in the TIP to provide a comprehensive view of transportation projects throughout the county. Inclusion on the TIP allows environmental studies, project development, and construction to proceed according to the schedule presented. The TIP is developed in cooperation with state and local agencies, regional and local transit operators, and local communities. Projects on the TIP must be consistent with the goals in our Transportation Plan - Moving Dutchess Forward.
How do we develop the TIP?
We develop the TIP based on two main activities: 1) updating information on existing projects that will carry over from the previous TIP, and 2) identifying new projects when funding is available. For existing projects, we work with sponsors, such as NYSDOT, Dutchess County, or one of our 30 municipalities, to review their projects and adjust their costs, schedules, and scopes.
If enough unprogrammed funds are available, we will issue a call for projects using a formal application process. We first screen project proposals for eligibility and then evaluate them based on our Project Selection Framework (.pdf). Working with our Planning Committee, and if established, a TIP Subcommittee, we prioritize projects for inclusion in the Draft TIP. The Draft TIP is then presented to voting members for final approval.
Final approval allows our TIP to be folded into the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which includes the TIPs from all 14 NYSMPOs and the State’s program of projects for rural areas not served by an MPO. Federal approval, usually at the start of the applicable Federal Fiscal Year (i.e., October 1st), concludes the TIP update process and results in the final STIP. Between major update cycles, which occur every two-three years, we will amend the approved TIP to add or remove projects or make significant changes to the costs, schedules, or scopes of existing projects.
On August 31, 2022, we approved the FFY 2023-2027 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) (.pdf) and its accompanying Conformity Statement (.pdf). Prior to approval, we held a 30-day public comment period from July 26-August 24, 2022, coupled with a virtual public meeting on August 10, 2022 (the presentation from that meeting can be found here). The new TIP went into effect at the start of Federal Fiscal Year 2023.
Background
The Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2023-2027 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) (.pdf) is our current capital program of federally-funded transportation projects in Dutchess County. Developed as part of our transportation planning process, the TIP identifies capital and non‐capital transportation projects that are proposed for funding through federal highway and transit programs. The TIP must be updated every four years and be approved by the DCTC and the Governor. In New York, the TIP update cycle coincides with the update of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), typically done every two-three years. The TIP must adhere to the current federal transportation law, which authorizes the funding programs that support these projects.
The TIP is an essential product of the transportation planning process, as it's how we commit federal funds for a project. Once programmed on the TIP, a project sponsor may proceed with activities such as detailed design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction. The TIP must also support the goals of our Transportation Plan - Moving Dutchess Forward.
Financial Constraint
Federal law requires that the TIP be financially constrained, using revenue estimates for the five-year TIP period. Financial constraint applies to each fiscal year and federal program, though exceptions are allowed if other federal funds are available to make up shortages in a specific program. Financial constraint not only applies to our DCTC program, but also NYSDOT's regional program, where both must show that funding programs are fiscally balanced by year and fund type.
Programmed Funding
The FFY 2023-2027 TIP programs over $190 million in federal transportation funding in Dutchess County, with almost $115 million for state and local highway projects and almost $76 million for regional commuter rail and local bus transit projects. At $75 million, the FHWA’s NHPP program provided the largest share of programmed transportation funding in Dutchess, accounting for almost 40 percent of all federal funding and 66 percent of all FHWA funding. The FTA’s Section 5337 program, which is limited to maintaining commuter rail infrastructure, provides the second largest share at $42 million or 22 percent of all programmed funding; these funds are used exclusively by the MTA to maintain rail service in the region.
See our TIP Viewer for specific project information
See also our current Dutchess County Project Listing (.pdf)
FFY 2023-2027 TIP Documents (all files .pdf)
Our TIP Viewer provides project level information for the FFY 2023-2027 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) (.pdf): our five-year capital program of federally funded transportation projects in Dutchess County.
Click here to access our TIP Viewer
We occasionally modify the TIP to address changes in costs, schedules, and scopes. Changes to the TIP are classified as either Amendments or Administrative Modifications (see below). Each has a different approval process, based on our adopted criteria. To keep the TIP financially constrained, a cost increase or even schedule change may require a funding offset from another project. Many of these changes are requested by the project sponsor.
Amendments
An Amendment involves a major change to the TIP or to an already programmed project. It can include adding or removing a project, substantially increasing or decreasing federal funds for a project, or promoting or deferring a project's construction year. Amendments require a 15-day public comment period and formal DCTC approval. Below are some examples of actions that require an Amendment:
Administrative Modifications
An Administrative Modification involves a minor change to a project's cost, schedule, or scope, and does not require public review or formal approval.
Amendments (all files .pdf)
As needed.
Administrative Modifications (all files .pdf)
As needed.
Purpose
The TIP represents our five-year list of federally-funded transportation projects in Dutchess County. It includes projects that are wholly or partially paid for with funds from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) or Federal Transit Administration (FTA). To ensure that the public has an accurate understanding of how federal funds are actually spent on transportation projects, federal transportation law requires that organizations responsible for approving the TIP publish an annual listing of project obligations: Annual Listing of Obligated Projects for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2022 (.pdf).
Please note that during the course of progressing a project, its cost, schedule, or scope may change, which may neccessitate a modification to the TIP. Though we routinely update project listings to reflect the most accurate information available, the TIP is not meant to provide real-time, accounting-level precision of project cost and schedules.
What are project obligations?
Think of this as setting up a checking account for a purchase and then making an initial deposit. In order to begin work on any phase of a transportation project, federal funds must be obligated. This means that money is set aside for that project (i.e. deposited in the "checking account" for the project), which can then be used to pay bills. Project expenses may include costs from an engineering consultant or construction contractor, or for actual construction materials.
Do project obligations mean the work is underway?
Not always. Project obligations are made to allow a project to begin, but it takes time to get work underway once a phase is obligated. For example, once the construction phase is obligated, the project can then be advertised for bids. The advertisement period can vary depending on the size and complexity of the project. Bids are then opened and verified and the project awarded to a contractor. This process can create monthslong lags between the initial obligation and noticeable work performed at the location. If you have a question on the status of a specific project, we recommend contacting the project sponsor.
Project Listing
Our current Obligation Report (.pdf) lists projects that had federal funds obligated during FFY 2022 (October 1, 2021–September 30, 2022). The report is split into two parts: one for FHWA funded projects and the other for FTA projects. The report includes basic data about each obligated project, such as the Project Identification Number (PIN), project description and sponsor, total federal cost, the amount of federal funds programmed, and the amount of federal funds obligated.
