Transportation Improvement and Enhancement program
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) &
Transportation Enhancement Program (TE) Assistance
Responsible Staff: Mary Deppe
This service is made possible through a grant from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation
Purpose
The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the Transportation Enhancement Program (TE) are both funding programs through the NH Department of Transportation, in which a community having a transportation project that fits within the parameters of the programs can apply for funding. The TIP supports all road and bridge projects including realignments, signaled intersections, and repaving just to name a few. The TE program is for sidewalks, bike paths and lanes, or preservation of historic transportation structures. Projects selected by the Department of Transportation for funding will be placed in their Ten Year Plan, a schedule of when projects will be designed and constructed statewide.
Description
The TIP and TE funding round take approximately one year from start to finish, and the program funding availability for each occur on rotating years. The TIP process begins on even numbered years and the TE program begins on odd numbered years. The Department of Transportation releases the dates for the application process to the Regional Planning Commissions and NCC, in return, sends a letter to all communities and put out a press release to let people know the process has begun and the information they need in order to fill out an application. The transportation planner is available to assist communities with their applications and can help identify resources the communities should seek in order to have accurate cost estimates and details of the proposed project.
Timeframe
The application process is approximately one year to eighteen months long, from the date the application is initiated to the time the Department of Transportation distributes a notice of selection.
Related Services & Programs
Transportation Advisory Committee - The Committee ultimately reviews all TIP and TE project proposals before they are sent to the Department of Transportation. It is the transportation planner’s responsibility to see if all applications are complete, however the Committee ranks these projects at a regional level which provides DOT with a better understanding of the priorities in the region. The Committee's ranking is used during the state Committee’s review, which determines which projects are selected for funding.
Special Planning & Research (SPR) and Corridor Studies - There are several transportation corridors and facilities that may need further review and planning before creating a proposed project. A community or subregion may want to conduct a corridor study or a special planning and research project along a roadway to determine the best location for transportation projects and their appropriateness and context to the community. Projects identified as needing a corridor study or other planning process usually rank higher in priority for funding.
Regional Transportation Plan - Much like a Corridor Study or SPR, projects identified in the Regional Transportation Plan should be a priority to the region. It is important for communities and the Committee to have input into this plan so they can help identify problem areas.