The transportation planning program has been established in all metropolitan and rural planning organizations within the Commonwealth to promote federal, state, and local transportation objectives. The program provides a forum where decision-makers identify issues/opportunities and make informed decisions regarding the programming and implementation of transportation projects and services that address these issues and opportunities. Key issues that are focused on include updating Long Range Transportation Plans, adopting Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs) and Air Quality conformity determinations where needed, continuing to integrate Congestion Management System (CMS) Planning and Intermodal Management System (IMS) planning into the planning and programming process. Other issues include assisting the Department with trend analyses and cumulative & secondary impact assessments on major transportation projects, completing environmental justice mandates as part of all ongoing long range planning and short range programming activities, ensuring consistency between land use plans and transportation decisions, initiating Needs Studies as appropriate, promoting transportation projects that provide for the maintenance and/or restoration of transportation infrastructure, providing a safer environment for the traveling public, and enhancing personal mobility and the movement of goods.
State Transportation Improvement Plans = STIP ( HWY and Bridge ) and STIP ( Transit )