The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a four-year work program of federally funded and regionally significant multimodal transportation projects within the Knoxville Urban Area.

The TIP must be fiscally constrained based on estimated revenues. Also, all projects in the TIP must be consistent with or selected from the current Metropolitan Transportation Plan, Mobility Plan 2040.

The Fiscal Year 2023-2026 TIP is currently being developed. A call for projects was issued in January 2022, with project applications due by February 25^th. This call for projects allowed jurisdictions to apply for new projects, or roll over and update unobligated phases of projects currently programmed in the FY 2020-2023 TIP.

Funding Availability

• TPO STBG Funds – TPO staff projects approximately $105.7M in local Surface Transportation Block Grant (L-STBG) federal funds available over the life of the 2023-2026 TIP to cover funding shortfalls in rollover projects and fund new projects. STBG funds are eligible for most project-types, but if used on a roadway project then it must be classified as Urban Minor Collector or higher on the state’s functional classification system. Most projects require a 20% local match.
• TPO STBG-TA Funds – Approximately $8.1M in local Surface Transportation Block Grant-Transportation Alternatives (L-STBG-TA) federal funds is available over the life of the 2023-02026 TIP to cover shortfalls in rollover projects and fund new projects. Again, projects typically require a 20% local match.
• Final revenue amounts will be determined by authorizations from the federal transportation bill. In addition, available funding may be impacted by cost increases within the current TIP program.

Evaluation Criteria

Projects will be scored and ranked using the criteria based on the goals and factors developed for the Mobility Plan 2045 process as shown on the project application form. Other criteria that TPO staff will be evaluating in making project selection recommendations will involve an assessment of project completion scheduling and assessment of project delays as determined by TIP programming policies. This assessment will be based on ease of project implementation, past performance of the sponsoring agency in the TDOT project development process and amount/status of other projects already under development by the sponsoring agency.

Project Applications Received

A total of 25 existing project rollover applications were received, requesting a total of $115.2 million in federal L-STBG funds and $4.9 million in federal L-STBG-TA funds.

• Rollover Project Applications Summary

A total of 18 new project applications were received, requesting $49.0 million in federal L-STBG funds and $1.4 million federal L-STBG-TA funds.

• New Project Applications Summary

Draft TIP Development Schedule

• Call for Projects Issued – January 14, 2022 (Complete)
• End Call for Projects – Friday, February 25, 2022 (Complete)
• TPO Staff Scoring and Project Prioritization/Fiscal Constraint consultation with project applicants – April, 2022
• TDOT submits state projects for inclusion in the draft TIP – April-May, 2022
• Draft TIP to Technical Committee/Executive Board for Review – June, 2022
• Final TIP Technical Committee Recommendation/Executive Board Adoption – September, 2022