The State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) and the TIP are the first four years of the Twelve Year Program (TYP), which outline the multimodal transportation improvements spanning a four year period. The STIP covers the entire state and includes 23 individual TIPs representing the MPOs and RPOs. The TIPs feed into the statewide STIP. Federal law requires TIPs to be updated at least every three years. PennDOT’s planning partners, both Metropolitan and Rural Planning Organizations (MPO/RPO), develop a TIP and solicit public involvement per each MPO/RPO Public Participation Plan.

The STIP addresses all modes of transportation, including highways and bridges, public transit, aviation, and rail freight projects that intend to use federal and/or state matching funds excluding specified maintenance funds. This plan provides the public with an active role in the development of transportation plans, programs, and projects beginning in the early stages of plan development and continuing throughout the planning process. As needs and priorities change, the TIP may be modified or amended. The State Transportation Commission (STC) reviews and approves the Twelve Year Program every two years and when finalized, the STC adopts the program. It is then forwarded to the Governor, the Highway Administration (FHWA), the Transit Administration (FTA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for their approval prior to the start of the federal fiscal year, which is October 1 of each year.