State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)

The STIP is a multi-year capital improvement program of transportation projects on and off the State Highway System, funded with revenues from the Transportation Investment Fund and other funding sources. STIP programming generally occurs every two years. The programming cycle begins with the release of a proposed fund estimate in July of odd-numbered years, followed by California Transportation Commission (CTC) adoption of the fund estimate in August (odd years). The fund estimate serves to identify the amount of new funds available for the programming of transportation projects. Once the fund estimate is adopted, Caltrans and the regional planning agencies prepare transportation improvement plans for submittal by December 15^th (odd years). Caltrans prepare the Interregional Transportation Improvement Plan (ITIP) and regional agencies prepare Regional Transportation Improvement Plans (RTIPs). Public hearings are held in January (even years) in both northern and southern California. The STIP is adopted by the CTC by April (even years). This process, as well as the fund distribution process are outlined in charts available on the Transportation Programming website http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/transprog

Local agencies should work through their Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA), County Transportation Commission, or Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), as appropriate, to nominate projects for inclusion in the STIP.

Once projects are programmed, agencies may begin the project implementation process. It is important to note that there are timely use of funds rules associated with STIP projects that are established by statute and outlined in both the STIP Guidelines adopted by the CTC and Chapter 23 of the Local Assistance Program Guidelines. This website is designed to provide local agencies and the general public with information regarding STIP guidelines and procedures. Several links to other Caltrans websites are provided.

Chapter 23 of the Local Assistance Program Guidelines manual - This chapter outlines policies and procedures related to STIP projects. It contains website references to relevant information sources as well as exhibits and forms necessary for use by agencies implementing STIP projects. Chapter 23 supersedes the April 1, 1999, "Procedures for Administering Local Grant Projects in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)" for local highway projects.

Caltrans' Division of Transportation Programming's website should contain the most current versions of the following:

Current Adopted STIP Guidelines - These are the official guidelines adopted by the CTC to provide policy direction to the various parties involved in programming and implementing STIP projects.

Current Project Programming Request Forms - Project Programming Request (PPR) forms required to nominate projects for programming in the STIP or to amend projects already programmed in the STIP. These new procedures and forms supersedes and replaces the existing STIP Project Fact and Funding Sheet.

Current fund estimate information

LAPG Chapter 23 Forms in MS Word format for use in project implementation:

• Award Information for STIP Projects (Exhibit 23-A)
• Request for Time Extension (Local STIP Projects) and Instructions (Exhibit 23-B)
  
• State-Only Finance Letter (Local STIP Projects) (Exhibit 23-C)
• State/Federal Finance Letter (Exhibit 23-D)
• Instructions (Exhibit 23-E) and Request for Exception to STIP State Only Funding Policy (Exhibit 23-F)
• Local Road Rehabilitation Project Certification (Exhibit 23-K)
• Pavement Management System (PMS) Certification (Exhibit 23-L)
• Notice of SB 184 Project Start for Local STIP Projects (Exhibit 23-M)
• Funding Allocation Checklist (Local STIP Projects) (Exhibit 23-N)
• Request for Funding Allocation (Local STIP Projects) (Exhibit 23-O)

Additional information:

Publications for Use in Local Assistance

Transporation Enhancement (TE) Projects