(a) Explanation of process. An effective transportation planning and programming process requires continuous cooperation among many state, local, and federal transportation entities and the integration of numerous requirements imposed by state and federal law. It is a multi-step process that is more dynamic than static and more circular than linear. The process includes development by the department, metropolitan planning organizations (MPO), and rural planning organizations (RPO) of separate but interrelated long-range planning documents that identify projects, strategies, and transportation needs, mid-range programming documents that contain a listing of prioritized projects expected to be ready for implementation in identified future years, and short-range programming documents that contain a listing of prioritized projects that are likely to be implemented. Underlying the planning and programming process is the need to develop reliable financial assumptions and forecasts for common use by all participants at all levels of the process. Finally, there is the allocation of available state and federal resources by the department and MPOs to fund individual projects that will address the long-range needs and goals. Strategic performance measures are used to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the process and its participants and to identify areas that need improvement.
(b) Document overview. The planning and programming process involves a number of documents that have similar names and overlapping functions.
  (1) In this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise, the words plan or planning refer to documents that identify projects, strategies, and transportation needs over an extended period of years to provide for the ultimate development and implementation of an integrated multimodal transportation system. Long-range planning documents include the:
    (A) statewide long-range transportation plan (SLRTP); and
    (B) metropolitan transportation plan (MTP), which includes a mid-range component covering a period of ten years.
  (2) In this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise, the words program or programming refer to that part of the transportation planning process that identifies a prioritized list of transportation projects proposed for implementation in a specified number of years in the foreseeable future with funding that is reasonably anticipated to be available at the designated time. Programming documents include the:
    (A) ten-year statewide unified transportation program (UTP);
    (B) four-year metropolitan transportation improvement program (TIP);
    (C) four-year rural transportation improvement program (RTIP); and
    (D) four-year statewide transportation improvement program (STIP).
  (3) The planning and programming documents are more particularly described in subsections (c) - (e) of this section.
(c) Long-range planning documents.
  (1) The statewide long-range transportation plan (SLRTP) is a comprehensive, statewide multimodal transportation plan that covers a minimum forecast period of 24 years and serves as the defining vision for the state's transportation system and services. It is comprised of two components: a priority based listing of projects that are expected to be developed within the financial constraint of forecasted state and federal funding levels, and a non-financially constrained component that identifies projects, strategies, and other needs that could be developed if additional funding resources become available. The priority based listing of projects is contained in the MTPs and the UTP and is incorporated by reference into the SLRTP. The SLRTP considers the long-range plans and strategies of the metropolitan and rural planning organizations and identifies the state's transportation system strategies, long-term transportation goals, measurable targets, other related performance measures, and priority projects and corridors. The SLRTP includes a rural component for areas not included in the boundaries of a metropolitan planning organization that covers a period of at least 20 years and contains a priority based listing of projects for long-range strategies that lead to the development of an integrated intermodal transportation system. It also includes by reference the statewide transportation improvement program developed under §16.103 of this chapter (relating to Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)) and the unified transportation program developed under §16.105 of this chapter (relating to Unified Transportation Program (UTP)).
  (2) A metropolitan transportation plan (MTP) is a long-range plan developed by each MPO for areas within its boundaries, that covers a period of at least 20 years and contains a priority based listing of projects for long-range, mid-range, and short-range strategies that are expected to be developed within the financial constraint of forecasted state, federal, and local funding levels. The funding levels are estimated in cooperation with the department. The MTP will include a mid-range component of projects covering a period of ten years. The first four years of the MTP will be developed to comply with federally mandated transportation improvement program (TIP) and statewide transportation improvement program (STIP) requirements and to identify those projects that have a high probability of implementation during the four-year period.
(d) Mid-range programming document. The unified transportation program (UTP) is a ten-year financially constrained program developed by the department that represents an intermediate timeframe in the statewide project development process. The UTP includes all of the projects, or phases of projects, covered in the four-year statewide transportation improvement program (STIP) plus those projects, or phases of projects, within the state that the department anticipates can proceed to letting within the six year period after the four-year STIP. A project's inclusion in the UTP also represents a commitment to its continued development.
(e) Short-range programming documents.
  (1) A transportation improvement program (TIP) is a short-range program developed by each MPO in cooperation with the department and with public transportation operators as defined by 23 C.F.R. Part 450 that covers a four-year period and contains a prioritized listing of all projects proposed for federal funding and regionally significant projects proposed for state, federal, and local funding in a metropolitan area. Projects may include planning, engineering, design, right of way acquisition, construction, and maintenance. The TIP also contains an estimate of available state, federal, and local funding and the estimated project expenditures. A project's inclusion in the TIP and statewide transportation improvement program (STIP) generally represents a commitment that it is programmed for implementation in the near term.
  (2) A rural transportation improvement program (RTIP) is a short-range program developed by the department in cooperation with rural planning organizations (RPO) that covers a four-year period and contains a prioritized listing of all projects proposed for federal funding and regionally significant projects proposed for state, federal, and local funding in all areas of the state outside of metropolitan planning areas. Projects may include planning, engineering, design, right of way acquisition, construction, and maintenance. The RTIP also contains an estimate of available state, federal, and local funding and the estimated project expenditures. A project's inclusion in the RTIP and statewide transportation improvement program (STIP) generally represents a commitment that it is programmed for implementation in the near term.
  (3) A statewide transportation improvement program (STIP) is a four-year short-range program developed by the department as a compilation of all metropolitan transportation improvement programs (TIP), together with rural transportation improvement programs (RTIP), that include recommendations from RPOs and department districts for the areas of the state that are outside of the boundaries of an MPO, including transportation between cities. The STIP identifies a list of projects to be implemented statewide with funds that are reasonably expected to be available over a multi-year period. The first year of the STIP contains projects that are scheduled for letting of contracts by the project sponsor. The remaining three years identify projects and funding sources that also have a high probability of implementation.

Source Note: The provisions of this §16.4 adopted to be effective January 1, 2011, 35 TexReg 8388; amended to be effective November 15, 2012, 37 TexReg 8981; amended to be effective September 1, 2018, 43 TexReg 5240