Federal regulations require that Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) review and update their Transportation Improvement Programs (TIP) periodically. Due to additional projects being added to the current 2012- 2016 TIP, the Billings MPO requires an amendment. This amendment will be called the 2012- 2016 TIP Amendment I. The projects that have been amended include a roundabout at 56th Street West and King Avenue West and a sign project on I-90. These two projects are programmed into the MDT safety projects funding and are not funded through local allocations. In addition, MET Transit has had a reorganization of Federal funding sources as well as the additions of several vehicles to its fleet.

The TIP is a short-range program of highway and transit projects in the Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization area and is prepared by Planning Division staff in cooperation with state and local agencies. The basic purpose of the TIP is to provide the mechanism for scheduling federal funds for surface transportation projects, indicate regional priorities, and demonstrate a short range transportation vision for the area. A secondary purpose of the TIP is to provide information about other transportation projects in the urbanized area that are exempt from the TIP approval process such as projects that do not utilize federal funds.

This TIP Amendment is being presented to the City Council for review due to a modification of federal funding. Staff has attached a summary sheet identifying the project changes, and the TIP document with changes shown in color. Staff will be available to answer questions at the January 28th Council meeting.

The current TIP amendment includes updates of federal funding for several projects in the Billings area. The Council may:

• Recommend approval of the 2012-2016 TIP Amendment I in order to continue the implementation of federally funded transportation projects as presented; or
• Not recommend approval of the 2012-2016 TIP Amendment I and potentially hinder the implementation of federally funded transportation projects; or
• Recommend modifications to the proposed program and the Council's representative will present these recommendations to the Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC) for further consideration.

 A range of federal funding sources is available to the Billings MPO for the purposes of funding transportation system improvements. A list of those sources is shown in the TIP. There is usually no direct impact to City funds in budgeting for these projects given the federal funding sources.

Staff recommends that Council approve the 2012-2016 TIP Amendment I and forward that recommendation to PCC through its designee.