The Transportation Improvement Program, prepared by Pima Association of Governments, is a five-year schedule and budget of proposed transportation improvements within eastern Pima County.

The TIP is typically updated annually through a multi-step process in association with PAG's member jurisdictions and other implementing agencies. The goal of the process is to develop a TIP that makes optimum use of available federal, state and local funds and resources to serve the region's multi-modal transportation needs.

The TIP implements the long-range transportation plan known as the Regional Transportation Plan. The RTP covers a minimum 20-year planning period and all projects included in the TIP must be drawn from the RTP.

PAG's TIP Subcommittee is the standing subcommittee responsible for development of the TIP. The TIP Subcommittee's monthly meetings are open to the public. Public input through public meetings, presentations, correspondence, open houses, and surveys, is fundamental to the success of the final TIP document.

PAG's annual regional transportation open house provides the public with an opportunity to speak directly with jurisdictional staff, review the candidate projects, submit comments and rate the importance of project selection criteria. Public input is tabulated, distributed to decision-makers and a proposed TIP document is developed and distributed for public review. The proposed TIP document is then developed and distributed to public outlets for review. Following a 30-day public comment period, the TIP is presented to the PAG Regional Council for adoption.

The TIP must be financially constrained. This means, all projects listed in the TIP must have an identified funding source consistent with regional revenue expectations. Estimates of the region's total transportation system needs through 2040 exceed available funding. Every year tough choices are made about which transportation system improvements to carry out and which ones to defer.

The TIP also must respond to various state and federal regulatory requirements, such as, the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments and the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficent, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). Other criteria used to evaluate various impacts of TIP projects and programs are: protection and enhancement of the environment including energy conservation and improvement in quality of life; improvement in the accessibility and mobility of people and goods; enhancement of the integration of various transportation modes; preservation and enhancement of existing transportation systems; maximizing system efficiency; increasing the safety and security of the transportation system; and supporting economic vitality within the region.