9 - Project Modifications

Once a project becomes an official part of the TIP/STIP, any subsequent changes must comply with the approved “Guidelines for Potential TIP Actions”, last updated on May 17, 2021.

The Transportation Projects Subcommittee (TPS), an administrative subcommittee established by the GBNRTC, is charged with addressing any and all issues pertaining to the development, maintenance and monitoring of the region’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TPS subsequently developed and approved a rigorous set of guidelines that provide an administrative framework to consistently guide subcommittee proceedings. With these guidelines the TPS manages all of the projects in the TIP and addresses funding shortfalls and changing levels of federal, state, and local funding. Strategies are often developed to advance projects when another is delayed. In addition, GBNRTC staff regularly convene local project meetings with NYSDOT and municipal representatives to review the status of every project in the program and set action items as appropriate to facility project deliveries according to published schedules. The TPS relies on consensus building and formal documentation of all subcommittee actions and posts such on the GBNRTC website. Monthly TPS meetings are open to the public.

All project changes must be reported at TPS. Any required documentation must be submitted by the project sponsor or NYSDOT local project liaison to the GBNRTC no later than one week before the monthly TPS meeting.

TIP/STIP projects may need to be modified for one or more of the following reasons:

  • Addition of new projects to the TIP

  • Deletion of existing projects from the TIP

  • Cost or scope changes

  • Funding source changes

  • Scheduling changes

  • Additions or deletions to a phase or the entire project

Change controls govern the procedures required to make changes to the TIP. Changes generally fall into one of three primary actions:

  1. Regional Planning and Program Manager – Only for minor cost increases or fund transfers into another existing project phase ($150K or under). This change is approved by the NYSDOT Regional Planning and Program Manager and only requires a completed change form. All RPPM changes must be reported at the next TPS and PCC meeting.

  2. Administrative Modification – These are used for moderate changes in cost, scope, fund source or scheduling or a merger/separation of existing project(s). This change is approved by either PCC or Policy, depending on the change type and requires a completed change form and map (if scope is not changed significantly). Administrative Modifications that must be approved by PCC must first be recommended by TPS. Administrative Modifications do not require public review or a resolution.

  3. Amendment – These are used for major project changes, project additions (new projects) and deletions and scope changes. Amendments require a 20 day (non-transit) or 30-days (transit) public review period which may be initiated by either TPS or PCC. All amendment requests must include a copy of the public notice, any public comments received, an Initial Project Proposal (IPP) form (for new projects), a cover letter and a map in the resolution. Public notices are published via the GBNRTC web site, email blasts and social media. Any public comments received are distributed to member agencies for review before final approval. All relevant paperwork is required to be part of the public notice.

All project changes must be approved by the appropriate responsible body (Regional Planning and Program Manager, TPS, PCC, Policy Committee) base on the type of change. The most recent change guidelines are provided below.