ITCTC director lays out $44.6M in city projects on TIP, urges early project planning for 2029–33 federal cycle

Tom Knip, director of the Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council, briefed the Ithaca Common Council on June 17 about federal funding programs, the current TIP and ITCTC’s technical services for municipalities.

"In any given year about $20 million in federal transportation funds are programmed through the transportation council," Knip told council, adding that ITCTC programs and coordinates projects that leverage state and federal matches. He said 16 city‑sponsored projects are programmed for 2020–2030 with a combined project value of $44.6 million, which the transportation council estimates will yield more than $36 million in city cost avoidance through federal and state matches.

Knip described ITCTC roles—regional planning, long-range transportation plan updates, TIP management and technical assistance—and outlined near-term work: a local guide to transportation funding, a transit‑housing accessibility index heat map and an interactive transportation project map. He said the next federal TIP planning cycle is expected to start in late 2027 for federal fiscal years 2029–2033.

Council members asked about comparables and how parking-management programs might scale in Ithaca. Mr. Trumbull said Redwood City (CA) may not be a close match for Ithaca’s scale; Knip agreed that smaller college towns are better comparators and offered to help identify those options.

Knip took multiple follow-up requests from council to provide data and participate in parking strategy or TCAT coordination discussions. He encouraged departments to start preparing project proposals now for the next TIP planning cycle.