Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

Sections in this page

Overview
Process Description
Documents

Overview

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) lists transportation projects in Southern Nevada funded by federal, state, and local sources. Developed by the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) with input from local agencies, the TIP focuses on priority projects planned for the next four years as part of the Let’s Go 2050: Regional Transportation Plan (RTP).

The TIP follows federal guidelines, including updated transportation laws like SAFETEA-LU, MAP-21, the FAST Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). It is created with input from the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), the U.S. Department of Transportation, and local agencies.

The TIP helps prioritize and plan transportation projects, ensuring resources are used efficiently and progress is tracked to meet the region’s needs.

Process Description

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) follows federal guidelines to plan and fund transportation projects. It’s based on laws like SAFETEA-LU, MAP-21, and the FAST Act, which set the rules for how transportation projects are chosen and funded.

The RTC leads the process, selecting projects that receive federal funding from programs like the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBGP), Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ), and the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). The RTC also selects projects funded by local sources, like gas taxes and sales taxes.

The 2021-2025 TIP focuses on five main goals from the Access 2050 plan:

Improve Safety

Make transportation safer for everyone.

Economic Development

Support local jobs and businesses with better transportation.

Manage Congestion

Reduce traffic and make travel easier.

Multimodal Connectivity

Reduce traffic and make travel easier.

Maintain Infrastructure

Keep roads and other transportation systems in good condition.

Highlighted Projects

Examples of recently completed and under construction projects in the Metropolitan Region which were Programmed in the previous 2017-2020 HPP/TIP are provided below:

Maryland Parkway

This project is 12.5 miles long and runs from the South Strip Transit Terminal to the Las Vegas Medical District. The $250 million project will include shared bus bike lanes, wider sidewalks, more lighting, upgraded crosswalks, and more shade from trees and passenger shelters.

RTC Transit

From 2017 to 2020, a total of 526 vehicles were bought to keep transit running in Southern Nevada. This includes 189 buses for regular routes and 337 for paratransit services. Most of the vehicles (514) run on compressed natural gas (CNG). Out of the 526, only 46 were for expansion, while 480 were purchased to replace older vehicles.

RTC Club Ride Program

The program encourages people to use alternative ways to commute, like carpooling, biking, or using public transit. Participants just need to report their commute choices to a Clark County employer and can earn rewards for doing so.

Project Neon

Construction on Project Neon began in 2016 and was completed in three years. Its goal was to improve traffic flow and provide better access to the downtown Las Vegas redevelopment. The project also aimed to reduce congestion on local streets and I-15, while expanding the HOV lanes in the area.

I-11 (Boulder City Bypass Phase 2)

This project is now finished, making traffic around Boulder City much smoother. They added a 15-mile stretch of freeway between I-515 and US 93, which includes a new four-lane freeway. There’s also a new interchange at US 95 and a redesigned interchange at the US-93/SR-172 Hoover Dam Exit.

Tropicana Avenue Interchange

Expected to be completed by 2026, the I-15 Tropicana Avenue Interchange project will rebuild and expand the Tropicana Avenue bridge to improve traffic flow. Changes include adding lanes, raising the bridge, and realigning nearby roads. A new exit for high-occupancy vehicles will also be added, along with updated traffic signs and road repairs on I-15.

Airport Connector

Completed in Fall 2017, this project improved access to Henderson on both directions of Clark County 215. It added a two-lane off-ramp from eastbound I-215, a bridge over the Airport Connector, realigned the Warm Springs Rd. ramp, expanded lanes from three to four, and added an extra lane for the Las Vegas Boulevard exit.

US 95 Northwest Corridor Improvements

The project will build a system-to-system interchange along CC 215 from Washington Ave to Kyle Canyon, improving capacity, safety, access, and travel time.

I-515 Charleston Interchange

This project will widen Charleston Boulevard, provide ramp access at Eastern Avenue and Charleston Boulevard interchanges, and add auxiliary lanes between Eastern Avenue and Charleston Boulevard.

I-15 /CC-215 Interchange

This project is part of a larger plan to improve the I-15 north corridor between US 95 and Apex Interchange. It includes building new ramps, upgrading the I-15 and CC-215 interchanges, and rebuilding local streets to match the new ramp layouts.

I-15 Starr Interchange

This project has been completed, providing improved access to I-15 and travel time reliability. It has connected Las Vegas Blvd to and from Dean Martin Drive.