Gina Barberio | Rachael Barolsky USDOT/RITA Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
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Transcript of Gina Barberio | Rachael Barolsky USDOT/RITA Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
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Gina Barberio | Rachael Barolsky
USDOT/RITA
Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
Michael Culp | Rob Ritter
Federal Highway
Administration
TRB Annual Meeting
January 15, 2008
FHWA’s Planning and Environment Linkages
(PEL) Program:
Using the PEL Umbrella Approach to Streamline
Transportation Decision-making
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Discussion Framework
• PEL Background• Benefits• Important Elements of PEL
- Intra-Agency Coordination- Inter-Agency Coordination- Data Sharing and Analysis
• Lessons Learned• FY 2008-2009 PEL Priorities
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Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL): What is it?
• An APPROACH to transportation decision-making
• A PROGRAM promoting tools and resources
• Supports FHWA/FTA Planning and NEPA Regulations
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PEL Activities
Planning Environment
Eco-Logical
Integrated Planning Work
Group
Linking Conservation & Transportation
Planning
Context Sensitive Solutions
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Expected Benefits of PEL
• Relationship-building
• Process efficiency
• On-the-ground outcomes
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Important Elements of PEL
• Intra- Agency Coordination
• Inter- Agency Coordination
• Data Sharing and Analysis
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Intra-Agency Coordination
Obtain executive level commitment to a more comprehensive process
Increase coordination among planning, environment, GIS, and IT staff
Sample Actions:• Conduct inter-disciplinary meetings• Host cross-training sessions• Develop agency-wide guidance
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Intra-Agency Coordination Example
Coordination includes sharing information, documents, history, files, commitments
Colorado DOT’s Linking Planning & NEPA Guidance and Online Training
• Incorporated planning products into environmental review process
http://www.dot.state.co.us/environmental/Training/NEPA_index.asp
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Inter-Agency Coordination
Involve resource agencies early in transportation planning
Sample Actions:• Establish interagency work groups or
committees• Host workshops (e.g., Linking Conservation
and Transportation Planning)• Establish MOUs/MOAs
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Inter-Agency Coordination Example
Southeast Michigan Council of Governments’
(SEMCOG) Long-Range Transportation Planning• Analyzed potential impacts of planned
transportation projects on environmentally sensitive resources
• Consulted with multiple agencies to determine significant resources and appropriate buffer sizes
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Data Sharing and Analysis• Share data/analyses among agencies• Overlay proposed transportation projects on identified sensitive resources
• Meet planning requirement for comparison of metropolitan plans to State conservation plans/maps; inventories of natural or historic resources
Data and Analysis Tools:• Geographic Information Systems• Project Screening Tools
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Data Sharing and Analysis Example
Florida’s Environmental Screening Tool (EST)• Identifies and maps
environmental concerns• Screens potential
projects• Resource agencies
analyze their own data• Secure website for
project reviews
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Lessons Learned• Implementation of PEL approach is an ongoing,
long-term process• Determining and agreeing on the appropriate level
of environmental detail is key• Decisions along the way need to have good
documentation behind them• Communication/coordination, both internally and
externally, is a major challenge• There is a need to demonstrate the benefits of PEL
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FHWA’s FY 2008-2009 PEL Priorities
Technical Assistance
• State-specific technical assistance
• Peer Exchange on GIS in PEL
• Linking Conservation and Transportation Planning Workshops
• Integration with FHWA Initiatives (Eco-Logical, Integrated Planning, etc.)
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FHWA’s FY 2008-2009 PEL Priorities
Targeted Expansion of PEL Areas
• Capturing best practices in State DOTs
• Exploring links between PEL and other planning and environment areas
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FHWA’s FY 2008-2009 PEL Priorities
Outreach/Communication
• PEL website http://environment.fhwa.dot.gov/integ/index.asp
• Publications and reports on new PEL resources and analysis
• Conferences, workshops to enhance awareness of PEL
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Questions?
U.S. DOT/
Volpe Center:
Gina [email protected]
Rachael [email protected]
Federal Highway Administration:
Robert [email protected]
Mike [email protected]
http://environment.fhwa.dot.gov/integ/index.asp