Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO Publications and Resources

• Above and Beyond: The Environmental and Social Contributions of America’s Highway Programs
• Annual Competitions 
• Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) Peer Exchange
• DOT-Funded Positions Report 
• Environmental Management Systems Products 
• Environmental Stewardship Practices, Procedures, and Policies for Highway Construction and Maintenance
• Improving the Quality of Environmental Documents
• Integrating Transportation Planning & NEPA Decision-Making Webcast 
• Managing the NEPA Process for Complex Projects Workshop 
• Practitioner's Handbooks
  • 01 Maintaining a Project File and Preparing an Administrative Record for a NEPA Study 
  • 02 Responding to Comments on an Environmental Impact Statement 
  • 03 Managing the NEPA Process for Toll Lanes and Toll Roads 
  • 04 Tracking Compliance with Environmental Commitments/Use of Environmental Monitors 
  • 05 Utilizing Community Advisory Committees for NEPA Studies 
  • 06 Consulting Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
  • 07 Defining the Purpose and Need and Determining the Range of Alternatives for Transportation Projects 
  • 08 Developing and Implementing an Environmental Management System in a State Department of Transportation (DOT) 
  • 09 Using the SAFETEA-LU Environmental Review Process (23 U.S.C. 139) 
  • 10 Using the Transportation Planning Process to Support the NEPA Process 
• Programmatic Agreement Toolkit - A How to Guide 
• Taking the High Road Report 
• Understanding Flexibility in the AASHTO Green Book: A Webinar on Geometric Design 

Other AASHTO Resources

• AASHTO Design Publications includes two design guidebooks of interest to transportation enhancement – “The Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities” (1999) and the “Guide for Planning, Design and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities” (2004).  They are developed and/or updated by the Technical Committees of the Subcommittee on Design and may be purchased at the AASHTO Online Bookstore.

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• FHWA Environmental Publications provides a listing of published reports involving environmental enhancement.
• FHWA Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Research Program (STEP).
• International Scan Summary Report on Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety and Mobility - Draft report summarizes a May 2009 international scan tour on pedestrian and bicycle safety and mobility sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, AASHTO, and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program. The scan tour featured visits by a team of U.S. transportation professionals with expertise in bicycling and walking to several European countries to identify innovative approaches to nonmotorized transportation. The report provides an overview of the team’s findings and recommendations and includes a series of implementation items to be pursued in the United States. A final report is expected to be completed in early 2010. (6-24-09)

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• Flexible Design for New Jersey Main Streets This study, produced by the Voorhees Transportation Center for NJDOT involved a national literature review, extensive case studies both within and outside the State and an evaluation of current design standards for State highways that function as a “Main Street.” A thorough comparison of the design standards used in other states and countries revealed techniques for resolving conflicts that arise from accommodating regional travel needs and local objectives. New design standards were proposed where required.  Useful for CSS practitioners and Transportation Enhancement project applicants.

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• Environmental Stewardship Practices, Procedures and Policies for Highway Construction and Maintenance. National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP 25-25(04)). This report presents a compendium of environmental stewardship practices in construction and maintenance, developed from the literature, state transportation agency manuals and procedures, and the contributions of state DOTs and practitioners.

• Guidelines for Analysis of Investments in Bicycle Facilities. National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 552. This project provides tools to estimate the cost of various bicycle facilities and for evaluating their potential value and benefits are provided in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program The report is designed to help transportation planners integrate bicycle facilities into their overall transportation plans and on a project-by-project basis. The Guidelines also are available through an online tool.

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• Active Transportation for America (Rails to Trails Conservancy). The report quantifies for the first time the benefits of "active transportation," finding $4.1 billion in economic benefits under current levels of walking and bicycling. (10-20-08)
• 1000 Great Rails-Trails, Third Edition- This Rails-to-Trails Conservancy directory is a complete listing of rail-trails available for public use in the United States.  This information may be of interest to Transportation Enhancement project applicants.
• National Complete Streets Coalition
• www.ContextSensitiveSolutions.org
• List of  Publications on the National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse website.
  • Enhancing America's Communities - A Guide to Transportation Enhancements – The National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse provides a guide presented in lay terms and useful to newcomers to the program.  The Clearinghouse also provides other information to facilitate understanding of the program including: TE Basics - an introduction to the program; a State TE Profile - a directory to obtain a 2-page profile of the Transportation Enhancements program in any state;  TE Project Examples - detailed project information, including a description of the project, funding particulars, project contact information, and photographs of the project; and Publications. (2007)
  • Transportation Enhancements: Summary of Nationwide Spending as of FY 2008 - National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse (May 2009)
• Safe Routes to School State Network Project: Final Report, 2007-2009, Making Change Through Partners and Policies - Safe Routes to School National Partnership (November 2009)
• Safe Routes to School: State of the States Report - Safe Routes to School National Partnership (10-2-07)
• National Center for Bicycling and Walking
  • Are We There Yet? An Assessment of State DOTs on Bicycling and Walking (March 2003, National Center for Biking and Walking)
  • Does it Work? State Department of Transportation Assessment (April 2004, National Center for Biking and Walking)
• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy 
• 1000 Great Rail-Trails, Third Edition - This directory is a complete listing of rail-trails available for public use in the United States.
• Environmental Innovation & Sustainability in the States (2006) - The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS). This report describes environmental initiatives and programs, some of which involve, or may have value to environmental enhancement of transportation.

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