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Planning & Environment Linkages

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This section describes a range of policies, approaches and case studies related to linking transportation planning and project delivery. Planning and environment linkages considers environmental, community, and economic goals early in the planning stage and carries them through project development, design, and construction. This can lead to a seamless decision-making process that minimizes duplication of effort, promotes environmental stewardship, and reduces delays in project implementation.

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Recent Developments

• Hypothetical Case Studies Issued on Planning and Environmental Linkages
• Guidebook Issued on Multimodal, Integrated Corridor Management
• FHWA Launches On-Demand PEL Webinar
• FHWA Posts PEL Peer Exchange Summary
• FHWA Issues Examples of State Practices on Planning and Environment Linkages
• NCHRP Issues Guide on Transportation Performance Management
• FHWA Provides Update on Maine DOT’s Atlantic Salmon Programmatic
• Updated Briefing Book Describes Transportation Planning Process
• FHWA Clarifies Eligibility for Use of Planning Funds
• Fiscal Constraint Flexibilities Clarified by FHWA

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Key Resources

• AASHTO Practitioner’s Handbook #10: Using the Transportation Planning Process to Support the NEPA Process
• FHWA Planning and Environment Linkages Website
• Statewide Transportation Planning; Metropolitan Transportation Planning; Final Rule (Feb. 2007), Appendix A, incorporated as part of this regulatory notice, provides additional, nonbinding guidance to further explain the linkages between the transportation planning and project development/NEPA processes.
• FHWA Guidance on Using Corridor and Subarea Planning to Inform NEPA (2011)
• FHWA Implementing Eco-Logical Website and related resources including: Agencies Implementing the Eco-Logical Approach; Technical Assistance Activities; Technical Assistance; Eco-Logical at Meetings and Conferences; Library; Eco-Logical Report; Grant Program; Webinar Series
• FHWA PlanWorks Decision Support Tool: a web resource that supports collaborative decision-making in transportation planning and project development, built around key decision points in long-range planning, programming, corridor planning, and environmental review.

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