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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

• Newsletter Highlights Use of Eco-Logical for Project Delivery
• Research Provides Framework for Tracking Long-Distance Travel
• Guidance Offered on Updating Planning Tools to Address Automated Vehicles
• NCHRP Research to Yield Performance Measures for Public Involvement
• Shared Mobility Impacts on Transportation Demand, Supply Analyzed in Report
• FHWA Report Evaluates Eco-Logical Program
• FHWA Issues Guidance on Transportation Scenario Planning
• FHWA Releases Report on Kansas City Scenario Planning Workshop
• NADO Issues Report on Rural Transportation Planning
• Report Issued on Alaska Regional Models of Cooperation Peer Exchange

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Key Resources

• AASHTO Practitioner’s Handbook #10: Using the Transportation Planning Process to Support the NEPA Process (February 2008)
• Planning and Environment Linkages Questions and Answers (Nov. 2016)
• FHWA Planning and Environment Linkages Website
• FHWA Every Day Counts/Planning & Environment Linkages Tools including FHWA Planning and Environment Linkages Questionnaire, PEL Frequently Asked Questions, States Using PEL and PEL Equivalents
• 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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