Research Idea Details

Research Idea Scope

With current reductions in funding for State DOTs and agencies, environmental teams have to find new and cost effective ways to better training and educate a shrinking workforce.  This effort will survey State DOTs and identify best practices.  In addition, a workshop with professionals from around the Nation may be necessary to develop ways to improve this area.

TERI Administrator Note (June 2007): Research Underway
FHWA STEP Project: Environmental Competency Building
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/fy07rp.htm#Environmental_Streamlining and http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/fy08rp.htm#Environmental_Streamlining__

Maintaining knowledge and expertise at the FHWA, State DOTs, resource agencies, and the consulting industry is essential to the effective delivery of an environmentally sensitive transportation program. FHWA Environmental Competency Building (ECB) program is an ongoing research effort focused on the current and future multidisciplinary professional development needs of transportation and environmental professionals. The ECB serves the transportation and environmental community by providing access to relevant information, guidance, training, and recommendations that will assist the long term development and maintenance of environmental and transportation professionals. This research effort will support the continued development of ECB and will also include the completion of the Advanced NEPA Seminar and development of a new Section 4(f) training course.

Urgency and Payoff

This research will assist states to be better prepared to handle an increasing workload with a decreasing budget.