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Much has been made about the time it takes for NEPA (mostly specific to EISs) processes to be completed with politicians and consumptive industries strongly suggesting NEPA is inefficient, archaic
NEPA is an ever evolving policy since it advocates process and evolving applied knowledge over outcomes. More and more, practitioners are experiencing the infusion of AI into the process and
Since its inception 50+ years ago, NEPA has been subject to criticism – takes too long, costs too much, and so on. As a result, many remedies have been put
Many infrastructure industry providers have migrated towards alternative delivery (in lieu of traditional design bid build approaches) to more quickly and efficiently deliver infrastructure for the public good. As a
NEPA language, and direction, when first created directed project sponsors and federal lead agencies to “summarize” the need for the project. Today, 50+ years later, the focus on need for
Identify and assess up to five projects subject to NEPA where OFD was a paramount focus. Assess how OFD was handled in each, ID commonalities, differences, and outcomes? Conduct interviews
For over 20 years Congress and presidential administrations from both parties have sought to accelerate environmental approval timeframes for transportation infrastructure projects. Planning Environmental Linkages (PELs) were first authorized in
The Section 4(f) Net Benefit Programmatic Evaluation was created in 2005. It provides a streamlined opportunity for Section 4(f) compliance when compared to completing an Individual Section 4(f) Evaluation. The
TERI Database Administrator Notes: Note recommended at present time by 2009 Environmental Process Subcommittee. In the current state of the practice there are no tools and best practices available that
TERI Database Administrator Notes: Funded as “Finding the Carrot Instead of the Stick – Incentive-based Approaches for Environmental Compliance” (NCHRP 25-25: Task 50). Planning, construction, and operations of transportation projects
TERI Administrator Note (January 2009): Related Research SHRP2 Project C01: Improving collaborative decision making and the process for selecting solutions to capacity problems. Projected completion date 2/27/09. http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=2161 Most transportation/environmental
TERI Administrator Note (January 2009): Funded as NCHRP Project 25-25, Task 38, “Guide to Use of Tier I Environmental Impact Statements for Transportation Projects.” Completion date October 2008. http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=1656 The
This research would have two elements: (a) dissemination of existing information technology and (b) foundational work to develop customized information technology tools for specific environmental stewardship and streamlining applications. Information
TERI Administrator Note (June 2007): Funded as NCHRP Project 25-25, Task 37. Completion date 10/31/08. http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=1655 The research will focus on reviewing transportation agencies for strategies and tools that assist
TERI Administrator Note (June 2007): Funded as NCHRP Project 25-25, Task 39, “Improving Project Environmental Cost Estimates.” Project completion date: October 2008. http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=1657 Improvement of cost estimating practices and the
A new decision making process is needed to underpin the system planning and project development process, one that is equipped to consider multi-modal and operations solutions that minimize adverse environmental
In order to make the best choices regarding the planning and development of highway capacity, transportation decision-makers need a wide range of data. To conduct impact assessment, for example, agencies
TERI Database Administrator Notes: Funded as NCHRP 25-25 48 “Compendium of Environmental Fieldwork Technologies” Maintain an ongoing compendium of environmental fieldwork technologies TERI Administrator Note (January 2009) Project funded under
Assessment of DOTs’ environmental commitment tracking systems TERI Administrator Note (June 2007): Research Completed AASHTO Practitioner Guide: Tracking Compliance with Environmental Commitments/Use of Environmental Monitors (2006) https://environment.transportation.org/center/products_programs/practitioners_handbooks.aspx#tracking This handbook provides
Develop case studies of successful approaches for combining NEPA and MPO planning. TERI Administrator Note (Feb 2009) – Related research: Highways and Environment: Transportation Agencies Are Acting to Involve Others
Background In February 2010 the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) released draft guidance for NEPA Mitigation and Monitoring. The memorandum proposes: “To provide guidance for departments and agencies of the
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
This research would identify best practices for early identification of environmental mitigation requirements and the cost of implementing such mitigation. TERI Administrator Note (Feb 2009) – Research Completed under NCHRP
Background NEPA environmental documents for projects reflect substantial time and money analyzing and predicting environmental impacts. Decisions on those projects are made based on that information. There is limited or no information
The research would solicit, compile, analyze, screen, sort, present, and then distribute effective figures, tables, graphics, visual simulations, video, and other visualization examples for nationwide use and adaptation by practitioners.
Problem Statement The current practice for mitigating environmental impacts of transportation projects is to mitigate only specific impacts on specific resources without consideration of which produces the best environmental result.
Problem Statement A potentially major barrier to sharing data in environmental and related management systems is intellectual property rights, including copyrights, licensing, and terms of use. Although state Departments of
TERI Database Administrator Notes:: Funded under NCHRP 25-25 (47) “Compendium of Best Practices for Incorporating Environmental Commitments into Transportation Project Construction Contract Documents” Background: During the planning and design phases
TERI Database Administrator Notes: Not recommended at present time by 2009 Environmental Process Subcommittee. A similar project was advanced through NCHRP 25-25, but was dropped because the issue is no longer of
States are increasingly facing the spectre of funding transportation projects with little or no federal transportation capital. NEPA compliance is required when federal funds are utilized, or when a permit,
TERI Database Administrator Notes: Note recommended at present time by 2009 Environmental Process Subcommittee. Problem Statement Several high-speed rail projects in the U.S. were proposed, analyzed, assessed, but were not built,
Analyze the accuracy of traffic forecasting over time, data that was used in environmental analysis/studies. For example, a 1980 traffic study for a particular project looked at the traffic numbers
RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT The transportation industry is experiencing a paradigm shift toward livability and sustainability, as evidenced by federal-level policy, new grant programs and keen interest in research connecting
Background As the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) applies to federal actions in all 50 states, most state DOT’s have partnered with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to develop and
With the use of FaceBook and Twitter, and the internet in general, the public has the ability to organize, share information (both accurate and inaccurate) quickly and with an incredibly
With the use of electronic media becoming prevalent in communication how effective are virtual NEPA public meetings. Some states have done research in public meeting options but at this point
State DOTs have measurably increased their participation in the climate change, transportation asset, and environmental planning linkage. There is currently a national policy movement to address these linkages and how
Background: Sea-level rise, increased precipitation events, and increased storm severity resulting from a changing climate will increase the vulnerability of transportation assets to flooding and other physical stressors. Recent extreme
FHWA and legal advisors have often insisted on the prominent display of disclaimers in conjunction with social media, which practitioners fear discourages public involvement. Such disclaimers often indicate that limited
In NEPA analysis that goes on for numerous years for transportation projects, the traffic data is updated with analytical consequences periodically throughout the process. But how often do these expensive
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