Agencies can use various approaches to integrate planning and environmental processes, as illustrated in the overlapping of the two spheres.

Getting Started

A lot can be done to implement Planning and Environment Linkages. To apply the Planning and Environment Linkages approach, multiple activities can be undertaken to improve different stages of the transportation decisionmaking process. Some activities will emphasize internal integration, in which the various transportation development functions are reconfigured to work better together. Others will emphasize external integration, in which coordination between transportation, resource, and land management agency processes is heightened. To learn more about Implementation activities, and indicators to help guide implementation, visit the Implementation page.

Below are a number of steps you can take to begin integrating planning and environmental processes in your area:

• Read about Planning and Environment Linkages on the Publications page and explore the Case Studies page to learn from the experiences of state or metropolitan areas that decided to change their approach to conducting planning and environmental processes.
• Get trained on Planning and Environment Linkages concepts. Relevant training courses include:
  • Linking Conservation and Transportation Planning Workshop – designed to assist State DOTs, MPOs and State and Federal resource agencies to better coordinate and integrate transportation and conservation planning data and activities.
  • FHWA's GIS for Environmental Streamlining and Stewardship (GIS4EST) Workshop – which supports the adoption and development of GIS technologies to promote environmental streamlining and stewardship in transportation decisionmaking.
  • The Conservation Fund's Green Infrastructure Course – provides a way to plan and implement interconnected green space systems in conjunction with existing and planned transportation infrastructure.
  • Make a list of specific Planning and Environment Linkages implementation activities that your agency and/or partner agencies are undertaking or would like to pursue.
  • Discuss Planning and Environment Linkages and implementation practices with your peers in the Re:NEPA topic area Transportation Planning and NEPA linkages.

For questions or feedback on this subject matter content, please contact Mike Culp or Diane Turchetta. For general questions or web problems, please send feedback to the web administrator.

Back to top