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FHWA's Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Program: Using the PEL Umbrella Approach to Streamline Transportation Decision-making

Slide 1
FHWA's Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Program: Using the PEL Umbrella Approach to Streamline Transportation Decision-making

Slide 2
Discussion Framework

• PEL Background
• Benefits
• Important Elements of PEL
  • Intra-Agency Coordination
  • Inter-Agency Coordination
  • Data Sharing and Analysis
• Lessons Learned
• FY 2008-2009 PEL Priorities

Slide 3
Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL): What is it?

• An APPROACH to transportation decision-making
• A PROGRAM promoting tools and resources
• Supports FHWA/FTA Planning and NEPA Regulations

Slide 4
PEL Activities

• Eco-Logical
• Integrated Planning Work Group
• Linking Conservation & Transportation Planning
• Context Sensitive Solutions

Slide 5
Expected Benefits of PEL

• Relationship-building
• Process efficiency
• On-the-ground outcomes

Slide 6
Important Elements of PEL

• Intra-Agency Coordination
• Inter-Agency Coordination
• Data Sharing and Analysis

Slide 7
Intra-Agency Coordination

• Obtain executive level commitment to a more comprehensive process
• Increase coordination among planning, environment, GIS and IT staff
• Sample Actions:
  • Conduct inter-disciplinary meetings
  • Host cross-training sessions
  • Develop agency-wide guidance

Slide 8
Inter-Agency Coordination Example

• Coordination includes sharing information, documents, history, files, commitments
• Colorado DOT's Linking Planning & NEPA Guidance and Online Training
  • Incorporated planning products into environmental review process
  • http://www.dot.state.co.us/environmental/Training/NEPA_index.asp

Slide 9
Intra-Agency Coordination

• Involve resource agencies early in transportation planning
• Sample Actions:
  • Establish interagency work groups or committees
  • Host workshops (e.g., Linking Conservation and Transportation Planning)
  • Establish MOUs/MOAs

Slide 10
Inter-Agency Coordination Example

• Southeast Michigan Council of Governments' (SEMCOG) Long-Range Transportation Planning
  • Analyzed potential impacts of planned transportation projects on environmentally sensitive resources
  • Consulted with multiple agencies to determine significant resources and appropriate buffer sizes

Slide 11
Data Sharing and Analysis

• Share data/analyses among agencies
• Overlay proposed transportation projects on identified sensitive resources
• Meet planning requirement for comparison of metropolitan plans to State conservation plans/maps; inventories of natural or historic resources
• Data and Analysis Tools:
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
  • Project Screening Tools

Slide 12
Data Sharing and Analysis Example

• Florida's Environmental Screening Tool (EST)
  • Identifies and maps environmental concerns
  • Screens potential projects
  • Resource agencies analyze their own data
  • Secure website for project reviews

Slide 13
Lessons Learned

• Implementation of PEL approach is an ongoing, long-term process
• Determining and agreeing on the appropriate level of environmental detail is key
• Decisions along the way need to have good documentation behind them
• Communication/coordination, both internally and externally, is a major challenge
• There is a need to demonstrate the benefits of PEL

Slide 14
FHWA's FY 2008-2009 PEL Priorities

• Technical Assistance
  • State-specific technical assistance
  • Peer Exchange on GIS in PEL
  • Linking Conservation and Transportation Planning Workshops
  • Integration with FHWA Initiatives (Eco-Logical, Integrated Planning, etc.)

Slide 15
FHWA's FY 2008-2009 PEL Priorities

• Targeted Expansion of PEL Areas
  • Capturing best practices in State DOTs
  • Exploring links between PEL and other planning and environment areas

Slide 16
FHWA's FY 2008-2009 PEL Priorities

• Outreach/Communication
  • PEL website http://environment.fhwa.dot.gov/integ/index.asp
  • Publications and reports on new PEL resources and analysis
  • Conferences, workshops to enhance awareness of PEL

Slide 17
Questions?

• U.S. DOT/Volpe Center:
  • Gina Barberio: Gina.Barberio@volpe.dot.gov
  • Rachael Barolsky: Rachae.Barolsky@volpe.dot.gov
• Federal Highway Administration:
  • Robert Ritter: Robert.Ritter@dot.gov
  • Mike Culp: Michael.Culp@dot.gov
• http://environment.fhwa.dot.gov/integ/index.asp