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STEP |
The purpose of this document is to communicate the implementation strategy for the Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program (STEP). The strategy identifies functions, research emphasis areas, an implementation timeline, and a framework for decisions regarding project priorities and funding. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) received comments, in regard to this document, through a FHWA established Federal Register Docket. The FHWA also created a website for STEP which will be used on a continual basis, as a major mechanism for informing the public regarding the status of the STEP and to solicit input on program governance. The website can be found at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/index.htm.
Section 5207, Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program (STEP), of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) established a new cooperative research program for environment and planning research in section 507 of Title 23, United States Code, Highways (23 U.S.C. 507). The general objective of the STEP is to improve understanding of the complex relationship between surface transportation, planning, and the environment.
The SAFETEA-LU authorized $16.875 million per year for FY2006-FY2009 to implement this new program. However, due to obligation limitations, rescissions and the over-designation of Title V Research in SAFETEA-LU, $11.914 million of the $16.875 million authorized is available in FY2006 with similar amounts anticipated in future years.1 STEP is also the primary source of funds to conduct all FHWA research on planning and environmental issues. In addition, Congress mandated several special studies and STEP will be the funding source for those projects. STEP will also address priorities identified in the U.S. Department of Transportation Research and Development Strategic Plan (section 508 of title 23 U.S.C.)
STEP funding, even in combination with other SAFETEA-LU research funding sources, is less than what was available to the FHWA in prior years for planning and environmental research. On average, FHWA had $27.1 million available per year for planning and environmental research for FY2003-FY2005 (including earmarks and designations). Thus, STEP funding represents a 39.2% reduction in FHWA environmental and planning research funding (see Figure 1 and Table 1). This means FHWA will have to make difficult choices among the many competing needs for planning and environmental research, and will not be able to fund all worthy research.
Figure 1: FHWA Research Funding for Planning and Environment, FY2003-FY2008 (STEP, TELUS, TRANSIMS, earmarks, etc. minus obligation limitations, rescissions, etc.)
Table 1: FHWA Research Funding for Planning and Environment by Source, FY2003-FY2008 (minus obligation limitations, rescissions, etc.)
| Funding Sources for Planning and Environmental Research | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Streamlining (from annual Appropriation Acts) | $ 6,954,500.00 | $ 6,557,237.00 | $ 5,301,463.00 | $ - | $ - | $ - |
| Surface Transportation Research (Planning and Environment) | 15,082,000.00 | 15,046,698.00 | 13,863,981.00 | - | - | - |
| Technology Deployment (TD) (excluding TELUS) | 4,229,000.00 | 5,078,260.00 | 4,446,144.00 | - | - | - |
| TELUS (New Jersey Institute of Technology)* | 894,000.00 | 940,419.00 | 823,360.00 | 706,022.00 | 774,518.00 | 781,845.00 |
| Advanced Travel Forecasting Procedures (TRANSIMS) | 2,235,375.00 | - | - | 1,853,308.00 | 1,931,454.00 | 1,949,726.00 |
| Rural Transportation Research (New England Institute of Technology) | - | - | - | 706,022.00 | - | - |
| Center for Transportation Advancement and Regional Development | - | - | - | 441,264.00 | 484,074.00 | 488,653.00 |
| Center for Environmental Excellence | - | - | - | 882,528.00 | 919,740.00 | 928,441.00 |
| Exploratory Advanced Research | - | - | - | - | 120,000.00 | - |
| Surface Transportion Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program (STEP) | - | - | - | 11,914,125.00 | 12,416,491.00 | 12,533,955.00 |
| Total Funds Available for Planning and Environmental Research | $ 29,394,875.00 | $ 27,622,614.00 | $ 24,434,948.00 | $ 16,503,269.00 | $ 16,646,277.00 | $ 16,682,620.00 |
* TELUS is the Transportation, Economic and Land Use System. Funding was included in Technology Deployment for FY03-FY05
Congress mandated that the Federal share be 50% for research funded under Title V of SAFETEA-LU, including STEP. While this will not apply to contract funding, it will apply to STEP research funded through cooperative agreements and grants. Selective waivers of the non-Federal match may be possible, if justified, but USDOT has not determined the process, criteria, and authority for granting such waivers. FHWA expects waivers to be rare.
Section 507 of Title 23 U.S.C. identifies certain characteristics of STEP regarding program content and administration. Regarding the program content, STEP may include research to:
In administering the program, USDOT and FHWA must ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that:
The number of stakeholders with an interest in environment and planning research is enormous and diverse, including these three tiers:
Tier 1 — Federal Agencies and Tribes: There are at least a score of Federal agencies with strong interest in transportation planning and environmental programs, including the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, Agriculture, Energy, Interior (DOI) and Housing and Urban Development, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Within each of these agencies, there are many discrete organizations/programs with an interest — e.g., National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management within the DOI. Within the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), FHWA partners with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on virtually all planning and environmental work, including research. FHWA also coordinates with the Federal Railroad, Aviation, Research and Innovative Technology, National Highway Traffic Safety and Maritime Administrations, and with the Office of the Secretary of Transportation on Global Climate Change as well as other issues. There are over 500 federally recognized Native American Tribes, which have a major interest in research affecting their planning and environmental needs.
Tier II — State and Local Government: State Departments of Transportation (State DOTs) and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) have a major interest in environment and planning research, as the research affects national policy and can also provide important tools, information, and training to meet day-to-day needs of these agencies. In addition, local government units (including transit operators as well as county public works departments and city transportation departments) depend on national environmental and planning research. State/local environmental and natural resource agencies and State Historic Preservation Officers have a strong interest in planning and environmental research. There is also a growing interest by state/local health agencies in transportation planning and environmental research as it relates to health impacts of the surface transportation system.
Tier III — Nongovernmental Transportation and Environmental Stakeholders: Within the transportation and environment sector, there are hundreds and perhaps thousands of nongovernmental stakeholders, such as the American Automobile Association, American Road & Transportation Builders Association, American Highway Users Alliance, Surface Transportation Policy Project, Defenders of Wildlife, American Association of Retired Persons, Sierra Club, Conservation Law Foundation, American Council of Engineering Companies, American Planning Association, League of American Bicyclists, National Trust for Historic Preservation, International Right of Way Association, National Alliance of Highway Beautification Agencies and others too numerous to specify here.
The views and interests of the research community, including universities, consultants, and nonprofit research organizations are also important to consider. However, it is probably appropriate to differentiate these views based on their strong vested interest in receiving STEP funding to conduct research.
FHWA faces a great challenge to involve all of the above stakeholders in STEP, considering the large number of interested organizations and the dramatic differences in their views and interests. Nonetheless, FHWA will make a strong effort to seek out and consider the views of all of the above interests in shaping STEP and carrying out the STEP. FHWA has already held initial meetings with some of these groups to begin receiving input on the governance and strategic direction of STEP, and will continue this outreach in the future.
FHWA's Office of Planning, Environment and Realty has undertaken several activities in past years that are pertinent to establishing STEP. These activities include research needs assessments, conferences, sponsorship of multi-jurisdictional groups and panels focused on creating new research agendas for transportation planning, realty and environmental research. FHWA also relied on the following in creating the STEP Implementation Strategy, and will continue to use these as key resource documents in the continued implementation of STEP. The documents are listed in chronological order.
Refocusing Transportation Planning for the 21st Century (TRB Conference Proceedings 20, Washington, DC, February 7-10, 1999 and Irvine, CA, April 25-28, 1999).
Documenting the proceedings of a two-part conference, this report contains (1) the recommendations of Conference I participants regarding a new vision for the transportation planning process and critical issues for research, and (2) specific research problem statements written as part of Conference II, building on the critical areas defined in Conference I.
(Not available in electronic form)
Environmental Research Needs in Transportation: Report of a Conference. Washington, DC, March 21-23, 2002.
This report contains the proceedings of a conference held in March 2002, which was intended to set an agenda for transportation/environmental research for a broad array of government and non-government entities with an interest in transportation planning and environment (not just for FHWA). In the proceedings are top research needs identified at the conference, along with background papers. These are organized into chapters for 15 topic areas.
http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=3958
Surface Transportation Environmental Research: A Long-Term Strategy (TRB Special Report 268), 2002.
This report defines a broad research program to address and inform major public policy debates about the effects of surface transportation facilities and operations on the human and natural environments. The committee that conducted the study identified major gaps in knowledge that could be filled through a cooperative program of research involving federal agencies, states, and environmental organizations. The committee recommended creation of a new cooperative research program to carry out its recommended research agenda.
http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=612
The following are the STEP research functions:
As mandated in the legislation, and part of any well designed research program, FHWA will conduct outreach and solicit input on STEP program direction and governance, and will seek collaborative opportunities with other entities conducting research, including Federal partners. FHWA will attain a high degree of transparency in the research plans and research activities via outreach at several different points in the decision-making process (see Section VII below). FHWA will work to develop measures of performance that will be assessed on a regular basis. Outreach and collaboration will take several different forms, including listening sessions, expert panels, peer exchanges, Federal Register notices, STEP email discussion groups, and domestic scans, among others. FHWA will also coordinate with other entities conducting research (such as the National Cooperative Highway Research Program and the Transit Cooperative Research Program (NCHRP, TCRP), SHRP2, EPA, CDC, DOI, FTA, other Federal agencies, State DOTs, and universities) to maximize collaboration and minimize duplication.
FHWA will conduct a needs-driven research program within STEP that builds on past and future outreach to the research and user communities as well as on documented research needs assessments. Research will be conducted via competitive bids, grants, cooperative agreements, and pooled funds, etc. FHWA will incorporate peer reviews into STEP research as much as possible. In addition, FHWA expects to share funding for various research activities with our partners and will use a variety of mechanisms to enable joint funding.
For research to be meaningful to the practitioner communities, results of research must have a deployment component. Deployment and capacity building are major elements of the STEP and may be integrated into each emphasis area and project undertaken. Deployment and capacity building activities may take the form of information dissemination, training, peer-to-peer exchanges, domestic scans, workshops, technical assistance, presentations, or web-conferences, etc.
STEP emphasis areas reflect the SAFETEA-LU legislation, past research needs conferences and assessments, and comments received via the FHWA Federal Register docket. FHWA has organized the STEP emphasis areas into four major categories: Environment; Planning; Tools to Support Planning and Environment; and Program Management and Outreach. Specific emphasis areas and proposed funding is identified within these categories. The funding estimates indicate the potential scale of funding possible. However, given the limited amount of STEP funding and potential shifts in priorities, the level of research funding for specific emphasis areas may vary from year to year. These emphasis areas are further described below, together with estimated FY2009 funding levels.
The points of contacts listed for each emphasis area below will coordinate research associated with these emphasis areas
The goals of this emphasis area are to: (1) better understand the contribution of transportation facilities and services to air pollution and greenhouse gases and their potential implications, including environmental and human health impacts; (2) develop and assess analytical methods to adequately identify and reduce transportation emissions; (3) identify cost-effective mitigation strategies to reduce transportation emissions; and (4) develop information, guidance and communication strategies to provide useful technical assistance and training to State and local partners and stakeholders.
Potential research activities include: evaluating air quality impacts such as mobile source air toxics; diesel and other particulate matter; ozone; carbon monoxide; carbon dioxide, and methane; evaluating and improving emission and dispersion models; assessing air quality "hot spots" for emissions characteristics, health impacts and regulatory purposes; identifying cost-effective emissions reduction strategies; assessing and identifying ways to reduce emissions from freight services; evaluating greenhouse gas mitigation efforts; assessing the potential impacts of climate change on transportation; and identifying more effective ways of communicating scientific and regulatory information on transportation-air quality to our partners at State and local agencies and to stakeholders.
The goals of this emphasis area are to: (1) help transportation agencies improve analytical skills and abilities to assess impacts and implement mitigation for impacts from highway project development to aquatic resources and water quality, in particular storm water and to natural vegetation, habitats, and wildlife; (2) develop procedures and methods to streamline environmental reviews related to natural resource laws and regulations; and (3) provide improved analytical methods for addressing storm water impacts to water quality and aquatic resources; assessing the impacts of projects on wildlife and habitats, especially habitat connectivity and ecosystem integrity; (4) assist in implementing streamlined procedures and processes for environmental review of natural ecosystem impacts and develop new and better approaches for ecosystem-based mitigation, including training and outreach; and (5) enhance interagency coordination and communication.
Potential research activities in support of this emphasis area include: developing methods to measure impacts of storm water runoff; identifying and evaluating mitigation strategies for storm water runoff; assessing impacts of highway projects on ecosystems; identifying and evaluating ways to mitigate impacts; assessing impacts and evaluating controls strategies for noxious weeds; maintaining information sources, including clearinghouses and websites; distributing new information and technical information; conducting interagency projects and cooperative activities to improve and streamline compliance reviews and mitigation such as programmatic approaches; delivering training and technical assistance; developing better tools and analytical methods; and providing support for Federal reviews and incentives for exemplary practices; and identify, maintain and distribute new information and technical sources on activities and programs that promote or develop tools and methods for better integration of brownfields and other hazardous waste sites into transportation planning and development.
The overall goals of this emphasis area are to: (1) assist in providing all parties involved in the historic preservation process access to information and effective approaches to reach timely transportation decisions that support the mission of the agency and goals of stewardship; (2) identify and improve methods that respond to the needs of planning and environmental decision making processes; and (3) develop mechanisms to ensure the quality of analysis used to support decision making and to meet local, state, and federal program requirements.
Potential research activities include: identifying best practices for all aspects of implementation of the Section 106 review process, particularly the effective use of contexts, technology to track and advance survey and planning efforts, and the application of program alternatives; identifying and meeting analytical needs; delivering training and technical assistance associated with recent research findings on treatment of historic bridges, and best practices for considering and addressing historic roads and evaluating National Register eligibility of historic resources.
The overall goals of this emphasis area are to: (1) investigate and institutionalize the collection of bicycle and pedestrian trip/exposure data at national, State, and local levels; (2) provide technical knowledge and products needed by state and local officials in developing and implementing bicycle and pedestrian projects; (3) determine the health benefits of increased physical activity due to higher rates of bicycling and walking; (4) determine how to make the appropriate provision of bicycle and pedestrian projects a routine part of all transportation decisions; and (5) develop meaningful measures of effectiveness for bicycle and pedestrian projects and programs, such as quantifying environmental benefits due to improved walking and bicycling rates.
Potential research activities include: identifying and assessing effects of nonmotorized facilities and projects on changes in the amount of nonmotorized use; identifying mechanisms to incorporate bike and pedestrian facilities into transportation networks and to encourage their use; evaluating impacts of built environment on health; maintaining information outreach operations; delivering training and technical assistance; developing new analytical methods and use/exposure measures; conducting outreach activities; and communicating bike/pedestrian and health research results to Federal, State, and local partners.
The overall goals of this emphasis area are to: (1) continue to develop the FHWA Traffic Noise Model (FHWA TNM) to ensure that it is functional in today's changing technology; (2) provide technical knowledge to transportation agencies in conducting accurate noise analysis for determining highway traffic noise impacts as well as noise associated with construction activities; (3) determine if the FHWA TNM is capable of incorporating additional unknown variables in the noise environment, such as atmospheric effects and pavements; (4) continue to explore the various components of quieter pavements to ensure adequate and appropriate application for which policy changes will be based upon; and (5) bridge the gap between planning and environmental partners to determine how noise compatible land use planning can be implemented to avoid noise impacts.
Potential research activities include: validation of the FHWA TNM Version 3.0, and development of training; research the FHWA TNM's ability to adjust for different pavement types; develop standard measurement methods for effects of pavement on noise; and additional research and management of the quieter pavement program to assess the use of quieter pavements as a noise prevention/abatement tool.
The goals of this emphasis area are to: (1) provide improved tools to State DOTs and Local Public Agencies (LPAs) for the performance of their responsibilities in real estate and in outdoor advertising control (OAC); (2) develop improved methods for, and support the institutional capacity of State and LPA personnel to, perform real estate acquisitions, relocations and property management activities for public projects subject to the Uniform Relocation and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (42 USC 4601); and (3) develop mechanisms to ensure the quality of real estate and OAC technical analysis used to support decision making and to meet local, state, and federal program requirements.
Potential research activities in support of this emphasis area include: assessing and developing improved tools, techniques, and procedures for real estate and OAC; identifying and assessing results of policies and guidance for realty acquisition and relocation; developing innovative information-sharing methods among practitioners, including identifying and communicating new and best practices and research results; maintaining communities of practice and a website for real estate and OAC; developing training and technical assistance; and identifying analytical needs.
The overall goals of this emphasis area are to: (1) help states implement and evaluate SAFETEA-LU environmental stewardship and streamlining measures; (2) conduct interagency initiatives to implement process efficiencies; (3) support Executive Order 13274 in developing and promoting innovative environmental streamlining and stewardship practices; support liaisons to develop and advance innovations; and (4) develop NEPA competency through training and technical assistance.
Potential research activities in support of this emphasis area include: developing environmental analysis techniques that incorporate geospatial technology, ecosystem science advancements, and decision support tools; developing innovative methodologies for gathering and reporting performance on SAFETEA-LU provisions including the experiments in NEPA and Categorical Exclusion delegation, and environmental commitments; conducting pilot projects to advance the Green Highway Partnership, Integrated Planning, and Eco-Logical principles; evaluating, updating, and conducting advanced NEPA training; supporting the congestion initiative by evaluating how environmental streamlining and stewardship is accomplished under innovative financing and public private partnerships; and conducting pilot projects on environmental process improvements associated with public private partnerships and major congestion relief projects.
The goals of this emphasis area are to: (1) support Divisions, State DOTs and other stakeholders to continue CSS capacity building, awareness, and implementation strategies; (2) provide outreach and assistance to planning agencies in the development and delivery of CSS tools for supporting transportation environmental and planning decisions; (3) provide training and literature that responds to the needs of planning and the environmental CSS decision making processes; and (4) develop CSS mechanisms and market strategies for ensuring the quality of technical analysis used to support CSS decision making meet local, state, and federal program requirements.
Potential research activities include: documenting and deploying exemplary CSS practices; evaluating CSS performance; maintaining a clearinghouse, website, and review panel; delivering academic and non-academic training and technical assistance at the local, state, and national levels (including web-based training); integrating CSS into planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance activities; developing tools, techniques, and procedures for use in collaborative CSS decision making; and conducting regional and national workshops, peer exchanges, and dialogues.
The overall goals of this emphasis area are to reduce congestion by: (1) strengthening the linkage between transportation systems management and operations and the statewide and metropolitan transportation planning, programming, and decision-making processes; (2) establishing and building upon working relationships between transportation planning agencies/practitioners and State, regional, and local operators of transportation systems; (3) developing and marketing improved and/or new analytical methods that address transportation systems management and operations strategies in transportation planning and programming processes, products, and decisions; and (4) expanding the role of Congestion Management Processes/Systems in shaping and prioritizing regional transportation improvement strategies that address congestion.
Potential research activities include: developing and deploying improved and/or new tools, techniques, and procedures; developing and delivering training, workshops, and technical assistance; facilitating communication among and between transportation planning agencies/practitioners and State, regional, and local operators of transportation systems; identifying analytical needs; and collecting and disseminating noteworthy practices for strengthening the state-of-the-practice and addressing Federal program requirements.
A significant amount of highway safety research is conducted under other FHWA programs. STEP research would focus on the limited issue of improving safety planning by: (1) developing and improving data collection methods that respond to the needs of planning and safety decision making processes; and (2) helping planning agencies build their institutional capacity to integrate safety into the transportation planning and decision-making process.
Potential research activities include: identifying analytical needs for improved safety planning; and developing tools, techniques, training and procedures for improved safety planning.
The overall goals of this emphasis area are to: (1) strengthen the linkage between freight issues and considerations and the statewide and metropolitan transportation planning, programming, and decision-making processes; (2) establish and build upon working relationships between public sector transportation agencies and freight shippers and providers of freight transportation services to ensure safe and efficient movement of freight; and (3) develop and improve analytical methods that respond to freight issues and considerations in transportation planning, programming, and decision-making.
Potential research activities include: identifying analytical needs; conducting basic research; collecting and disseminating noteworthy practices for strengthening the state-of-the-practice; developing tools, techniques, and procedures; maintaining and expanding the FHWA Freight Planning website; developing and delivering training, workshops, and technical assistance; and facilitating communication among and between the public and private sectors.
The goals of this emphasis area are to: (1) support State DOTs, MPOs, tribes and other stakeholders to continue capacity building for public participation in all aspects of the transportation planning process; (2) assist transportation planning agencies in developing public participation plans that are comprehensive and inclusive; (3) ensure the transportation planning process is open to all regardless of race, color, national origin, or income; and (4) provide training and research on the use of visualization techniques.
Potential research activities include: documenting and deploying exemplary public participation practices; delivering training and technical assistance; developing improved tools, techniques and procedures for incorporating visualization in planning and for increasing public involvement in the transportation planning process; providing incentives for exemplary practice; and improving data collection, monitoring, and analysis tools that assess the needs of, and analyze the potential impacts on minority, low-income and other populations.
The overall goal of this emphasis area is to provide assistance to decision makers, transportation officials, and staff to resolve the increasingly complex issues they face when addressing transportation needs in their communities. This emphasis area is targeted to (1) provide background information for State/Local/Tribal transportation officials to enhance their understanding of the transportation planning process, their role within the process, and its relationship to community and societal goals; (2) strengthen transportation planning staff skills in the areas of consensus building, understanding policy guidance, and grasping the technical elements of their job; (3) provide a means for disseminating commendable examples of transportation planning practices across the nation; (4) support the linkage of transportation planning and other topic areas; and (5) provide data to support the planning process.
Potential research activities include: developing tools, techniques, procedures; providing incentives for exemplary practice; delivering training and technical assistance; conducting a peer exchange program on planning issues; documenting and deploying interdisciplinary/interagency approaches for addressing human and natural environment; issues and interests in transportation planning processes; integrated planning; and performance based planning.
The overall goal of this area is to conduct research that will help enable safe, secure and efficient movement of people and goods across the border and though the binational border area while enhancing the community and the environment. Cooperative research activities will be undertaken with the 15 land Border States, MPOs, other US federal agencies and Mexico and Canada via the US/Mexico Joint Working Committee on Transportation Planning and Programming and the US/Canada Transportation Border Working Group.
Potential research activities include: developing and testing architecture for border transportation information flows; developing binational innovative financing mechanisms for border-related improvement; identifying and assessing infrastructure needs and analyzing their impact on the binational transportation system; developing binational Geographical Information Systems tools and applications to enhance binational planning, assessing methods to improve and speed information exchange and environmental assessment; exploring development of enhanced modeling techniques to improve border and bi-national decision-making; and developing binational border transportation performance measures.
The overall goals of this emphasis area are to: (1) conduct research that provides analysis and assessments of the National Highway System (e.g. Interstate STRAHNET intermodal connectors) for defense planning and environmental decision making; (2) facilitate rural economic development related research activities required by SAFETEA-LU; (3) support the national research community (e.g., TRB committee on economic development and transportation, military transportation committee, and critical transportation infrastructure protection committee): and (4) support of FHWA information needs regarding the extent and nature of state economic development programs.
Potential research activities include: updating the digital mapping of the NHS components (which is the basis for a number of different research papers); developing material to support the research related work of the National Development Organization and the New England Transportation Institute pursuant to section of Title V of SAFETEA-LU; updating databases used for research; creating content for research related websites; providing information for TRB economic development committee activities (e.g., national research meetings) and providing information for research related activities of other organizations such as the NCHRP and the Delta Regional Authority.
The overall goals of this emphasis area are to: develop and improve analytical methods which respond to the needs of the planning and environmental decision making processes; deploy these methods to planning agencies; help agencies build their institutional capacity to develop and deliver traveler related information to support transportation and planning decisions; and develop mechanisms to ensure the quality of transportation technical analysis used to support decision making at the local, state and federal levels.
Potential research activities include: basic research on time of day and freight needs in the modeling process; developing tools, techniques and procedures; supporting deployment of research products and modifying research products based on applications experience; supporting peer reviews of model applications and identifying where research products can enhance model application; conducting outreach to make agencies aware of innovative modeling techniques and modeling issues in general; supporting regional and national peer exchanges; and identifying analytic needs to be addressed by the research program.
The goal of this emphasis area is to improve and support transportation decision making through application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This research will focus on: (1) disseminating knowledge about geospatial technologies; (2) encouraging Federal, State DOTs, resource agencies to foster partnerships and exchange data, ideas, tools, and methodologies that will result in improved decision making; (3) supporting GIS activities; and (4) cultivating cutting-edge application of GIS/Spatial information for transportation to improve the decision making process and enhance the quality of the decision.
Potential research activities include: mining applications of geospatial technology and assessing their effectiveness for transportation; identifying emerging geospatial technology that will be implemented in the next 5 years; identifying effective business models and public-private partnerships to support enhanced GIS in transportation; developing focus areas for future initiatives to enhance transportation decision-making and the uses of geospatial technologies; and conducting collaborative workshops and training; and working with committees of TRB, AASHTO and other stakeholders.
The goals of this emphasis area are to: (1) assess and facilitate the implementation of the STEP; (2) provide resources to support the dissemination of information related to the STEP; and (3) support stakeholder outreach associated with the STEP; and (4) develop tools to disseminate research results.
Potential activities include: program support; website; workshops; peer reviews; scans; training; technical assistance; presentations; publications; conferences; and symposia.
Table 2: Proposed STEP Emphasis Areas
| STEP Emphasis Area | FY2009 Proposed Funding | Lead Office/Contact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Environment | ||
| Natural Environment | ||
| Air Quality and Global Climate Change | $ 1,148,500 | Michael.Savonis@dot.gov; Cecilia.Ho@dot.gov |
| Water/Wetlands/Vegetation/Wildlife/ Habitat/Brownfields | $ 1,070,000 | Carol.Adkins@dot.gov |
| Human Environment | ||
| Historic Preservation | $ 225,000 | MaryAnn.Naber@dot.gov |
| Bicycle/Pedestrian and Health | $ 70,000 | Gabe.Rousseau@dot.gov |
| Noise | $ 200,000 | Mark.Ferroni@dot.gov |
| Outdoor Advertising Control/Realty Program Management | $ 300,000 | Arnold.Feldman@dot.gov |
| Environmental Process Improvement | ||
| Environmental Streamlining/Stewardship | $ 1,663.500 | Shari.Schaftlein@dot.gov |
| Context Sensitive Solutions | $ 500,000 | Shari.Schaftlein@dot.gov |
| 2. Planning | ||
| Planning Focus Areas | ||
| Congestion | $ 750,000 | Harlan.Miller@dot.gov |
| Safety Planning | $ 100,000 | Lorrie.Lau@dot.gov |
| Freight Planning | $ 100,000 | Spencer.Stevens@dot.gov |
| State/Local/Tribal Planning Capacity Building | ||
| Public Involvement, EJ, Visualization in Planning | $ 375,000 | Brenda.Kragh@dot.gov |
| Other Activities that Support State/ Local/Tribal Planning Capacity Building | $ 2,425,000 | Robert.Ritter@dot.gov |
| National/International Planning | ||
| US/Canada and US Mexico Border Planning | $ 400,000 | Roger.Petzold@dot.gov |
| National Security, Defense, and Interstate Planning | $ 300,000 | Mike.Neathery@dot.gov |
| 3. Tools To Support Planning and Environment Emphasis Areas | ||
| Travel Modeling | $ 730,000 | Fred.Ducca@dot.gov |
| GIS/Spatial Information for Improved Decision Making | $ 400,000 | Roger.Petzold@dot.gov |
| 4. Program Management and Outreach | $ 1,000,000 | Felicia.Young@dot.gov |
FY2006/FY2007 were transition years and reflect the development of appropriate programmatic, contractual, outreach, and collaborative mechanisms to implement STEP. Some critical research needs in transportation planning and the environment and some FHWA legacy programs, and Congressional mandates must be funded. FHWA is taking an incremental and evolutionary approach to STEP implementation and will ultimately work under a more structured implementation strategy.
Figure 2 illustrates the framework for STEP research. The framework corresponds to the implementation timeline found in the next section. Major products for which FHWA will seek public and stakeholder feedback are bolded in Figure 2.The figure reads from top to bottom.
Figure 2: Proposed STEP framework
At this time, FHWA is requesting suggestions for the lines of research that should be pursued within each emphasis area. For example, stakeholders who have an interest in the "Tools to Support Environment and Planning" emphasis area might suggest that is important to research ways to identify business models to enhance transportation decision-making using geospatial data. Feedback on suggested lines of research for the FY2009 STEP Research Plan should be submitted by September 22, 2008 via the feedback system on the STEP website at: http://knowledge.fhwa.dot.gov/cops/step.nsf/home.
The FHWA does not seek specific, detailed research proposals and discourages researchers from submitting proposals of that nature. Rather, the FHWA staff that serve as contacts for each emphasis area will work with stakeholders in the 17 research emphasis areas to identify and prioritize lines of research within each area and to subsequently develop specific work activities.
The following is a proposed timeline for the implementation of STEP:
| Winter | Begin to implement current fiscal year, through appropriate procurement methods, agreements and partnerships. (May shift depending on appropriations) |
|---|---|
| Spring | Refine STEP Implementation Strategy/Goals/Emphasis Areas; publish Federal Register Notice and update website information to solicit feedback on next fiscal year STEP activities. Conduct outreach for next fiscal year by emphasis area, review research needs and identify gaps. |
| Spring/Summer | Develop priorities for and fund critical research. Develop next draft fiscal year STEP Plan for comment. |
| Fall/Winter | Post current fiscal year plan on STEP website. (May shift depending on appropriations) |
Several stakeholders expressed an interest in the ways in which they can provide input. Within the proposed framework for implementing STEP, FHWA envisions several key points in the process where various forms of stakeholder input will be needed. These will likely include, but not be limited to:
A variety of opportunities for stakeholder feedback, input and advice for STEP will occur. FHWA envisions a variety of stakeholder input opportunities that will vary by emphasis area.
Within STEP, FHWA anticipates that requests for proposals or other competitive contracting mechanisms, including broad agency announcements for grants and cooperative agreements to conduct research, will be developed to address emphasis areas. Work under STEP will be consistent with the legislative requirements including the U.S. Department of Transportation Research and Development Strategic Plan (section 508 of title 23 of the U.S.C.). FHWA intends to encourage development of proposals for potential cooperative and jointly funded projects using a variety of competitive arrangements. Therefore, unsolicited proposals will not be the likely mechanism for receiving funding under STEP. However, as with any research envisioned by external parties, FHWA receives unsolicited proposals through an existing formal FHWA process (see "A Guide to Federal Highway Administration Policies and Procedures for Submitting Unsolicited Proposals," http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/aaa/gtup.htm).
As the STEP evolves, FHWA expects to follow the same, or a very similar, timeline as that described in section VIII above. The timeline, and any updates or revisions will also be posted on the STEP website to inform stakeholders of key points in time when they can provide input.
Feedback on suggested lines of research for the FY2009 STEP Research Plan should be submitted by September 22, 2008 via the feedback system on the STEP website at: http://knowledge.fhwa.dot.gov/cops/step.nsf/home.
FHWA is aware that Congress is considering legislation that could alleviate or eliminate the over-designation of Title V research, potentially making more funding available for STEP and other FHWA research programs. However, it is unclear whether or when this legislation will be enacted, or how much relief it would provide for STEP.
To provide Suggestions or Comments for this web page contact Phil Roke at phil.roke@dot.gov.
