Here is a set of indicators designed to help agencies identify areas where they have had success in strengthening planning and NEPA linkages, and areas where further work is needed to strengthen linkages. These indicators are also intended to help agencies identify available assistance and potential FHWA activities that could be undertaken to provide that assistance.

Indicators are grouped into five categories:

Change Management
Data and Analysis Tools
Inter- and Intra- Agency Coordination
Decision Process Refinement
Linkage Activities Undertaken

To print the indicators checklist, view the PDF of the table below.

1. CHANGE MANAGEMENT

Indicator

Examples/Details

Assistance Available

1.1 Executive-level commitment

Communication from executive management to staff level regarding agency's commitment to strengthening planning and environment linkages, including: internal memoranda, management directives, policy statements, or the like

Read about Effective Practices

Learn about state activities in the
State Environmental Streamlining
and Stewardship Practices Database

1.2 Champions and working groups

Internal leadership workshops
Inter-agency leadership workshops
Specific staffpersons or champions designated in key agency offices to oversee implementation of linkage activities
Internal or inter-agency working groups convened

Learn about FHWA's Linking Planning & NEPA Workshops

1.3 Training and exchanges

Internal training or peer exchanges about linking planning and project development or transportation and land and resource planning
Inter-agency training or peer exchanges about linking transportation, land use, and resource planning

See Trainings and Workshops

1.4 Organizational structuring

Staff allocations to support linkages
Interdisciplinary teams
Crossover positions between one or more disciplines

Read about specific Case Studies

Learn about state activities in the
State Environmental Streamlining
and Stewardship Practices Database

1.5 Performance measures

Detailed indicators of progress in strengthening planning and environment linkages
Staff performance criteria that reflect strong planning and environment linkages (e.g., MPO coordination and support responsibilities for state DOT's MPO liaison and/or environment staff)

Coming soon

2. DATA AND ANALYSIS TOOLS

Indicator

Examples/Details

Assistance Available

2.1 Documentation of existing geographic resource data and other information

Example categories of data:

Ecological resources
Cultural assets
Land use and development
Demographics
Transportation

Factors here might also include the quality and comprehensiveness of data layers.

Visit FHWA's website GIS in Transportation

Learn about state practices on GIS and
spatial data in the
State Environmental Streamlining and
Stewardship Practices Database

Learn about research on
"Technologies to Improve Environmental
Concerns in Transportation Decision Making"
(through the National Cooperative Highway Research Program)

2.2 Continual data sharing among and within agencies

Level of cooperation achieved regarding sharing of data with resource agencies and other potential sources of data
Information systems that support access by multiple agencies and departments within agencies, including updating of data
Inter-agency data sharing agreements

2.3 Tool for analysis and/or sharing

Software tool that allows for information to be shared among and within agencies during the transport decision process, including web access and ability to record comments and decisions at multiple points

2.4 Access to and use of geographic resource data by transportation staff

Planning and environmental staff are given access to data for use in planning and project development functions, and employ the data to conduct analysis and inform decision-making
Factors here might include the frequency with which the data are used

2.5 Efforts to improve data

DOT staff engaged in gathering additional data or otherwise improving the quality and comprehensiveness of data

3. INTER- AND INTRA- AGENCY COORDINATION

Indicator

Examples/Details

Assistance Available

3.1 Memoranda of Understanding/Agreement

MOAs/MOUs stipulating arrangements among agencies regarding:

Operating procedures
Funding
Programmatic approaches
Dispute resolution procedures
Other aspects of planning, project development, and reviews

Learn about state Interagency Agreements (MOAs, MOUs, and Programmatic Agreements) in the
State Environmental Streamlining and
Stewardship Practices Database

3.2 Standing inter- and intra-agency coordination groups

Inter- and intra-agency working groups, task forces, or committees that meet on an ongoing basis to focus on coordinating information exchange and collaborative decision-making

Read the Interagency Guidance: Transportation Funding for Federal Agency Coordination Associated with Environmental Streamlining Activities

3.3 Transfer-funded staff positions

Inter-agency funding for staff positions specifically to support environmental considerations in planning (as opposed to only environmental review, consultation, and permitting activities)

3.4 Positive staff perceptions of inter-agency coordination

Factors here might include opinions from transportation agency staff and resource agency staff

4. DECISION PROCESS REFINEMENT

Indicator

Examples/Details

Assistance Available

4.1 Documentation of current decision processes

Process mapping or other process analysis tool used to identify the major steps and roles within a decision process
Transportation decision process made available to resource agencies and the public

Read about specific approaches on the Data and Analysis Tools page.

Learn about state activities in the
State Environmental Streamlining and
Stewardship Practices Database

4.2 Documentation of new procedural or analysis guidance

New procedures and guidance for environment linkages during planning, including analysis methods, procedures for involving key stakeholders, and 'handing off' planning products to project development staff, documented in agency publications such as:

Corridor, metropolitan, or sub-area plan guidebooks
Statewide plan guidebooks
Project development guidebooks

5. LINKAGE ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN

Indicator

Examples/Details

Assistance Available

5.1 Stakeholder involvement

Efforts, such as participation plans or consultations, to actively involve stakeholders in the transportation planning process, including:

Environmental resource and regulatory agencies
Regional planning agencies
Tribal governments
Interest groups
The greater community

Read about state practices on public involvement in the
State Environmental Streamlining and
Stewardship Practices Database

Learn about Florida's stakeholder involvement in the Defenders of Wildlife's
Conservation-Minded Citizen's Guide To
Transportation Planning

5.2 ‘Hand-off’ planning products using NEPA methods

Planning processes, including long-range, corridor, and sub-area studies, that feature components that use NEPA principles and methods, including:

NEPA tiering
Purpose and need statements
Scoping and alternatives identification
Analysis or baselining of environmental conditions or impacts
Evaluation and/or elimination of alternatives
Indirect and cumulative impacts assessment
Preparatory analyses for permitting

5.3 Comparisons to resource inventories and plans

Comparisons of transportation plans to natural and cultural resource inventories or plans

5.4 Use of other environmental factors and analysis tools

During planning and programming efforts, analysis of interactions between transportation strategies and:

Land use
Economic performance
Natural resources
Air quality
Water quality
Community quality of life
Travel performance

Planning analysis tools and approaches, such as context-sensitive solutions, scenario planning, and community impact analysis, are all examples of applying these principles here.

5.5 Consideration of mitigation opportunities

Exploration of potential mitigation opportunities, including the types of potential mitigation activities and potential areas in which to carry out those activities

5.6 Design guidance

Principles, approaches, guidelines, standards, or flexibility to be used in designing transportation facilities, such as context-sensitive design

Learn about Context Sensitive Solutions

5.7 Planning decisions carried through in project development

Decisions and commitments made during the planning and programming process are not revisited during the project development phase; ‘hand-off’ products are used for environmental review and permitting with minimal adjustments.

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