MAP-21 Research

The Office of Planning, Environment and Realty (HEP) is committed to conducting and promoting research that strengthens transportation.

Between 2006 and 2012, FHWA's Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research, or STEP, Program funded projects focused on national research priorities for environment, planning and realty. The goal of the program was to improve the understanding of the complex relationship between surface transportation, planning and the environment.

Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) repealed the STEP program, but also established policy, principles, and planning practices for a flexible national research and technology program. A key research program area is planning, environment and realty. HEP is responsible for developing and implementing research projects focused on the following objectives:

Promote more informed transportation decisionmaking to improve transportation planning, programming, operations, and coordination.
Promote integrated planning that improves transportation safety and addresses environmental, social, and economic needs.
Streamline the project delivery process.
Minimize environmental impacts of transportation investments.
Improve the way transportation contributes to economic development and communities' quality of life.

This web site features information about HEP's research activities that are developed to achieve these objectives.