I n t e g r a t I n g C S S Practitioner Module 3 Module 3: CSS and Livability In Area Wide Planning

I n t e g r a t I n g C S S Practitioner Module 3 Module 3: CSS and Livability in Area-wide Planning By the end of this module you will be able to:  Identify what CSS and Livability looks like in area-wide planning and how to integrate it in your organization

I n t e g r a t I n g C S S Practitioner Module 3 Module 3: CSS and Livability in Area-wide Planning Lesson 1: What is Area-wide Planning? Lesson 2: Why is CSS in Planning Important? Lesson 3: CSS Supports Planning and NEPA Linkages Lesson 4: CSS Strategies and Opportunities at the Statewide Planning Level Lesson 5: Strategies and Opportunities at the MPO and RPO Level Lesson 6: Approaches used by State DOT’s to Integrate CSS

I n t e g r a t I n g C S S Practitioner Module 3 What is Area-wide Planning? Area wide planning encompasses planning at the statewide and regional levels, which includes: State wide planning required by federal and state regulations Transportation planning conducted by MPOs and RPOs must meet federal requirements CSS Integration Guide, Chapter 7.1

I n t e g r a t I n g C S S Practitioner Module 3 Area-wide Planning and CSS  Focus on –Transportation system context and identification of candidate projects and priorities  Measure –Valued resources on a geographically wide scale  Integrate CSS to: –Address contextual priorities within the geography, sometimes without direct linkage to a transportation project CSS Integration Guide, Chapter 2.4

I n t e g r a t I n g C S S Practitioner Module 3 What is Area-wide Planning? SAFETEA-LU Regulations Enacted in August 2005 Revised Statewide and Transportation Planning Requirements Specific recognition of CSS in the legislation Requirements for coordination of planning efforts Requirements for public participation Consideration of land use and environmental factors Safety and mobility CSS Integration Guide, Chapter 7.1

I n t e g r a t I n g C S S Practitioner Module 3 What is Area-wide Planning? State-wide Planning Process  Cooperative, continuous and comprehensive planning process  Administered jointly by FHWA & FTA  STIP Requirements  Long Range Transportation Plan requires coordination with tribal and local agencies CSS Integration Guide, Chapter 7.1

I n t e g r a t I n g C S S Practitioner Module 3 What is Area-wide Planning? Metropolitan Areas and Planning  MPO responsible for leading the planning process in metropolitan areas  RPOs responsible in areas outside of metropolitan areas  Governing bodies include local elected officials, tribes, state DOTs and other transportation- related entities  Federal regulations spell out the role of MPOs and RPOs CSS Integration Guide, Chapter 7.1

I n t e g r a t I n g C S S Practitioner Module 3 Achieving Context Sensitive Planning and Programming  Scoping  Providing stakeholders a “seat at the table”  Alternative analysis  Documented decision making in accordance with principles and practices associated with NEPA compliance

I n t e g r a t I n g C S S Practitioner Module 3 Why CSS in Planning is Important Specific benefits include: –Problem statements for transportation plans –Safety aspects of transportation plans –Articulation of community/regional visions –Relationships between the plan and the environment –Ability to integrate diverse visions into a single plan CSS Integration Guide, Chapter 7.2

I n t e g r a t I n g C S S Practitioner Module 3 Why CSS in Planning is Important Specific benefits include:  Efficiency of the planning process  Ability to address the issue of community disruptions connected with implementation  Improve the overall quality of the transportation plan—setting the right priorities  Connection between planning and project development CSS Integration Guide, Chapter 7.2

I n t e g r a t I n g C S S Practitioner Module 3 CSS Strategies and Opportunities at the State-wide Planning Level  Identify projects of statewide significance and their associated environmental impacts  Incorporate State transportation policies into Problem Statements and Purpose and Need Statements  Highlight potential conflicts between statewide transportation and environmental policies, and develop meaningful mitigation approaches CSS Integration Guide, Chapter 7.4

I n t e g r a t I n g C S S Practitioner Module 3 Approaches Used to Integrate CSS at the State-wide Planning Level  Integration into federally required State Long Range Plans – Utah Long Range Transportation Plan  Statewide Visioning – New Hampshire Long Range Transportation Plan  Integrated Planning – Florida’s Efficient Transportation Decision-making Process  Legislative Mandates – Illinois Public Act CSS Integration Guide, Chapter 7.4

I n t e g r a t I n g C S S Practitioner Module 3 Strategies and Opportunities for MPO and RPO Planning  Coordinate regional visioning and planning with statewide, regional and local efforts  Integrate transportation and conservation planning  Invest in visioning up front to save time and resources in later planning stages  Use the planning process as a forum to educate the public  Use CSS principles as evaluation criteria to assess progress CSS Integration Guide, Chapter 7.5

I n t e g r a t I n g C S S Practitioner Module 3 CSS Supports Planning and NEPA Linkages  Planning and environmental linkages (PEL) –Streamlines the decision-making process –Relationship benefits –Process efficiency benefits –On-the-ground outcome benefits  Environmental requirements of SAFETEA-LU – Section 6001 and Section 6002 CSS Integration Guide, Chapter 7.3

I n t e g r a t I n g C S S Practitioner Module 3 Knowledge Check Integrating CSS into Area-Wide Planning  What does CSS offer that traditional decision-making does not?  Describe the benefits of planning and environmental linkage.  What are some specific strategies used to incorporate CSS into planning at the statewide level?  What strategies have you used in your department?