What is a Link? Planning and Environmental Linkages for 2014 and Beyond Carmen M. Stemen, MUP Planning & Environment Specialist FHWA Ohio Division (614)

Planning and Environment Goals We recommend that, in laying out new towns and villages, and in extending those already laid out, ample provision be made for a supply, in purity and abundance, of light, air, and water; for drainage and sewerage, for paving, and for cleanliness. Report of the Sanitary Commission of Massachusetts, 1850

PEL Planning and Environment Linkages An approach to transportation decision-making that considers: Environmental Community Economic

Benefits of Planning & Environment Linkages Relationship-building benefits:  Become an effective player in the decision-making process  Build interagency relationships early in Planning  Improve inter-agency relationships to resolve differences on key issues Improved project delivery timeframes and efficiency by:  Minimize duplication of planning and NEPA processes  Create a cohesive flow of information  Move from planning to design/implementation with less effort On-the-ground outcome benefits:  Design programs and projects to effectively serve the community's transportation needs  Provides tools to design better projects while avoiding/minimizing impacts on natural resources

TOOLS to Strengthen PEL Category 1: Institutional Changes  Champions and Exchanges  Training and Exchanges  Documenting new procedures/analysis  Organizational structuring  Executive-level commitment  Performance measures Example for Category 1 NOACA (Cleveland) SHRP2, Organizing for Reliability (TSMO - Transportation Systems Management and Operations) Project

TOOLS to Strengthen PEL Category 2: Planning and Environmental Process Enhancements  Develop long-range transportation plans in consultation with resource and regulatory agencies  Consider mitigation opportunities  Corridor planning, sub area planning, and tiering  Carry planning decisions into and through project development  Consider Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) Examples for Category 2 1)LACRPC (Lima-Allen County Regional Planning Commission), Transportation Infrastructure Risk Assessment for Flooding The extent of the Great Black Swamp prior to the 19 th Century – Wikipedia.org 2) ODOT’s revision of its Project Development Process (PDP)

TOOLS to Strengthen PEL Category 3: Coordination and Communication  Communicate with stakeholders  Establish standing inter- and intra-agency coordination groups  Develop Memoranda of Understanding/ Agreement  Fund staff positions at partner agencies  Planning and Environmental Process Enhancements Example for Category 3 National Gateway Clearance Initiative (FRA, FHWA, ODOT, Penn DOT, WV DOT, Maryland DOT

TOOLS to Strengthen PEL Example of Category 4 FHWA – Solicitation of DOT/MPO Greenhouse Gas (GHG) or Energy Analysis of Transportation- related Emission or Energy-use Sources in the Planning Process Category 4: Data and Analysis Tools  Document existing geographic data  Develop protocols and tools for sharing data and analysis among and within agencies  Improve access to and use of geographic resource data by transportation staff  Collect and maintain data regularly

Summary - Goals of PEL Goals: -create a seamless decision-making process -minimize duplication of effort -promote environmental stewardship -reduce delay from planning to project implementation Lays the foundation for broad consensus on goals and priorities in transportation

Resources FHWA’s website on Planning and Environment Linkages SHRP2 Solutions – tools for the Road Ahead website NOACA’s (Cleveland) websiteODOT’s PDP LACRPC ‘s (Lima) websiteThe President’s Plan to Fight Climate Change FHWA website