1. 2008 NAHBA Conference Kalispell, MT August 10-13, 2008
FHWA Update
Gerry Solomon Office of Real Estate Services
2008 NAHBA Conference
Kalispell, MT
August 10-13, 2008
Intro to NAHBA 11TH Annual Educational Conference.
The challenges confronting the states and the FHWA with respect to OAC are complex.
The FHWA believes that state transportation professionals benefit greatly from interaction with their peers from other states as well as with FHWA staff and this conference is an effective tool to partner with the states in the area of OAC.

2. FHWA Organizational Update
FHWA Administrator
August 1, Thomas J. Madison Jr., confirmed by the U. S. Senate to head the Federal Highway Administration, was
Executive Director
Associate Administrator
Office of Real Estate Services
We have a new FHWA Administrator - Thomas J. Madison Jr., former head of the New York State Dept. of Transportation is confirmed by Senate
We have a new Executive Director, Jeff Paniati.
The Associate Administrator for Environment, Planning and Realty is Gloria Shepherd
HEPR is expanding by filling positions in each of the two teams – Program Development Team and Program Implementation Team
The FHWA leadership has articulated a vision centered on four basic goals
1. Leadership
2. Program Delivery
3. System Performance
4. Corporate Capacity

3. Office of Real Estate Services
Outdoor Advertising Control
Janis Gramatins, Program Implementation Team Leader
Ed Kosola
Cathy O’Hara
Division Office Realty Staff
Within HEPR, Janis Gramatins, Ed Kosola and Cathy O’Hara are responsive to OAC questions from the public, the Divisions, the DOTs, the Industry and Scenic Groups. We have assistance from new HQ staff, Mary Jane Deluge and Dave Leighow, whom many of you know from their days in the Division Offices. As you are aware, the first point of contact for most questions is at the FHWA Division Office level. There is quite a bit of turnover at the Division level so we have increased our training and technical assistance aimed at the newer Division realty staff.

4. SAFETEA-LU SAFETEA-LU Future Authorization August 2005
Fiscal Years 2004 – 2009
Expires on September 30, 2009
Future Authorization
Next Congress and Administration
DOT Proposal
SAFETEA-LU
August 2005
Fiscal Years 2004 – 2009
Expires on September 30, 2009
Regardless of which party wins the elections this fall, there will be newcomers in Washington, DC, next year, with new priorities.

5. A New Transportation Approach to America
Plan to refocus, reform and renew national approach to highway and transit systems in America
We are seeing a strong push for change, due to raising gas prices and the slowdown of the economy. Everyone is looking for ways to increase revenue.

6. A New Transportation Approach to America
Address issues of
Congestion
Fuel prices
Gas tax
Spending decisions
Outdoor Advertising Control
Delegation of Oversight
Plan intended to propose a way to:
Renew Federal focus of maintaining and Improving Interstate system
Address urban congestion and provide flexibility to invest in highway and transit priorities
Create accountability measures to ensure investments deliver results
Refocus emphases on safety, while providing flexibility to address specific safety challenges
Streamline federal review process for new projects
OAC – Delegation of Oversight
Rationale - The HBA and implementing regulations established broad national standards for control of outdoor advertising. Within those parameters, the law gives States the ability to adopt controls tailored to own needs. As a result, controls vary widely, and the role of FHWA in providing consistent national standards is limited. FHWA’s involvement in a State’s OAC program administration is often redundant and counterproductive. This proposal would remove FHWA from day-to-day administrative involvement in control programs and reinforce the principle that States are directly responsible for compliance. The result would be a streamlined administrative structure and more effective use of FHWA resources.
Description of Proposal
• Creation of an option for assignment of administrative responsibility for OAC to States, similar to Section 6004 of SAFETEA-LU assignment of categorical exclusion responsibilities;
• Maximization of State control over the program through the assignment process; and
• Building on current laws, a requirement for States that take on responsibility to certify annually to FHWA compliance with regulations.

7. STEP : Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program
Information and website to submit feedback:
Deadline: September 22, 2008
STEP funded Studies Underway:
OAC:
- CEVMS and driver attention and distraction
- Neutral assessment follow-up
General:
Support for partnering and outreach
Local agency stewardship
Peer exchanges

8. Current STEP Research Support of Organizations
NAHBA, IRWA
Outdoor Advertising Control
CEVMS Study
U.S. Institute Assessment
GIS – Integrating GIS technology into ROW data management process
Voluntary Incentives - Peer Exchange
Local Public Agency Stewardship
We are proud to support our partner organization. The STEP research provides funds for our partnering effort.
There will be more on our driver distraction and assessment follow-up later in the conference.
In July we assembled peer exchange to discuss use of GIS by ROW and OAC. Obviously many of you are well versed in using GIS to locate outdoor advertising signs and updating your sign inventory. You are leaders in that regard.
Use of incentive payments and local agency stewardship are other projects funded using STEP08 money. We look forward to receiving your input for STEP09 funds!

9. Office of Real Estate Services - Newsletter
Quarterly publication
Include Outdoor Advertising Control information
Soliciting articles for consideration
In order to continue and improve the momentum of marketing and building capacity, the Office of Real Estate Services began publishing a quarterly newsletter.  The newsletter provides a synopsis of the Office of Real Estate Services – headquarters’ endeavors and research. It is an opportunity to get information from our field offices. It is hoped that NAHBA will share the newsletter with members. You are encouraged to submit articles for consideration to be published in the newsletter. Articles can be ed to Cathy

10. Outdoor Advertising Control Efforts
Training
National Highway Institute (NHI) courses
Bonus States (23 States)
Non-bonus States (remaining States)
HEPR Core Training Modules
NHI Web-base courses. The NHI Outdoor Advertising Control web-base training courses are designed as a basic knowledge of the limits of signs adjacent to the interstate, national highway system, and other federal-aid primary routes. Information on registering for these free courses is being provided by separate handouts and all stakeholders are encouraged to participate in this training opportunity.
Core Training. Another training tool developed by the Office of Real Estate Services uses a web-conference format based on adult learning modules. This training has been labeled “Core” training for our office. The training modules enables instructor to narrate information, adapt slides to specify issues or States, and promotes participation by enrollees.

11. Outdoor Advertising Control Efforts
Research
Commercial Electronic Variable Message signs and distraction to drivers
Stakeholders Assessment
NCHRP 20-7 (256) (Jerry Wachtel)
NCHRP 20-7(247) (Clyde Johnson)
Commercial Electronic Variable Message signs and distraction to drivers
Phase 1 to develop a methodology and define key elements related to Commercial Electronic Variable Message Signs was received on June 30, 2008 and has been reviewed by two teams during July. The FHWA review team included the Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty; Division Offices in Colorado, New York, Mississippi, and Texas; as well as the headquarters offices of Safety, Design and Transportation Operations. The second review team was composed of members of the TRB Human Factors subcommittee, and members from the National Alliance of Highway Beautification Agencies. The report is scheduled to be posted on the FHWA website at
The Office of Real Estate Services is meeting with the researchers to prepare the Statement of Work for implementing the field investigation phase of study, using currently available resources, to determine the best process to develop meaningful data in real world conditions. Once the process is defined, the Office of Real Estate Services will solicit State DOTs to assist in identifying appropriate field locations to perform driving tests and identify sources for follow-on research efforts useful in relation to this specific research effort. It is anticipated that the full study and final report will be completed in the latter part of In the long term, it is anticipated that this study will assist governing jurisdictions in further policy development regarding electronic signs.
Stakeholder Assessment of OAC Program
In 2007, a neutral assessment of the national OAC program was completed. A neutral entity to reach out to parties interested in OAC to identify: issues that cause controversy, perspectives of stakeholders, and methods for addressing conflicts and improving OAC program results. This next step will focus on one of the identified issues and explore the potential for agreement and/or resolution.
NCHRP 20-7 (256) (Jerry Wachtel)
While there are some similarities to the FHWA CEVMS and distraction to drivers, but this research is intended to be less research oriented, and more oriented toward helping the States to develop guidelines for these CEVMS signs
NCHRP 20-7 (247) (Clyde Johnson)
This is a comprehensive study and analysis of the States rules and regulations.  

12. Outdoor Advertising Control Efforts
South Carolina Pilot Project
Field oversight
State regulations and enforcement procedures [CFR (j)]
Excellence in Outdoor Advertising Control Award
South Carolina Pilot Project The Office of Real Estate Services and the South Carolina Department of Transportation have expended considerable effort to finalize the details of this pilot project. The pilot is intended to allow the upgrading of certain nonconforming signs. Additional details and updates will be addressed later in this conference.
Field oversight. Assistance to Division Offices to implement and complete OAC oversight reviews is being formulated.
State regulations and enforcement procedures [CFR (j)]. There is considerable ongoing effort by FHWA Division and HQ to review amendments to State laws, regulations, policy, and procedures. This work is ongoing.
Excellence in Outdoor Advertising Control Award. I am pleased to announce an Office of Real Estate Award to FHWA staff in a Division office in recognition of outstanding contribution to the management of the Federal Highway Administration Outdoor Advertising Control Program – Indiana Division (Colleen Smith and Woody Woodruff). I anticipate that this will be an annual award.

13. Other Office of Real Estate Efforts
International ROW / Utility Scan
Project Development Guide
Federal Land Transfer Manual
Future Needs of Public Sector Real Estate
Succession Planning
International ROW / Utility Scan – Streamlining and Integrating Right of Way and Utility Processes with Planning, Environmental, and Design Processes
Project Development Guide
Federal Land Transfer Manual
Revisit our 2006 research called “Future Needs of Public Sector Real Estate”
Succession Planning – Recruitment, Training / Development, Retention (PDP and STIPDG)

14. 2008 NAHBA Conference Kalispell, MT August 10-13, 2008
Thank You
Office of Real Estate Services
2008 NAHBA Conference
Kalispell, MT
August 10-13, 2008

15. QUESTIONS?