2014 TxDOT Transportation Planning Conference

June 5, 2014

INVEST

Self-assessment tool for transportation sustainability

2

Today’s Focus

Introduce you to INVEST

• Infrastructure Voluntary Evaluation Sustainability Tool

• Why INVEST?

• Basics of INVEST

• Case studies showing where and how INVEST is being used

around the country

Help you discover opportunities for INVEST to assist you

Why INVEST?

4

Why INVEST?

Sustainability

Enhance quality of life and serve the transportation needs of the

present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet

their needs.

INVEST History

For years, FHWA has supported research, development, and

implementation efforts regarding sustainability. The Sustainable

Highways Initiative efforts: • INVEST

• Sustainability working group (engineers, scientists, planners, and economists)

• Sustainable Pavements Program

5

Sustainable Highways Initiative – Balancing

Environmental, Social, and Economic Factors

• Efficient use of funding

• Incentives for construction quality

• Regional air quality and climate change

• Environmental management systems

• Movement of people and goods (not just vehicles)

• Transportation choices, such as safe and comfortable routes for walking, bicycling, and transit

6

Why INVEST?

Encourage sustainable practices through this online evaluation tool.

Establish a method for identifying sustainable best practices in highway systems, projects, programs. Set performance measures.

Provide a framework for communicating with stakeholders and decision makers about sustainability. Improve the 3-C decision making process.

Help agencies assess their level of sustainability and identify areas for improvement.

Basics of INVEST

8

Basics

INVEST IS AN ONLINE TOOL, USING SCORECARDS

• Voluntary – Not required, not tied to funding

• Private – Data belongs to the user, not collected

• Free – No licenses and no limits

• Flexible – Use it how and where user chooses

• Practical – Relates to “everyday” projects and planning

Suggested users:

• DOTs, MPOs, Council of Governments, public works departments,

and their consultants and partners

9

INVEST Development Timeline

• written by subject matter experts

• reviewed, modified, and vetted through valuable stakeholder feedback,

including professional organizations such as AASHTO and ASCE

• Tested and evaluated across a broad spectrum of agencies, projects,

programs and geographies

10

Basics: Transportation Life Cycle

System Planning

Project Development

Operations & Maintenance

1 scorecard 6 scorecards 1 scorecard

11

System Planning Scorecard

SP-1 Integrated Planning:

Economic Development and

Land Use

SP-2 Integrated Planning: Natural

Environment

SP-3 Integrated Planning: Social

SP-4 Integrated Planning: Bonus

SP-5 Access & Affordability

SP-6 Safety Planning

SP-7 Multimodal Transportation

and Public Health

SP-8 Freight and Goods Movement

SP-9 Travel Demand Management

SP-10 Air Quality

SP-11 Energy and Fuels

SP-12 Financial Sustainability

SP-13 Analysis Methods

SP-14 Transportation Systems

Management & Operations

SP-15 Linking Asset Management and

Planning

SP-16 Infrastructure Resiliency

SP-17 Linking Planning and NEPA

• Addresses agency-wide management and planning of highway networks.

• Owner-agency should already have policies and procedures in place to address

these networks.

12

Project Development Scorecards 1-Paving, 2-Basic Rural, 3-Basic Urban, 4-Extended Rural,

5-Extended Urban, 6-Custom

PD-1 Economic Analyses

PD-2 Lifecycle Cost Analysis

PD-3 Context Sensitive Project

Development

PD-4 Highway and Traffic Safety

PD-5 Educational Outreach

PD-6 Tracking Environmental

Commitments

PD-7 Habitat Restoration

PD-8 Stormwater

PD-9 Ecological Connectivity

PD-10 Pedestrian Access

PD-11 Bicycle Access

PD-12 Transit & HOV Access

PD-13 Freight Mobility

PD-14 ITS for System Operations

PD-15 Historical, Archaeological,

and Cultural Preservation

PD-16 Scenic, Natural, or

Recreational Qualities

PD-17 Energy Efficiency

PD-18 Site Vegetation

• Occurs once the proposed solutions to a transportation problem have been programmed.

• Involves environmental review, project planning, design, and construction decisions.

13

Project Development Scorecards (cont’d) 1-Paving, 2-Basic Rural, 3-Basic Urban, 4-Extended Rural,

5-Extended Urban, 6-Custom

PD-19 Reduce and Reuse Materials

PD-20 Recycle Materials

PD-21 Earthwork Balance

PD-22 Long-Life Pavement Design

PD-23 Reduced Energy and

Emissions in Pavement

Materials

PD-24 Contractor Warranty

PD-25 Construction Environmental

Training

PD-26 Construction Equipment

Emission Reduction

PD-27 Construction Noise Mitigation

PD-28 Construction Quality Control

Plan

PD-29 Construction Waste

Management

14

Operations & Maintenance Scorecard

OM-1 Internal Sustainability Plan

OM-2 Electrical Energy Efficiency

and Use

OM-3 Vehicle Fuel Efficiency and

Use

OM-4 Reuse and Recycle

OM-5 Safety Management

OM-6 Environmental Commitments

Tracking System

OM-7 Pavement Management

System

OM-8 Bridge Management System

OM-9 Maintenance Management

System

OM-10 Highway Infrastructure

Preservation and Maintenance

OM-11 Traffic Control Infrastructure

Maintenance

OM-12 Road Weather Management

Program

OM-13 Transportation Management

and Operations

OM-14 Work Zone Traffic Control

• Addresses agency-wide practices, policies and procedures for overall functionality

and efficiency of a highway network.

15

Version 1.0 Scoring

NOTE • INVEST is not based on third-party

validation of scores or certifications. • FHWA does not use scores to verify a

program has met the achievement level of sustainability.

• Recognition is that the user has self-evaluated their program and met the indicated achievement level.

INVEST Case Studies

17

INVEST Website

www.sustainablehighways.org

• Learn - provides both a

guided tour through

INVEST and a user

toolkit

• Browse - includes a

collection of

sustainability best

practices

• Score – score projects

and programs against

the criteria

18

INVEST Pilot Sites

Montana DOT

(4 projects)

D.C. DOT

Maryland DOT

North Carolina DOT

Oregon DOT

Ohio DOT

Western

Federal Lands

Utah DOT

Nashville Area MPO

North Central Texas

Council of Governments

Puget Sound Regional Council

Georgia DOT

Pioneer Valley Planning Commission

Nevada DOT

City of Peoria, AZ

By the Numbers

15 states had INVEST pilot projects 19 agencies pilot tested INVEST: • 10 s tate DOTs • 4 MPOs

• 3 loca l governments • 2 Federal Lands Highway Divisions

Arizona DOT

Western Federal Lands

Central Federal Lands

Washoe County, NV

Monterey County, CA

19

Sites using Version 1.0 (Mar 2014)

Arizona DOT

Illinois Tollway

North Central Texas

Council of Governments

Puget Sound Regional Council

Federal Lands

Highway

Federal Lands

Highway

TriMet

Federal Lands Highway

Washington DOT

Cape Cod Commission

Des Moines MPO

Kittery Area Comprehensive

Transportation System

Texas DOT

Greater St. Joseph Area MPO

Indianapolis MPO

Springfield MPO

Federal Lands Highway

Transportation Agency

for Monterey County

Federal Lands Highway

Ohio DOT

Lane Transit District

By the Numbers

27 INVEST implementation projects In 18 states and DC By 23 agencies, including: • 4 s tate DOTs • 11 MPOs • 3/3 Federal Lands Highway Divisions • 5 other transportation agencies

Valdosta-Lowndes MPO

Riverside County

Transportation Commission

20

North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG)

Mobility 2035: Large Multi-Modal Transportation Plan

• 16 counties in NC TX centered on

Dallas/Ft. Worth area

• Projected regional growth: 6.5M to 10M by

2035

• Projected funding shortfall of $45B

• Need to increase mobility, cut some

improvements & reprioritize others

• “Do the most with what you have” -

influence travel behavior & demand,

improve transportation / land use links

• Extend life of existing assets, increase

spending on O&M

Watch Video Case Study Here

21

North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG)

Used INVEST Module: System Planning

(Pilot Test Version) – Scored Platinum

Identified areas for improvement:

• infrastructure resiliency to natural hazards (i.e. flooding)

• linking asset management and

planning

• set performance measures

Current action items: • conducting infrastructure vulnerability

assessment

• analyzing asset data to screen project

alternatives and planning scenarios

• developing sustainability related performance measures

INVEST will be used for Mobility 2040

22

George V. Voinovich Bridge: Complex, Urban Project

• Vital link into downtown Cleveland

spanning the Cuyahoga River

• Largest project in ODOT history –

replace bridge spans / expand lanes

• Involves coast-to-coast Interstate 90

• Two phases – WB bridge, completed

in 2013 and EB bridge, began in 2014

• Affects historic district and high-traffic

sports complex

• Extensive public involvement process

• Areas around the bridges will be

enhanced

Watch Video Case Study Here

Ohio Department of Transportation

23

Ohio Department of Transportation

Used INVEST Module: Project Development

(Pilot Test Version & Version 1.0)

• Pilot Version used on Phase I

o Validated major savings in diesel fuel, steel,

water and landfill

o Scored Gold using Ext. Urban

• Based on Phase I INVEST success, Version 1.0 used in Phase II:

o D/B RFP required the contractor to develop

a sustainability plan and use INVEST to

demonstrate sustainability achievements

o Examples: improvements under PD-26

Construction Equipment Emissions (i.e.,

5min idling policy)

o Project tracking towards Platinum score

o Will re-score every 6 months as project

decisions are made

24

IL - Springfield Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission (SSRPC)

Peoria Road / Route 66 Corridor: Conceptual Design

Used INVEST Module: Project Development

• Includes historic Route 66, state

fairground, museum, transit service, and residential/commercial mix.

• Held workshop with city officials and

state DOT; raised interest in

implementing sustainability practices.

• Evaluated 23 of the 29 PD criteria.

• Specific sustainability improvements:

streetscape design, crosswalks, lighting, bus stops, public art.

• If conceptual results implemented, could

achieve Gold or Silver score using Basic Urban scorecard.

BEFORE

AFTER

PD-15: Historical, Archaeological and Cultural Preservation

1-3 points available Goal: Preserve, protect or enhance cultural and historic assets, and/or feature National

Byways Program (NSBP) historic, archaeological, or cultural intrinsic in a roadway.

Prerequisite 2: Any portion of the project is along one of America’s Byways, a State Scenic Byway, an Indian Tribe Scenic Byway, or

other route that was designated or officially recognized as such because of its significant historical, cultural and/or archa eological features.

1 point – Min. Impacts 2 points – Avoid Impacts 3 points - Enhance Features: Protect, preserve, and/or enhance historic, archaeological, or cultural resources. This could be done through the installation of informational or interpretive facilities (e.g. Viewpoint, kiosk, sign for visitors detailing historical, archaeological or cultural significance.)

PD-18: Site Vegetation Goal: Promote sustainable site vegetation within the project footprint that does not require long-term irrigation,

consistent mowing, or invasive/noxious weed species removal.

Prerequisite 1: All site vegetation shall use non-invasive, non-toxic species only, seeding not requiring consistent mowing, minimize

disturbance of native species.

1-3 points available

Point Selection Features: 1pt - Non-mechanical maintenance 1pt - No long term irrigation

1pt - Grey water or reclaimed water irrigation – plant establishment 1pt - Grey water or reclaimed water irrigation – ongoing

1pt - Native species 1pt - Long-term vegetation planning

Bioswales

State Fairground

27

Utah Department of Transportation

Maintaining State-Wide Highway System

• Traffic monitoring and coordination

across 6,000+ miles of highways

• Budget pressures driving need for more

sustainable practices

• System goals: preserve infrastructure,

optimize mobility, improve safety,

strengthen the economy

Watch Video Case Study Here

28

• Used Criterion OM-12 Road Weather Management:

Implement Standard Operating Procedure for Snow

and Ice Control (2 points)

o Salt reduction

o Anti-icing program

o Chemical storage BMPs

o Equipment calibration

o Fuel efficiency, planning and route optimization

Utah Department of Transportation

Used INVEST Module: Operations and Maintenance (Pilot Test Version,

scored Platinum)

With the INVEST evaluation, sought ways to improve and promote sustainability:

• ID inexpensive ways, like better pavement conditions data.

• Create a snow removal decision support system to formalize the agency’s current

process.

Get started…

• Login: Sign-up at www.sustainablehighways.org

• Explore the site, register and test drive the scorecards

• Help improve INVEST, click “Provide Comments”

Try INVEST at:

www.sustainablehighways.org

Contact: Kirk Fauver (kirk.fauver@dot.gov)

Melissa Furlong (melissa.furlong@dot.gov)

Additional Contacts - FHWA Headquarters: Mike Culp (michael.culp@dot.gov)

Connie Hill Galloway (connie.hill@dot.gov)

Tina Hodges (tina.hodges@dot.gov)

Heather Holsinger (heather.holsinger@dot.gov)

Rob Hyman (robert.hyman@dot.gov), or

Diane Turchetta (diane.turchetta@dot.gov)