TRANSPORTATION PLANNING 1. Transportation Planning Monitor existing conditions Forecast future population and employment growth; projected land uses Identify

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

1

Transportation PlanningMonitor existing conditionsForecast future population and

employment growth; projected land uses

Identify transportation problems and needs; strategies to address those needs

Develop long-range plans and short-range programs

2

Transportation PlanningEstimate the impact of

recommended future improvements on environmental features, including air quality

Develop a financial plan for securing sufficient revenues to cover the costs

3

Transportation Planning Process

4

Metropolitan Planning Metropolitan Planning

Organizations (MPOs)Urbanized areas with population

> 50,000Federal Planning Regulations3-C Planning Process

◦Continuing◦Cooperative◦Comprehensive

5

Ohio’s MPOs

6

MPO Role and MembersMembers include local

governments, DOT officials, transit agencies

Board is responsible for transportation decision-making

Staff provide analyses and recommendations

7

Metropolitan PlanningMPO Long-Range Plan (LRP)

◦20-year planning horizon◦Includes all major/capacity adding

projects◦Includes all modes◦Fiscally constrained◦Air Quality conformity◦Approved by MPO Board

8

Metropolitan PlanningTransportation Improvement

Program (TIP)◦4-year duration, adopted every 2

years, can be amended◦Comprehensive listing of projects

and phase of implementation◦Consistent with Long-Range Plan◦All federally-funded projects◦Air Quality conformity

9

Statewide PlanningODOT is lead agencyStatewide assessmentCoordination with Metropolitan

Planning OrganizationsRural Planning Organizations and

other stakeholders

10

Statewide PlanningODOT’s rural consultation

process◦Local government coordination◦Public outreach for statewide

planning◦Transit planning coordination◦Locally-developed, coordinated

transit-human services transportation plans

◦TRAC processRural Planning Organizations 11

Statewide PlanningODOT’s Long-range

Transportation Plan is Access Ohio 2040

Statewide evaluation of transportation networks

Trends impacting transportation and impacted by transportation

No fiscal constraint requirement

12

Statewide PlanningStatewide Transportation

Improvement Program (STIP)4-year durationConsistent with statewide long-

range planAll federally-funded projectsAll other regionally significant

projectsFiscally constrained

13

Linking Planning and NEPA

14

Purpose & NeedPlanning Phase of Project Development Process

Policy & Guidance FHWA Technical Advisory (T6640.8a)

10/3/87 Purpose & Need in Environmental

Documents 9/18/1990

FHWA/FTA Joint Guidance on Purpose & Need 7/23/2003

Development of Logical Termini 11/5/1993

FHWA Guidance-Linking Planning and NEPA 2/22/2005

CEQ 40 Most Asked Questions ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepa/regs/

40/40p3.htm

16

Federal Law & Regulations

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969The purpose of this Act are: To declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment; to promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of man; to enrich the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the Nation Established a systematic, interdisciplinary

approach for decision-making Study, develop, and describe appropriate

alternatives to recommended courses of action 17

CEQ Regulations 40 CFR 1500.1 (c) - Purpose

Ultimately…it is not better documents but better decisions that count. NEPA’s purpose is not to generate paperwork - even excellent paperwork - but to foster excellent action.

40 CFR 1502.13 - Purpose and Need The statement shall briefly specify

the underlying purpose and need to which the agency is responding in proposing the alternatives including the proposed action

18

CEQ Regulations 40 CFR 1502.14 - Alternatives

Heart of the environmental document

Agencies shall:“…evaluate all reasonable alternatives, and for alternatives which were eliminated from detailed study, briefly discuss the reasons for their having been eliminated.”

19

FHWA Regulations 23 CFR 771.111(f)

…the action evaluated in each EIS or finding of no significant impact (FONSI) shall: Connect logical termini Have independent utility Not restrict consideration of

alternatives for other reasonably foreseeable transportation improvements

Guidance and Policy for preparation of P&N based upon 40 CFR 1500 and 23 CFR 771

20

FHWA DefinitionPurpose States concisely and clearly why the

undertaking is being proposed Articulates intended positive outcomes

Need Transportation problem(s) to be

addressed Defines causes of existing problems Factual, quantifiable data

21

FHWA GuidanceFHWA Technical Advisory (T6640.8A)

(10/30/1987)Guidance for Preparing and Processing

Environmental and Section 4(f) Documents

www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/projdev/impTA6640.asp

Section II - Part B Purpose & Need for Action Describe location, length, termini,

proposed improvements, etc. Identify and describe the

transportation or other needs which the proposed action is intended to satisfy (e.g., provide system continuity, alleviate traffic congestion, and correct safety or roadway deficiencies)

22


Section V - Part D Clearly demonstrate that a "need"

exists and define the "need" in terms understandable to the public

Forms the basis for the “No Build" discussion in the Alternatives section and assist with the identification of reasonable alternatives and selection of the preferred

23


On projects where a law, Executive Order, or regulation mandates an evaluation of avoidance alternatives, explanation of the project need should be more specific so that avoidance alternatives that do not meet the stated project need can be readily dismissed

24

FHWA GuidancePurpose & Need in Environmental

Documents A clear and well-justified P&N

explains to the public and decision-makers why expenditure of funds is necessary and worthwhile

Priority being given to the action relative to other needed highway projects is warranted

Although significant environmental impacts may be expected, P&N should justify why impacts are acceptable

25

FHWA GuidanceFHWA/FTA Joint Guidance on P&N

(7/23/2003)www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/

guidebook/Gjoint.asp Lead agency has the authority and

responsibility to define 'purpose and need' for NEPA analysis

For Federal-Aid (FHWA Title 23 US Code funded) projects, lead federal agency is FHWA

26

FHWA Guidance Joint-lead or cooperating agencies

should afford substantial deference to the lead agency's articulation of a project’s P&N

P&N is the cornerstone for the alternatives analysis, but should not discuss solutions

Care should be taken to ensure P&N is not so narrow as to unreasonably point to a single solution

27

FHWA Guidance Logical Termini

Rational end points for a transportation improvement

Rational end points for review of environmental impacts

28

FHWA GuidanceGuidance on the Development of Logical Project

Termini(11/5/1993)

www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/projdev/tdmtermini.asp

In developing a project which can be advanced through stages of planning, environmental, design, and construction, the project sponsor needs to consider a “whole” or integrated project

Should satisfy an identified need and consider the context of the local area’s socioeconomics and topography, future travel demand, and other planned infrastructure improvements

29

FHWA Guidance Proposed improvements may miss the

mark by only peripherally satisfying the need or by causing unexpected side effects which require additional corrective action

“Segmentation" may occur where a transportation need extends throughout an entire corridor but environmental issues and needs are discussed for only a segment of the corridor

30

FHWA Guidance Three general principles at 23 CFR

771.111(f) used to frame a highway project: Logical termini connection should be

of sufficient length to address environmental matters on a broad scope

Independent utility or significance Reasonable expenditure even if no

additional transportation improvements in the area are made

Consideration of alternatives for other reasonably foreseeable transportation improvements is not restricted 31

FHWA GuidanceLINKING PLANNING & NEPA

(2/22/2005)www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/

plannepalegal050222.htm A sound transportation planning

process is the primary source of an undertaking’s P&N

P&N is where planning and NEPA intersect

32


The following information from planning studies can be used in the P&N: Goals and objectives from the

transportation planning process Results of analyses from

management systems (e.g., congestion, pavement, bridge, and/or safety)

33


With proper documentation and public involvement, a P&N derived from the planning process can legitimately narrow the alternatives analyzed for NEPA

34


Alternatives eliminated during the planning process because they do not meet P&N, can be omitted from the detailed analysis of alternatives in the NEPA document

Explain the rationale for elimination of alternatives in the NEPA document

35

FHWA Guidance A statement of the transportation

problem Not solution-based

Based on articulated planning factors and developed through a certified planning process

36

FHWA Guidance Specific enough so range of

alternatives developed offer solutions to the transportation problem

Not so specific as to "reverse engineer” a solution

May reflect other priorities and limitations in the area (i.e. environmental resources, growth management, land use, and economic development)

37

Logical Termini Transportation problem begins and

ends Federal Actions shall not be

segmented Does not preclude phasing of

construction under a single NEPA action

State/Municipal boundaries are not end points

38

Independent Utility Establishes independent significance May be implied by logical termini May need to be specifically addressed Distinct from project construction

phasing Demonstrates that the project is not

dependent on any other action

39

Problems vs. Symptoms

Typical Problem Lack of transportation

options Demand that exceeds

system capacity Through traffic on

residential streets Lack of system or route

continuity Safety Infrastructure in disrepair Need for access to

developing land

Transportation Solutions Transit improvements Bicycle and pedestrian facilities Traffic control improvements Law Enforcement Access management Transportation demand management

strategies Traffic calming Increased capacity along existing facility Reconstructed roads, bridges Construction of new roads

Alternatives should align solutions to the underlying problems

Transportation Solutions Transit improvements Bicycle and pedestrian facilities Traffic control improvements Law Enforcement Access management Transportation demand management

strategies Traffic calming Increased capacity along existing facility Reconstructed roads, bridges Construction of new roads

Typical Problem Lack of Transportation

options Demand that exceeds

system capacity Through traffic on

residential streets Lack of system or route

continuity Safety Infrastructure in disrepair Need for access to

developing land

Alternatives should align solutions to the underlying problems