TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
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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
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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
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Transportation Planning Process
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Metropolitan Planning Metropolitan Planning
Organizations (MPOs)Urbanized areas with population
> 50,000Federal Planning Regulations3-C Planning Process
◦Continuing◦Cooperative◦Comprehensive
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Ohio’s MPOs
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MPO Role and MembersMembers include local
governments, DOT officials, transit agencies
Board is responsible for transportation decision-making
Staff provide analyses and recommendations
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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
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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
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Statewide PlanningODOT is lead agencyStatewide assessmentCoordination with Metropolitan
Planning OrganizationsRural Planning Organizations and
other stakeholders
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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
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Statewide PlanningStatewide Transportation
Improvement Program (STIP)4-year durationConsistent with statewide long-
range planAll federally-funded projectsAll other regionally significant
projectsFiscally constrained
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Linking Planning and NEPA
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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
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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
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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.”
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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
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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
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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)
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FHWA GuidanceFHWA Technical Advisory (T6640.8A)
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
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FHWA GuidanceFHWA Technical Advisory (T6640.8A)
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
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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
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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
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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
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FHWA Guidance Logical Termini
Rational end points for a transportation improvement
Rational end points for review of environmental impacts
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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
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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
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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
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FHWA GuidanceLINKING PLANNING & NEPA
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)
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FHWA GuidanceLINKING PLANNING & NEPA
With proper documentation and public involvement, a P&N derived from the planning process can legitimately narrow the alternatives analyzed for NEPA
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FHWA GuidanceLINKING PLANNING & NEPA
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
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FHWA Guidance A statement of the transportation
problem Not solution-based
Based on articulated planning factors and developed through a certified planning process
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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)
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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
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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
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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