1. Mary Stringfellow
Program Delivery Team Leader
FHWA Louisiana Division
E-mail:mary.stringfellow@dot.gov
FHWAs Role in Transportation Planning

2. Transportation Planning
Our nation's intermodal transportation system is meant to serve public mobility and productivity.
Transportation decisions need to be made in an environmentally sensitive way, using a comprehensive planning process that includes the public and considers land use, development, safety, and security.
Transportation planners undertake a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the potential impact of transportation plans and programs while addressing the aspirations and concerns of the society served by these plans and programs.
Planners examine past, present, and prospective trends and issues associated with the demand for the movement of people, goods, and information at local, rural, tribal, metropolitan, statewide, national, and international levels.
3. FHWAs Overall Role
Under the US DOT FHWA provides Stewardship & Oversight (as defined by Laws & Regulations) of the Federal-aid Highway Program & Funds
LADOTD is the direct recipient of these funds
A Partnership - FHWA has a formal Stewardship Agreement w/ LADOTD
Make eligibility determinations for the various federal funding categories
Promote Improvements and Advocate Best Practices in Transportation from other areas of the Country and the World Doing more than just the Minimum
4. FHWAs Role in Transportation Planning
Ensure Planning process is followed by State DOTs and MPOs Jointly with FTA
Ensure STIP & TIP project selection procedures are used by LADOTD & MPOs
Consultation confer in accordance with established procedures
Cooperation work together to achieve common goals & objectives
FHWA does NOT select projects
5. Planning Process 8 Planning Factors(per federal regulations)
Support the economic vitality of the United States, the States, metropolitan areas, and non-metropolitan areas, especially by enabling global competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency;
Increase the safety of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users;
Increase the security of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users;
Increase accessibility and mobility of people and freight;
6. Planning Process 8 Planning Factorscontinued(per federal regulations)
Protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, improve the quality of life, and promote consistency between transportation improvements and State and local planned growth and economic development patterns;
Enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system, across and between modes throughout the State, for people and freight;
Promote efficient system management and operation;
Emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system.
7. Livability Principles(best practices)
Provide more transportation choices
Promote equitable, affordable housing
Enhance economic competitiveness
Support existing communities
Coordinate and leverage Federal policies and investment
Value communities and neighborhoods
8. The HUD/DOT/EPA Partnership Agreement (best practice)
Enhance integrated planning and investment
Provide a vision for sustainable growth
Redefine housing affordability and make it transparent
Redevelop underutilized sites
Develop livability measures and tools
Align HUD, DOT, and EPA programs
Undertake joint research, data collection, and outreach
9. Example Claiborne Ave Cooridor Planning Study
Joint HUD & FHWA funded project USDOT TIGER II and HUD Community Challenge Planning Grants
to analyze potential infrastructure and livability initiatives along a central link of this inter-parish corridor
to improve transit, connect housing to jobs, schools and healthcare, manage soil & water, and promote livable communities through economic development
10. Long Range Planning
The States plan is multimodal and will be developed through an interdisciplinary process
FHWA reviewed LADOTDs RFP before advertisement to:
Ensure the plan development will meet all Federal Highway requirements (laws & regs)
Include the 6 Livability principles as a best practice
FHWA will participate in the plan development as an observer throughout the process
Will also offer a Scenario Planning Workshop once consultant begins work provides a framework for developing a shared vision for the future by analyzing various forces (e.g., health, transportation, economic, environmental, land use, etc.) that affect the community
11. Complete Streets
FHWA fully supports LADOTDs Complete Streets Policy
FHWArequires State DOTs to have a Bike/Pedestrian Coordinator
The 6 Livability Principles can apply here
Access Management managing and planning access points to reduce conflicts & improve safety and mobility
Context Sensitive Solutions - is a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that involves all stakeholders to develop a transportation facility that fits its physical setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic, historic, and environmental resources, while maintaining safety and mobility
Scenario Planning provides a framework for developing a shared vision for the future by analyzing various forces (e.g., health, transportation, economic, environmental, land use, etc.) that affect the community
Land Use must be considered and studied for Complete Streets implementation
12. FHWA Programs that fit with Complete Streets
Safe Routes to School - is to empower communities to make walking and bicycling to school a safe and routine activity once again. The Program makes funding available for a wide variety of programs and projects, from building safer street crossings to establishing programs that encourage children and their parents to walk and bicycle safely to school.
Transportation Enhancement Program projects that better integrate transportation into the community
13. Transportation Planning & Land Use
Transportation planning programs can foster integration of land use and transportation planning through the following principles:
Developing land use, economic development and transportation (or other infrastructure) plans in a coordinated manner, with all elements supporting a common vision.
Establishing land use goals and strategies to facilitate alternative transportation modes, including transit and non-motorized transportation.
Using a context sensitive solutions approach in planning and project development that considers land use conditions and implications.
Knitting together transportation projects and programs and public/private investments so that they complement each other and support broader community goals.
Accommodating the flow of freight throughout the country while avoiding or minimizing negative impacts on residential neighborhoods and city centers and the natural environment.
Considering a wide range of strategies, tools, and modal options to address transportation and land use issues.
14. Human Services & Para-transit
The Federal Transit Administration (under USDOT) handles these program with the state and local agencies
In LA Federal Highway funds (CMAQ) have been transferred to FTA for use by CATS in BR for use in their transit program
FHWA works with FTA on the interconnections of transit with highways i.e. bus shelters can be funded with Enhancement funds
15. Rail Compact
The overall concept of the Compact does not involve the Federal Highway program.
FHWA could get involved with the Intermodal Connectors needed for this rail line
Where rail lines cross highways FHWA has the highway rail grade crossing safety program
With past high speed rail funding was used to close crossings or install lights/gates that crossed the rail line
16. QUESTIONS??
17. Tools and Analytical Methods
Tool Kit for Integrating Land Use and Transportation: The objective of this tool kit is to provide a user-friendly, web-based source of methods, strategies, and procedures for integrating land use and transportation planning, decision-making, and project implementation.
Toolbox for Regional Policy Analysis - A toolbox of analytical methods for testing the regional impacts of transportation and land use policies.
18. Livability Principles
Provide more transportation choices. Develop safe, reliable, and economical transportation choices to decrease household transportation costs, reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote public health.
Promote equitable, affordable housing. Expand location-and energy-efficient housing choices for people of all ages, incomes, races, and ethnicities to increase mobility and lower the combined cost of housing and transportation.
Enhance economic competitiveness. Improve economic competitiveness through reliable and timely access to employment centers, educational opportunities, services, and other basic needs by workers, as well as expanded business access to markets.
Support existing communities. Target Federal funding toward existing communitiesthrough strategies like transit oriented, mixed-use development, and land recyclingto increase community revitalization and the efficiency of public works investments and safeguard rural landscapes.
Coordinate and leverage Federal policies and investment. Align Federal policies and funding to remove barriers to collaboration, leverage funding, and increase the accountability and effectiveness of all levels of government to plan for future growth, including making smart energy choices such as locally generated renewable energy.
Value communities and neighborhoods. Enhance the unique characteristics of all communities by investing in healthy, safe, and walkable neighborhoodsrural, urban, or suburban.
19. The HUD/DOT/EPA Partnership Agreement
Enhance integrated planning and investment. The partnership will seek to integrate housing, transportation, water infrastructure, and land use planning and investment. HUD, EPA, and DOT propose to make planning grants available to metropolitan areas and create mechanisms to ensure those plans are carried through to localities.
Provide a vision for sustainable growth. This effort will help communities set a vision for sustainable growth and apply federal transportation, water infrastructure, housing, and other investments in an integrated approach that reduces the nation's dependence on foreign oil, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, protects America's air and water, and improves quality of life. Coordinating planning efforts in housing, transportation, air quality, and water-including planning cycles, processes, and geographic coverage-will make more effective use of federal housing and transportation dollars.
Redefine housing affordability and make it transparent. The partnership will develop federal housing affordability measures that include housing and transportation costs and other expenses that are affected by location choices. Although transportation costs now approach or exceed housing costs for many working families, federal definitions of housing affordability do not recognize the strain of soaring transportation costs on homeowners and renters who live in areas isolated from work opportunities and transportation choices. The partnership will redefine affordability to reflect those costs, improve the consideration of the cost of utilities, and provide consumers with enhanced information to help them make housing decisions.
Redevelop underutilized sites. The partnership will work to achieve critical environmental justice goals and other environmental goals by targeting development to locations that already have infrastructure and offer transportation choices. Environmental justice is a particular concern in areas where disinvestment and past industrial use caused pollution and a legacy of contaminated or abandoned sites. This partnership will help return such sites to productive use.
Develop livability measures and tools. The partnership will research, evaluate, and recommend measures that indicate the livability of communities, neighborhoods, and metropolitan areas. These measures could be adopted in subsequent integrated planning efforts to benchmark existing conditions, measure progress toward achieving community visions, and increase accountability. HUD, DOT, and EPA will help communities attain livability goals by developing and providing analytical tools to evaluate progress, as well as state and local technical assistance programs to remove barriers to coordinated housing, transportation, and environmental protection investments. The partnership will develop incentives to encourage communities to implement, use, and publicize the measures.
Align HUD, DOT, and EPA programs. HUD, DOT, and EPA will work to assure that their programs maximize the benefits of their combined investments in our communities for livability, affordability, environmental excellence, and the promotion of green jobs of the future. HUD and DOT will work together to identify opportunities to better coordinate their programs and encourage location efficiency in housing and transportation choices. HUD, DOT, and EPA will also share information and review processes to facilitate better-informed decisions and coordinate investments.
Undertake joint research, data collection, and outreach. HUD, DOT, and EPA will engage in joint research, data collection, and outreach efforts with stakeholders to develop information platforms and analytic tools to track housing and transportation options and expenditures, establish standardized and efficient performance measures, and identify best practices.