1. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
Class 5 Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
CSS and
Environmental Analysis
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2. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
What is NEPA? Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
National Environmental Policy Act
• Enacted 1969
• Purpose:
– Prevent further endangerment to environment
– Protect environment for future generations
– Make agencies accountable to consider
environment
• Federal agencies
• Federally funded projects
• Others that choose to do so
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3. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
Environments? Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
Includes
• Natural
• Social
• Built
Also
• Safety
• Health
• Historical, archeological
resources
• Consumable resources
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4. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
NEPA requirements Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
Environmental analyses
• Categorical exclusion
• Environmental assessment
 FONSI
 EIS
• Environmental impact statement
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5. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
CE examples Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
• Research programs
• Safety improvements
• Landscaping
• Noise barriers
• Planning and technical studies
• Utility installations across ROW
• Fencing, signing, pavement markings
• Construction of bike and pedestrian facilities
• Elderly/handicapped accessibility improvements
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6. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
CE examples: I-35 Minn. Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
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7. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
CE examples: I-40 Okla. Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
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8. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
NEPA requirements Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
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9. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
NEPA requirements Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
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10. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
What is analyzed? Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
Include, but not limited to
• Possible impacts (positive or adverse)
• Impacts that can’t be avoided
• Controversial aspects
• Attainment of objectives
• Possible alternatives to the proposed action
• Impacts of “no action”
• Preferred action
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11. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
Types of impacts Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
Impact areas
• Land use • Coastal barriers
• Farmland • Coastal zones
• Social • Threatened and endangered
• Relocation species
• Economic • Historic and archeological
• Joint development preservation
• Pedestrians and bicyclists • Hazardous waste sites
• Air quality • Visual
• Noise • Energy
• Water quality • Construction
• Wetlands • Productivity
• Water bodies and wildlife • Irreversible, irretrievable
• Floodplains commitment of resources
• Wild and scenic rivers • Others identified in scoping
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12. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
Analysis steps Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
• Purpose and need
• Scoping
• Analysis methodologies
• Existing conditions (context)
• Alternatives*
• Impacts of alternatives
• Evaluation
• (Recycle) Public involvement
• Documentation (DEIS)
• Review
• Additional analysis
• Identify preferred alternative
• Documentation (FEIS)
• Review
• Agency action (ROD) 1
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13. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
Relationships Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
Project
development
Environmental Public
CSS involvement
analysis
Agency
coordination
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14. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
Alternatives Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
Required minimum
• Build (multiple)
• Transportation system management (TSM)
• Other modes
• No build
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15. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
Impacts needing analysis Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
• Per scoping
– Needs
– Issues
– Obvious and perceived (see list of types)
– Controversial aspects
– uncertainties
• Types
– Direct
– Indirect
– Cumulative
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16. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
Analysis methodologies Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
• Develop right after scoping
• Per issues and intensities
• Use accepted methods
• Respond to local values
• May differ from project to project
– Detail
– Extent
Historic site along Kentucky corridor
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17. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
Essentials Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
• Public involvement
• Agency coordination
• Environmental justice
– Full participation for all
– Proportional impacts and benefits
• Documentation
– Document everything
– Needed for potential challenges
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18. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
Are all EISs the same? Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
Your expectations?
Discussion: why?
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19. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
EIS outline Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
Typical minimum contents (FEIS)
• Purpose and need for action
• Alternatives
• Affected environment
• Environmental consequences
• Evaluation
• Comments and responses (FEIS)
• Preferred alternative (FEIS)
• Mitigation (FEIS)
• Next steps
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20. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
3 exemptions Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
• No EIS needed when:
• Exempted by Congress
• Emergency situation
• Rejection of proposed action from external
source
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21. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
Exercise Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
For possible grade separation at Wellborn and
George Bush:
• Prepare:
– List of potential stakeholders
– List of potential environmental impacts
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22. Context Sensitive Solutions in Transportation
Resource Planning, Environmental Analysis and Design
Good resource starting point:
• Center for Environmental Excellence by
AASHTO
www.environment.transportation.org
• FHWA Environmental Guidebook (online)
http://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/guidebook/
index.asp
• Read NCHRP Report 480, Section E
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