Colorado: Planning and Environmental Linkages Integrated Planning Work Group Peer Exchange
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Colorado: Planning and Environmental Linkages
Integrated Planning Work Group Peer Exchange Washington, DC – January 27, 2009
SAFETEA-LU
Consideration of potential environmental mitigation activities Consultation with resource, regulatory and land management agencies, and Tribal governments Transportation planning studies
PEL Concept
Considerations in planning process and use decisions in NEPA later Ecosystem vs. project perspective Early and better coordination Progression from just NEPA focus
Benefits of PEL
Common sense Early and continuous coordination with agencies Better decisions result in: Environmental stewardship Financial stewardship Ultimately save time, money and effort Relationship-building
History of PEL in Colorado
STEP UP Linking Planning and NEPA (LPN) On-line Training LPN Guidance Statewide Transportation Plan Process CDOT PEL Program Manager PEL Corridor Studies FHWA PEL Questionnaire
STEP UP – Environmental Streamlining
http://www.nfrmpo.org/planning/ New Planning Process: Identify environmental issues early Establish early and continued involvement by resource agencies Create a better link between transportation, environmental, and land use planning Evaluate and rank projects using environmental data Web-based GIS Tool
Linking Planning and NEPA Training
On-line training Provides guidance to integrate planning and NEPA How to incorporate planning process elements into project level environmental review http://www.dot.state.co.us/environmental/Training/NEPA_index.asp
CDOT LPN Guidance
For use by CDOT staff and regional transportation planning partners Addresses how data, analysis, and products from planning can be incorporated into NEPA Meets SAFETEA-LU requirements http://www.dot.state.co.us/environmental/Training/linking-overview.html
Statewide Transportation Plan Process
Developed Corridor Visions, Goals and Strategies Environmental Forum with Resource Agencies Environmental Tabs Resource Management Plans http://www.dot.state.co.us/StatewidePlanning/PlansStudies/2035Plan.asp
CDOT PEL Program Manager
Develop effective working relationships with FHWA, CDOT and MPOs Form the link between transportation planning and project delivery to advance NEPA analysis into the planning process Assure environmental data are available to planning staff and their consultants and are appropriately utilized and interpreted Be available to furnish expertise and institutional knowledge
PEL Corridor Studies
Arapahoe Road – Denver, 2007 56 th Avenue – Denver, 2008 Parker Road – Denver, current US 50 West – Pueblo, current US 24 East – Colorado Springs, current
FHWA PEL Questionnaire
Consistent with 23 CFR 450 Appendix A Submitted with PEL Study Document Consists of 13 Questions: Corridor Vision/Purpose and Need Range of Alternatives and Screening Criteria Agency and Public Coordination Resources Relationship to Future NEPA Document
Barriers
Money Database development Different perspectives between land use, transportation and environmental planning Coordination with various disciplines (engineers, environmental, regulatory agencies, etc.) Time and staffing Carry forward into NEPA
Statewide Environmental Forum
Bring together Local Transportation Officials 10 rural areas 5 “urban” areas Resource and Regulatory Agencies Goal: Better understanding of the resources and issues Best meeting ever!
CDOT’s Statewide Environmental Forum
Results
Question 1: Was this an effective tool for sharing information between agencies about programs and activities? 87% said yes. Question 2: Was there sufficient time for conversations?
30% said yes. A majority of evaluations requested between 5 and 15 minutes more for each conversation
Question 3: Did you feel you were able to effectively communicate with other parties? 91% said yes. Question 4: Should CDOT host similar events in the future as transportation plans are developed? 89%
said yes.
What’s Next?
Developing a more refined process of moving from planning through NEPA Ensuring that planning decisions are recognized in a NEPA study Education and outreach on planning process Current CO PEL efforts include: Partnering agreement with Transportation Environmental Resource Council (TERC) PEL web-based decision tool PEL training Charting CDOT transportation and environmental planning processes
Questions for You
Success with alternatives elimination in planning?
Moving into NEPA and how much is revisited?
How much time between a planning study and NEPA?
FHWA letter responding to a PEL Study
SUBJECT: 56 th Avenue: Havana Street to Pena Boulevard Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study Process Dear Mr. Mutz: This letter is in response to your request for FHWA concurrence regarding the Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study initiative undertaken by the City and County of Denver, CDOT, and URS Corporation on the 56 corridor planning study limits.
th Avenue Corridor Study project. We appreciate and commend the efforts the team has undertaken to conduct this corridor planning study in a manner consistent with the FHWA PEL guidance which outlines a process similar to that required by NEPA. The benefits of this streamlining effort will undoubtedly be realized in terms of time and cost savings on future NEPA studies conducted within the The completed PEL Questionnaire submitted to FHWA on December 16, 2008 provides a good summary of the work completed in PEL study and the information that will be needed once projects enter into the NEPA process…….
Colorado PEL Contacts
Name/Title Area Email
Michelle Scheuerman – CDOT Planning Section Manager Tracey MacDonald - CDOT Statewide Planning Unit Manager Sheble McConnellogue - PEL Program Manager Bill Haas - FHWA Metropolitan Transportation Planner Stephanie Gibson - FHWA Environmental Program Manager Suzette Mallette - NFRMPO Regional Transportation Planning Director Alison Deans Michael USFWS/CDOT Liaison Statewide Planning Statewide Planning and STEP UP CDOT PEL Program CO PEL Program Environmental Policy and PEL Questionnaire STEP UP U.S. Fish and Wildlife/CDOT Liaison [email protected].