Planning and Environment Linkage: An Overview
- 1. Planning and Environment Linkages: An Overview www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov April 4, 2022 Lana Lau
- 2. 4/5/2022 Add a footer 2 • Disclaimer: Except for the statutes and regulations cited, the contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. The document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies. General considerations are not necessarily required by the statute or regulations; however, FHWA encourages these for all PEL approaches.
- 3. Agenda PEL Overview • What is PEL? • PEL Benefits • Flexibility in PEL Approaches • PEL Best Practices • FHWA PEL Resources 4/5/2022 3
- 4. What is PEL? • PEL is a collaborative transportation decision- making approach o considers environmental, community, and economic goals early in the transportation planning process o uses the information, analysis, and products developed during planning to inform the environmental review process • Ultimately, the goal of PEL is early collaboration to facilitate better planning to inform National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews to accelerate project delivery 4/5/2022 4
- 5. PEL Benefits 4/5/2022 5 Accelerate project delivery Align with future requirements Stimulates development of new tools Helps build relationships for agencies & the public Early engagement in decision-making Helps identify stakeholders early on Creates better outcomes for the community Improves planning products
- 6. PELToday
- 7. Funding PEL 4/5/2022 7 • PL and SPR funding • Transportation planning activities undertaken as part of planning process prior to the initiation of NEPA are eligible for PL and SPR funding. • Once the NEPA process has been initiated, activities undertaken for a project are not eligible for PL or SPR funds. Additional information: Metropolitan Planning Funding Eligibility Reminder https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/metroplanfund.cfm
- 8. PEL General Considerations 8 4/5/2022 Follow the transportation planning process Solicit participation by Federal and State resource agencies and Indian tribes Provide an opportunity for public review and comments Use reliable and reasonably current data and reasonable, scientifically acceptable methodologies Involve the FHWA Division and FTA RegionalOffice, as appropriate Prepare appropriate documentation
- 9. Flexibility in PEL Approaches 4/5/2022 Add a footer 9 Integration of planning and environmental review statute 23 U.S.C. 168 Efficient environmental reviews statute 23 U.S.C. 139(f)(4)(E)(ii) Planning Regulations 23 CFR 450.212(a)-(c) & 23 CFR 450.318 (a)-(d) CEQ NEPA Regulations 40 CFR 1500.4(l) and 40 CFR 1501.12 Programmatic Mitigation Planning statute 23 U.S.C. 169 Planning Regulations 23 CFR 450.214 and 23 CFR 450.320
- 10. How Planning Products Can Benefit the NEPA Process Planning Products Support NEPA Travel Demand Forecasting /Traffic Modeling /Transit Ridership / Safety Data • Inform purpose and need • Screen alternatives, including modal alternatives • Scope certain studies (e.g., air, noise) Land Use and Growth Management • Define transportation problems • Evaluate alternatives, including modal alternatives • Ensure consistency with local goals Population and Employment • Identify stakeholders • Assess community impacts • Achieve full participation by all affected populations 10
- 11. Planning Products: Purpose and Need • Develop a statement of purpose and need for a future project during planning that can be used in the environmental review process • Consult with FHWA/FTA to ensure purpose & need can be used in subsequent environmental review processes 4/5/2022 11 Purpose & Need Planning Purpose & Need NEPA
- 12. Planning Products: Preliminary Screening and Elimination of Alternatives • Best Practices • Be objective/fact based • Focus on corridor vision, fatal flaw analysis, mode selection • Reflects project purpose & need, community and public input, environmental impacts • May require several levels of screening or analysis • The alternative to be eliminated from consideration is not necessary for compliance with the NEPA (23 U.S.C. 139(f)(4)(E)(ii) 4/5/2022 12 Credit: Getty Images
- 13. PEL Best Practices 4/5/2022 13 Plan before initiating project Plan schedule & budget Planning informs future environmental study. Leverage tools such as GIS and other mapping tools to help inform planning. Agencies sharing resources to provide data. Comprehensive record of data, analysis and decision- making is important
- 14. PEL Hypothetical Case Studies • https://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/env_initiativ es/pel/publications.aspx 4/5/2022 Add a footer 14
- 15. NHI Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) Course COURSE NUMBER: FHWA-NHI-142078, 142078 A and 142078V 4/5/2022 https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/course- search?tab=0&key=PEL&sf=0&course_no=142078V 15
- 16. Other PEL Resources 4/5/2022 Virtual Public Involvement & PELWebinar Recording: https://usdot.zoomgov.com/rec/play/Wy5WiNgW5- 1naI2Az1HKBm3csR6hDvE4Oz72QzdMiNgr2dHYRkWTJFoG4jtxZZLHy0y71 T5Q6oqN4qli.odfrUQnrHSWHAHh1?startTime=1637252868000 Federal-Aid Essentials PELVideo: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/federal- aidessentials/catmod.cfm?id=122 PlanWorks PELApplication & DecisionGuide: https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/planworks/Applications/Show/planning-and- environment-linkages 16
- 17. Conclusion • PEL is flexible. • Consider the future use of the planning analysis and planning products in the environmental review process. • Consider environmental, social and economic early into the planning process to: • reduce duplication; • encourage relationship building and public engagement; • create better products, decisions, and outcomes; and • accelerate project delivery. 4/5/2022 17