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Public Roads
Magazine Index - Contents of Volume 67
Visit www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/prarchive.htm
to view the articles online.
No. 1, July/August 2003
A Natural
Balance
by Cynthia J. Burbank
During decades of controversy, FHWA and its State
and local partners consistently included environmental
stewardship as a goal of transportation projects.
The author's overview begins with historical background
on the interstate construction era, the start of the environmental
movement, and NEPA. The article continues with a sidebar
on environmentally sensitive interstate projects and other
good news, such as improvement in air quality, provision
of enhancements such as bike paths and historic preservation,
context-sensitive solutions, and the net gain in restored
wetlands. The author then turns to a discussion of NEPA,
streamlining, categorical exclusions, TEA-21, the other
articles in the issue, and context-sensitive solutions
(using an example of US 93 in Montana). The article concludes
with a mention of the emerging environmental ethic in
transportation agencies. |
2 |
Nurturing an Environmental
Perspective
by Ruth Rentch and Rachael Barolsky
A scan tour of seven States sheds light on best practices
for honoring environmental commitments in transportation
projects.
This article about a scan tour of seven States focuses
on the issue of honoring planned environmental commitments
during the construction and operation stages. The scan
team included representatives from FHWA, State DOTs, EPA,
the Volpe Center, AASHTO, and ARTBA. The article describes
various themes that emerges from the tour:
- The need to institutionalize an environmental ethic,
a top-down commitment to environmental compliance by
the leadership and staff at all levels. The authors
provide an example from New York.
- Staff positions focused on environmental compliance
at the construction and maintenance levels. Texas is
the example provided.
- Training courses. Again, Texas is the example.
- Guidance documents, including field pocket guides,
manuals and guidelines, and videos.
- Commitment assurance through planning sheets and summaries,
forms, meetings, and field reviews.
- Tracking mechanisms, such as databases, forms, and
lists.
- Public involvement in an open, cooperative process.
The Wyoming DOT recently revamped its system for public
involvement. Context-sensitive design is another way
to involve the public and preserve environmental resources
by building a highway that blends with the landscape.
- Interagency coordination, especially to build trust
with resource agencies.
The authors conclude by providing a set of recommendations
based on these findings.
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6 |
The Road to Streamlining
by Kreig Larson
An indepth look at the NEPA process and ways to expedite
it.
The author begins with a statement about NEPA's benefits
and its history of being perceived as a source of delay
(see note to FHWA reviewers). A quote by Peters follows
and then the article introduces the FHWA study of the
impacts of NEPA on the timing and cost of project delivery.
This baseline study found that the average time to complete
an EIS is 3.6 years. Follow-up research with different
parameters determined that the average time is actually
5.1 years and that the time is longest in the Southeast,
shortest in Regions 8 and 6. FHWA identified eight case
studies that demonstrate successful streamlining measures,
and the article summarizes tips from these examples. The
author concludes by describing a Gallup survey to view
how stakeholders in the NEPA process view the duration
of the process, its quality, and areas for improvement. |
10 |
Executing the Executive
Order
by Frederick Skaer
Federal agencies today are collaborating more effectively
on environmental reviews of major transportation projects,
thanks to a new Presidential mandate.
The article begins with an explanation of executive orders
and then describes the environmental stewardship and transportation
executive order, which sets up a task force chaired by
Mineta to implement the order. Mineta selected 13 number
of projects to receive priority treatment. The author
identifies some issues common to the projects and lessons
learned to date. The task force is exploring process improvements
for streamlining procedures under four laws: the Clean
Water, Endangered Species, National Historic Preservation,
and the Department of Transportation Act. The author concludes
with two examples of environmental stewardship: North
Carolina's ecosystem enhancement program and wildlife
corridors. |
14 |
A New Approach to
Road Building
by Lori Irving
Can a new policy change the way people think about
transportation agencies and the projects they deliver?
The author describes how context-sensitive design has
changed how the public thinks about transportation projects.
In defining context sensitivity, she quotes Mary Peters
and then provides examples of context-sensitive projects
from Delaware and Kentucky that dramatically changed the
public's perceptions. The author then maintains that context-sensitive
design and improving the safety of transportation facilities
go hand in hand. She concludes with the Kentucky example
that makes the point that the extra cost of contest-sensitive
design (25 percent) was worth it because of the positive
response of the community. |
18 |
Living with Noise
by Chris Corbisier
Planning land use with highway traffic noise in mind
can help local agencies improve residents' quality of
life.
The author describes the concept of noise-compatible
land-use planning, which encourages the location of less
noise-sensitive land uses near highways, promotes the
use of open space separating roads from developments,
and suggests special construction techniques that minimize
the impact of traffic noise. After introducing some basics
about sound and steps that the Federal government has
taken to reduce traffic noise, the author goes on to explain
the benefits of noise-compatible land-use planning and
highlight specific strategies, such as guiding development
through zoning and incorporating acoustical solutions
into buildings. The author highlights one case study—the
Carrington development in Fairfax County, VA—and cites
a Washington Post article from November 2002 that reports
that Americans are willing to accept higher noise levels
outdoors in return for convenient access to a highway.
The article concludes by noting the costs associated with
planning land uses with regard to noise. |
22 |
| Bikeways
and Pathways
by Andy Clarke
Accommodating bicyclists and walkers will promote
a healthier transportation system, a healthier environment—and
healthier Americans.
The author opens with quotes from Cindy Burbank and Tom
Larson, then discusses use and safety statistics on walking
and bicycles. He continues by mentioning the environmental,
health, and security benefits of increasing bicycle and
pedestrian use. The article continues with a discussion
of USDOT and FHWA reports and policy guidance on promoting
bike use and walking, and then the funding under ISTEA,
TEA-21, CMAQ, NHS, Hazard Elimination for Safe Routes
to Schools, and Scenic Byways. Turning to technical knowledge,
the author continues with a discussion of AASHTO's guidebook
on developing bike facilities and the software and other
technical tools developed by FHWA and NHTS, including
the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. San Diego's
Street Design Manual is provided as a successful
example of combining multiple objectives and serving diverse
users. A more traditional approach is design manuals specifically
for biking and walking improvements, such as publications
produced by Florida, Oregon, and New Jersey. The author
turns to Oregon for examples of some of the benefits of
biking and walking improvements, and to Pennsylvania,
Colorado, and California for the importance of better
conditions for bicycling and walking for transit. The
article concludes with the future potential to increase
bicycle and walking use, a shining success story from
Portland, OR, and a final quote from Cindy Burbank. |
26 |
Centering on Environmental
Excellence
by Kris Hoellen
AASHTO is helping State DOTs and others make environmental
stewardship and streamlining part of their mission and
everyday activities.
The AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence is a one-stop
resource for technical assistance, training, and access
to environmental tools. The first goal of the center—sharing
information on best practices—is met through a Web site,
an award competition, a demonstration program, teleconferences,
and an educational report. The center's second goal is
training, problem solving, and partnership building—being
achieved through a workshop on environmental management
systems, draft EMS templates, a team of technical experts
on call, and a CD-ROM on programmatic agreements. The
third service—technical assistance—is achieved through
the team of on-call experts. The author concludes with
a quote from Horsley, who is AASHTO's executive director. |
32 |
New Life for Brownfields
by Constance M. Hill
Across the country, transportation projects play a
critical role in revitalizing abandoned industrial properties.
The author opens with a quote by Assistant Secretary
for Transportation Policy Emil Frankel about transportation
fostering brownfield redevelopment and economic development.
(He has approved the quote, as has Cindy Burbank.) The
Bush Administration and EPA have identified sites as priorities,
and FHWA uses Federal-aid highway funds to help develop
brownfields. FHWA also funded a research study to increase
understanding of transportation's role in brownfield redevelopment.
The author provides three case studies from the research
study: North Marine Drive for a deepwater port in Portland,
OR; a bicycle and pedestrian trail in Kansas City, MO
and KS for the urban riverfront; and freight-related development
on abandoned industrial sites in NJ. The article concludes
with further discussion of the research results. |
36 |
Air Quality and Transportation
by Gary Jensen
Emissions are on the decline, and efforts from the
Federal to the local levels will help continue this trend.
Gary Jensen discusses the success the United States has
had in reducing transportation-related air emissions,
especially with on-road mobile (automobile) sources. He
notes that EPA estimates show that emissions reductions
from motor vehicles have accounted for 84 percent of the
total emissions reductions of the six criteria pollutants
since 1970. He provides basics on air pollution and describes
Federal legislation to protect air quality, including
the Clean Air Act and air quality standards. Jensen defines
nonattainment areas and explains how ISTEA and TEA-21
provide State and local officials with tools and programs,
like CMAQ, to improve air quality. He offers Los Angeles,
Denver, and Atlanta as examples of metropolitan areas
that have improved air quality significantly since 1970.
Jensen explains that emissions from motor vehicles have
decreased in spite of growth in the U.S. population and
the number of vehicle-miles traveled. He concludes by
describing new EPA emissions standards and cleaner fuel
requirements that will be phased in by 2007, helping further
reduce the transportation industry's contribution to air
pollution. |
40 |
Solutions from the
Sunbelt
by Alex Levy
The southeastern States share strategies to protect
wildlife and fragile habitats.
With a growing population and highway network, the Southeast's
ecosystems are under stress. But State DOTs are protecting
wildlife habitats throughout the region. The author explores
what 9 States are doing to improve ecosystem connectivity,
reduce roadkills, and protect human lives and property
from animal-vehicle collisions.
Florida: While upgrading Alligator Alley, the State found
ways to protect the federally endangered Florida panther:
underpasses and right-of-way fencing. The State also hosted
the first International Conference on Wildlife Ecology
and Transportation, signed a MOU streamlining environmental
planning, and created habitat banks. Alabama: Wetlands
banks to mitigate the impacts of transportation projects
are one effort, and another is a habitat bank on US 98
for the federally threatened gopher tortoise. Georgia:
Habitat banks for the federally protected red-cockaded
woodpecker and State-listed gopher tortoise are one effort,
and another is red spheres on power lines above roadside
foraging areas for woodstorks. The article continues in
this way through the other southeastern States: North
Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky (prismatic reflectors),
Arkansas, Louisiana (prairie preservation), and South
Carolina. Federal funding through ISTEA and TEA-21 is
mentioned at the end of the article. |
44 |
| Reviews
on the Fast Track
by Cassandra Callaway Allwell
A step-by-step guide to practices that States employ
to streamline the environmental review process.
This article on practices that States employ to streamline
the environmental review process begins with a success
story from Colorado on multihabitat mitigation purchases.
The author then defines environmental streamlining and
describes various streamlining practices with brief examples
(sometimes only a line or two) from a number of States.
The practices are described under six categories: integrated
planning; context-sensitive designs; programmatic agreements
for historic preservation, wetlands, endangered species,
and public lands; flexible mitigation such as wetlands
banks and regional mitigation; technologies, cross-training,
and interagency personnel agreements; and alternative
dispute resolution. The author concludes with lessons
learned, providing six tips. |
49 |
| List of Authors for Volume
67 |
(issue/page references) |
|
Allwell, Cassandra
Callaway |
1/p.49 |
|
Barolsky, Rachael
|
1/p.6 |
|
Burbank, Cynthia
J. |
1/p.2 |
|
Clarke, Andy |
1/p.26 |
|
Corbisier, Chris |
1/p.22 |
|
Hill, Constance
M. |
1/p.36 |
|
Hoellen, Kris
|
1/p.32 |
|
Irving, Lori |
1/p.18 |
|
Jensen, Gary |
1/p.40 |
|
Larson, Kreig
|
1/p.10 |
|
Levy, Alex |
1/p.44 |
|
Rentch, Ruth |
1/p.6 |
|
Skaer, Frederick
|
1/p.14 |
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Contents of:
Volume 57 | Volume
58 | Volume 59 | Volume
60 | Volume 61 | Volume
62
Volume 63 | Volume
64 | Volume 65 | Volume
66 | Volume 67
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