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Introduction
Transportation, whether it is the mode of getting from one
point to another (automobile, train) or the superstructure that
supports it (road, bridge), has impacts on communities, people,
and the environment. Research is needed to fully understand
the impacts of individual transportation projects and their interactions
on the livability and sustainability of the natural and human
environment. In recognition of this need, the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) has supported, over the past 10 years,
environmental research activities that totaled more than $30
million and has renewed its commitment to technology transfer
and training in this area.
The FHWA Environmental Research Program (ERP) conducts and
supports research related to the design, planning, construction,
operation, and maintenance of transportation systems and their
impacts on the human and natural environments. The research
activities of the ERP are designed to provide the most effective
and efficient transportation systems possible, while simultaneously
protecting, preserving, and enhancing all elements of our environment.
This report documents the completed and ongoing research activities
of the ERP and highlights the most significant accomplishments.
In addition, it provides information to the transportation and
environmental research communities about our program. It is
a resource that may be used by the FHWA's many constituencies,
such as State Departments of Transportation (DOTs); Metropolitan
Planning Organizations (MPOs); environmental organizations; academic
institutions; the interested public; and others, including the
U.S. Congress.
FHWA's Mission and Vision
The mission of the FHWA is to continually improve the quality
of our Nation's highway system and intermodal connections. The
FHWA includes, as one of its five strategic goals, the need to
carry out its mission in a manner that protects and enhances
the natural environment and communities affected by transportation.
The FHWA's other strategic goals focus on mobility, safety,
productivity, and national security. The goal to protect and
enhance the environment and communities affected by transportation
requires that principles of environmental stewardship be incorporated
in all of the FHWA's policies, procedures, and decisions. This
means that the FHWA responsibly considers and evaluates all aspects
of the environment throughout the highway design, planning,
and development process. Beyond its obligations embodied in
environmental stewardship, the FHWA must demonstrate leadership
on environmental matters with State and local agencies that implement
transportation projects and programs throughout the country.
FHWA's Role in Environmental Research
Over the years, the role of the FHWA has evolved and the Agency
has expanded its mission beyond that of constructing a nationwide
transportation system that is safe, reliable, and efficient.
During the 1990s, the FHWA's role broadened to reflect increasing
interest throughout the nation in developing an environmentally
sensitive transportation system. This role change occurred for
several reasons. The most important was the enactment of the
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA)
and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21)
in 1998. In enacting ISTEA and TEA-21, the U.S. Congress emphasized
the need for an integrated and multimodal transportation system
that reflects environmental sensitivity and community values.
The renewed emphasis on the environmental and community impacts
of transportation changed the framework of transportation planning
and decisionmaking and vastly expanded the number of stakeholders
who have an active interest in the FHWA's programs and policies.
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