Integrated Decisionmaking

Ongoing Research:

Washington State DOT Demonstration Project to Integrate and Enhance Environmental and Transportation Decisionmakin

Performer(s): Washington State Dept. of Transportation (WSDOT)
Sponsor(s): FHWA ; WSDOT

For more information:

Fred Skaer. FHWA , HEPE-1; 400 Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 20590;
Tel: 202-366-2058; Fax: 202-366-7660; Email: Fred.skaer@fhwa.dot.gov.

Abstract

The FHWA is partnering with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) on an applied research project to develop, pilot, and demonstrate integrated and enhanced environmental and transportation decisionmaking at the Federal, State, local, and tribal levels. This effort will involve a significant change to WSDOT’s project development and transportation decisionmaking process, in collaboration with FHWA. The FHWA is interested in this research as a national pilot to demonstrate the following: 1) Integration of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) process with the planning, predesign stage, and decisionmaking for surface transportation projects at the earliest possible time; 2) Integration of all applicable Federal, State, tribal, and local permitting requirements; 3) Integration of national transportation, social, safety, economic, and environmental goals with State, tribal, and local land use and growth management initiatives; and 4) Consolidation of Federal, State, tribal, and local decisionmaking to achieve the best overall public interest according to an agreed schedule.

Completed Research:

Promoting Environmental Sensitivity: Business Organization and Operations (Completed 1995)

Performer(s): The Townsend Consulting Group
Sponsor(s): FHWA

To order:

Benita Smith. FHWA , HEPE-1, 400 Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 20590;
Tel: 202-366-2065; Fax: 202-366-3409; E-mail: Benita.smith@fhwa.dot.gov.

Abstract

The set consists of an Executive Summary; Volume I—Report on Phase I, Private Sector Environmental Research; and Volume 2—Report on Phase II, State DOT Environmental Research. They profile environmentally sensitive private corporations and State Departments of Transportation These reports show how several organizations have integrated environmental thinking into their business practices in such a way that environmentally responsible behavior becomes a natural way of doing business, rather than an add-on activity.