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Florida’s E fficient T ransportation D ecision M aking Process and Environmental Screening Tool

Florida’s E fficient T ransportation D ecision M aking Process and Environmental Screening Tool. Linking Planning and Environment FHWA Environmental Conference June 30th 2004. Why ETDM?. Attempts to Address Several Problems

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Florida’s E fficient T ransportation D ecision M aking Process and Environmental Screening Tool

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  1. Florida’s Efficient Transportation Decision Making Process and Environmental Screening Tool Linking Planning and Environment FHWA Environmental Conference June 30th 2004

  2. Why ETDM? • Attempts to Address Several Problems • Environmental documents analyzing all issues in equal detail – Costly and time consuming without necessarily resulting in “better” projects • Environmental considerations not linked to project planning up-front

  3. The Problem P D & E D E S I G N P E R M I T S Mobility Planning FDOT 5-Year Work Program FDOT/MPO FDOT AGENCIES Planning input not conveyed to project development A 5-year gap before NEPA begins Late agency involvement

  4. Problem Characteristics • Sequential Actions • Long Time Line With Gaps • Late Agency Involvement • Risk of Late Project Changes • Time and Money Spent “Proving the Negative”

  5. The ETDM Process • Introduces Identification and consideration of potential environmental and sociocultural effects of major capacity improvements into the planning process • Requires continued updating and refining of project and it’s potential issues prior to the project being included in the FDOT Work Program • Focuses environmental and sociocultural technical studies and the analysis done during the project development phase • Results in earlier acquisition of permits

  6. How is This Accomplished? • Early, continuous and interactive involvement of resource agencies, public, MPO’s and the FDOT from the planning phase through NEPA approval and permitting. • Implementation of Planning & Programming “Screens” • Documentation of project purpose and need; effects considered; degree of impact assessed; recommendations made; alternatives considered and commitments entered into at each stage • Use of the FGDL and GIS based Environmental Screening Tool to enhance analyses of impacts and to record results and decisions made at every phase.

  7. NEPA Approvals & Permits Planning Screen Programming Screen Early Agency and Community Involvement Earlier Permits ETDM Process Mobility Planning FDOT Work Program Needs Plans Long-Range Cost-Feasible Plans Project Development Design

  8. Agency Early Involvement ETAT - Environmental Technical Advisory Team • Each FDOT District has an ETAT • Comprises about 20 resource agencies • ETAT responsible for interaction with FDOT • Role shifts from planning phase through permit approval • Planning Screen: Recommendations • Programming Screen: NEPA Scoping • Project Development: Coordination • Approval/Permits: Coordination

  9. Agency Early Involvement and Public Outreach • FDOT and MPO Key Players • ETDM Coordinators • Community Liaison Coordinators

  10. Planning Screen • ETAT • Review purpose and need • Review direct impacts • Recommend avoidance/ minimization • Suggest mitigation strategies • Provide SACIA commentary • Assess degree of effect • Coordinate to reduce conflicts

  11. Planning Screen • Community Outreach • Inventory community characteristics • Conduct public outreach • Conduct public meetings on LRTP • Document community concerns • Identify sociocultural effects • Make Planning Summary Report available

  12. Resource Agency Data Community Characteristics & Public Access Performs GIS Analyses Commitments &Recommendations FGDL is the ETDM Foundation ETDM FDOT/MPO Projects & Plans Florida Geographic Data Library

  13. Step 1. Data Entry Project Data MPOs FDOT Community Characteristics Resource Agencies FGDL Environmental Resource Data

  14. Buffer • Query • Clip • Summarize ArcGIS Application Step 2. GIS Analysis GIS Layers of Projects And Resources Analysis Results

  15. Step 3. Project Review • Projects • Resources • Analysis Results General Public ETAT Members Community Liaisons • Degree of Effect • Recommendations

  16. Enhanced Minimum/None Moderate Substantial Potential Dispute Degree of Effect Positive effect on resources Little adverse effect on resources Resources are affected; avoidance, minimization options available ETAT understands project need; substantial interaction required; avoidance, minimization, mitigation Does not conform to agency requirements P 3-69

  17. MPO FDOT ETDM Coordinators Step 4. Summary Report • Summary of Effects • Commitments • Responses

  18. Programming Screen • ETAT • Update direct impact assessment • Document degree of effect • Provide scope for technical studies • Participate in dispute resolution on significant issues • FHWA/FDOT determines class of action

  19. Programming Screen • Community Outreach • Continued public outreach • Conduct work program public hearings • Make Programming Summary Report available

  20. Triggers for Dispute Resolution • Project is contrary to the goals and policies of the state • Project cannot be permitted • Project is contrary to a state or federal resource agency’s program, plan or initiative • Project has significant environmental cost (funding, environmental impacts, or quality of life) • Project is inconsistent with approved LGCP

  21. Handling Disputes Planning or Programming Summary Report Significant Issues ? Continue No Yes ETAT Consultation *Programming Screen disputes must be resolved before project advances into the Work Program Denial Success Yes Dispute Resolution* No

  22. Project Development . . . a change from today’s PD&E • FDOT’s PM develops scope of services • Concepts & Scope of improvement has already been developed • Focused technical studies . . . . • Unnecessary to prove the negative • Basis for permits – preliminary engineering • LAMP/DTM survey with selected ground truthing • Right-of-way needs identification • Plan and profile • Typical section • Drainage details sufficient for permit • Technical environmental studies

  23. Project Development . . . a change from today’s PD&E • Permit basis agreed in advance • Public Involvement Continues from Programming Screening • Agencies support hearings • Joint Public Hearings where Appropriate • Project Development Summary Report • Summary of all activities in PD Phase • Serves as the documentation for CEs • Permit & Conditions Included

  24. PreferredAlternative DesignRationale Project Development Summary Report PublicInvolvement Issues & Resolutions Permits & Conditions Commitments &Recommendations . . . Feedback to Agencies and the Affected Community Project Development Feedback

  25. Florida’s ETDM Process Summary

  26. Streamlining Objectives Met (TEA 21 Section 1309) • Effective/Timely Decision Making Without Compromising Environmental Quality • Integrating Review and Permitting Processes • Early NEPA Reviews/Approvals • Full and Early Participation • Meaningful Dispute Resolution Mechanisms

  27. Expected ETDM Benefits • Early identification of avoidance/minimization options • Sociocultural effects balanced with natural environment • Attention focused on key technical issues - not on proving the negative • Agencies and affected community have ready access to quality data • Summary reports provide feedback

  28. Questions & Answers

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