US Department of Transportation

FHWA PlanWorks: Better Planning, Better Projects

US Department of Transportation

FHWA Planworks: Better Planning, Better Projects

ENV-4: Reach Consensus on Study Area

Environmental Review/NEPA Merged with Permitting

Description:

Consensus on an initial geographic area of study (the area within which any alternatives will fall) is reached at this Key Decision. The initial study area may be modified as the environmental review process continues and new information is acquired. The determination of the study area is informed by the environmental review and analysis conducted during any corridor studies as well as by land use and capital improvement planning activities. The study area is closely linked to ENV-3 (Approve Purpose and Need/Reach Consensus on Project Purpose).

There is information developed in prior Key Decisions that informs this step.

Basics:

The first table describes the purpose and anticipated outcome of a Key Decision. If the decision is federally mandated, the purpose and outcome will relate to the legal intent.

The second table describes roles for key partners with legal decision making authority in the transportation process. The roles indicate the influence a partner can have on a decision, and show each partner where their input is most needed. For a full understanding of roles see the Partner Portal.

Purpose

To define a geographic area for the environmental study

Outcome

A defined study area for the project.

Partner	Role Type	Description
MPO	Advisor	Informs consideration of study area from regional/ corridor planning.
FHWA/FTA	Decision Maker	Ensures consideration of an appropriate study area for the beginning of the environmental review process.
State DOT	Decision Maker	Ensures a comprehensive study area for initiating the consideration of alternatives.
Resource Agency	Decision Maker	Reach consensus on an initial study area that is sufficiently broad to include all transportation options and consideration of indirect and cumulative impacts. Support the consideration of the ecological planning region(s) - in the development of the study area.
Public Transportation Operator(s)	Advisor	Informs consideration of study area from regional/ corridor planning.

Links to Decisions

This table identifies the connection to other Key Decisions. The linkages highlight the importance of collaboration across transportation phases. Practitioners are encouraged to document the basis of the decision and consider information from previous Key Decisions.

Transportation Phases	Key Decision	What is Linked?	Purpose of Linkage
From Long Range Transportation Planning	LRP-7 - Approve Plan Scenarios	Scenarios considered in the long range planning process that may impact the selection of alternatives and reasons for eliminating scenarios	To consider scenarios included and eliminated in long range planning in order to focus the study area on alternatives that are in consistent with regional multimodal improvements
To Corridor Planning	COR-4 - Reach Consensus on Scope of Environmental Analysis	Information on the study area used in the corridor planning process.	To inform the selection of the study area

Questions to Consider

Questions are a way to gather input from partners and stakeholders that can be used to inform the decision. Decision makers can discuss the questions provided to ensure a broad array of interests are considered to support a collaborative process. Questions also allow staff to collect stakeholder interests, ensure these are included in the decision, and provide a response based on the decision outcome. Although Public Transportation is not represented by a PlanWorks Application, the information provided may be useful in a collaborative transportation process.

Category	Questions to Consider
Long Range Planning	Have we considered the scenarios included and eliminated in long range planning? Is the study area broad enough to consider alternatives that are in consistent with regional multimodal improvements?
Programming	No specific questions
Corridor Planning	Have we considered the information on the study area used in the corridor planning process?
Environmental Review	Does the current study area reflect comments received during scoping and the Notice of Intent? Is the geographic area identified sufficiently broad to address a full range of issues including cumulative impacts? What criteria are we using to determine the study area?
Bicycles and Pedestrians	Is the study area sufficient to evaluate bicycle and pedestrian network connectivity and accessibility?
Capital Improvement	Are there any approved or proposed capital projects in the study area that need to be considered?
Economic Development	Is the geographic area sufficiently broad to address all potential economic impacts on the relevant communities? How does any economic development plan or strategy relate to the proposed project study area?
Freight	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Health in Transportation	Has the geographic area been defined broadly enough to capture all the community and public health impacts related to the project? Are there any particularly vulnerable communities nearby that should be added to the geographic area? Is there any evidence for how community and health stakeholders would define the relevant geographic area, such as in prior studies or public engagement processes? Did a long-range plan, corridor plan, health impact assessment, or other study identify a geographic area in which this project might affect health outcomes? How is that influencing the definition of the geographic area?
Human Environment and Communities	Are there any community resources in the study area that need to be taken into consideration? Have all community and historic resources that might be negatively impacted by this project, especially those of importance to disadvantaged populations, been identified?
Land Use	How do land use plans relate to the study area, and have they been considered? How were land use patterns and growth forecasts considered in the development of the study area?
Linking Planning and Operations	Does the study area take into account needs of operational partners, such as first responders? Is the geographic area sufficiently broad to address potential alternatives with operations components? Has any relevant information about traffic movement or restrictions been considered?
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	How does the regional ecosystem framework relate to the project study area? Is there a study area from ecological planning? If so, how was it considered in the development of the proposed project study area?
Performance Measures	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Planning and Environment Linkages	Have PEL studies from long range and/or corridor planning been used to support the determination of the initial study area? Is the selected study area sufficiently broad to encompass the PEL study considerations?
Public Private Partnerships	Has private sector input on the potential area of impact of the P3 project been considered? Is the study area sufficiently broad to address all potential impacts that may result from P3 projects? These may include operational, equity, environmental justice, and other impacts from tolling or user fees. Do any proposed P3 projects relate to existing financial or economic planning in the region? If so, how does this inform the selection of the study area?
Public Transportation	Is the study area adequate to consider the public transportation network, connectivity, accessibility, equity, and safety?
Safety	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Stakeholder Collaboration	Have all of the resources that are valued by stakeholders been considered in outlining the study area? Do the stakeholders generally agree with the study area identified? Is the information received from stakeholders consistent with the information? If not, can those inconsistences be addressed? How was information from the stakeholders used? Has adequate communication been sent to stakeholders explaining how their input was used?
Transportation Conformity	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Visioning and Transportation	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.

Data

The following list of data may be needed to support the Key Decision. Practitioners collect this information for decision makers to consider. Although Public Transportation is not represented by a PlanWorks Application, the information provided may be useful in a collaborative transportation process.

Category	Data to Consider
Long Range Planning	Scenarios from long range planning, including fatally flawed scenarios, to inform the extent of the study area
Programming	No specific data
Corridor Planning	Study area used in corridor planning The scope of the environmental review and analysis process agreed to during corridor planning
Environmental Review	Active projects in the proposed study area Purpose and need
Bicycles and Pedestrians	Surrounding population characteristics (e.g., how many people live within walking and biking distance of the corridor that may need to access destinations along the corridor) and facilities that may attract pedestrians and bicyclists Bicycle and pedestrian networks, activity, and any sensitivities
Capital Improvement	Approved or proposed capital improvements within the study area
Economic Development	Major development or redevelopment sites within or near defined study area
Freight	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Health in Transportation	Geographic area for public health influence, including for vulnerable populations Community and health stakeholder input Long-range plan, corridor plan, health impact assessment, or other studies that have defined a geographic area for health impacts relevant to this project
Human Environment and Communities	Information about community, historic, resources in the study area List of resources important to disadvantaged populations in the area
Land Use	Detailed land use data in the study area such as zoning maps, growth forecasts, land use patterns, and parcel data Analysis/validation of land use implementation decisions (i.e., zoning and building permits) compared to land use plan assumptions for adopted land use/corridor plans Access management guidelines, driveway permitting regulations, and land use policies that identify access controls or restrictions Municipal boundaries
Linking Planning and Operations	Emergency response routes and other operational data
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	Conservation, restoration, and enhancement priorities identified in other plans
Performance Measures	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Planning and Environment Linkages	Study area boundaries from any PEL study or process
Public Private Partnerships	Private sector input regarding potential P3 projects Data specific to potential P3 impacts Financial and economic plans in the region
Public Transportation	Surrounding population characteristics related to public transportation use (e.g., mode share, car ownership) in the study area Public transportation network data
Safety	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Stakeholder Collaboration	Comments received from stakeholders
Transportation Conformity	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Visioning and Transportation	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.

Links to Applications

The interaction between transportation decision making and other planning processes will ensure that important values and goals outside the transportation process are recognized and considered. Although Public Transportation is not represented by a PlanWorks Application, the information provided may be useful in a collaborative transportation process.

Application	Description
Bicycles and Pedestrians	Consider potential bicycle and pedestrian alternatives and the needs of bicycle and pedestrian partners and stakeholders when identifying the initial study area.
Capital Improvement	Identify other changes that may impact the selection of the study area including Land Use, Economic Development, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Health in Transportation, Human Environment and Communities, and Natural Environment and Implementing Eco-Logical.
Economic Development	Understand the reach of economic activity that occurs within the area surrounding the project. Stakeholder Collaboration can help develop a full understanding of the role of the project in the broader economy.
Freight	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Health in Transportation	Other Applications are also going to inform the definition of the geographic scope, including Bicycles and Pedestrians, Human Environment and Communities, and Land Use. Use the Stakeholder Collaboration Application for ideas on how to gather feedback from stakeholders.
Human Environment and Communities	This Key Decision has a direct relationship to Stakeholder Collaboration. The study area will likely be influenced by interests from Natural Environment and Implementing Eco-Logical, Health in Transportation, and Safety. Other Applications will be based on specific project interests.
Land Use	Consider how land use might change, including where new Economic Development might occur. Land use changes might also impact Human Environment and Communities and Natural Environment and Implementing Eco-Logical interests.
Linking Planning and Operations	Understand the reach and potential TMSO influences on Safety the Human Environment and Communities, and Capital Improvement planning in identifying the study area. Consider traffic movement and barriers to TSMO partners.
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	Confirm that the ecological planning region has informed the study area for environmental review.
Performance Measures	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Planning and Environment Linkages	Consider the study area identified in a PEL study to inform the initial project study area. If the selected study area for environmental review is smaller than that used for PEL, planning decisions (LRP-8 and LRP-10) must be validated.
Public Private Partnerships	In addition to the Human Environment and Communities and Land Use considered in previous Key Decisions, Linking Planning and Operations strategies and Public Transportation may have an influence on selecting the study area.
Public Transportation	Consider the public transportation network and the needs of public transportation users and stakeholders when identifying the initial study area.
Safety	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Stakeholder Collaboration	Stakeholder input on the proposed study area defines the context of the area based on what is valued and what is desirable. There may be concerns about the Natural or Human Environment, community Health, Economic Development, or other characteristics of the area which connect to a broad range of topics.
Transportation Conformity	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Visioning and Transportation	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.

Examples

In - depth case studies of successful practices in collaborative decision making were used to develop the Decision Guide.Links in this table point to a specific paragraph or section of a case study that supports a Key Decision. It is not necessary to read through an entire case study to find the example; however, full versions are available in the Library.

PlanWorks Case Study Examples:
Regional TIP Policy Framework and Vision 2040 for Puget Sound Regional Council env-4

Other Examples:
None.