US Department of Transportation

FHWA PlanWorks: Better Planning, Better Projects

US Department of Transportation

FHWA Planworks: Better Planning, Better Projects

PRO-9: Approve STIP with respect to Fiscal Constraint

Programming

Description:

In order to meet federal requirements, the STIP must meet fiscal constraint requirements. In addition, in nonattainment and maintenance areas for the transportation-related pollutants, FHWA/FTA must make conformity determinations of applicable MPO TIPs and in isolated rural areas when necessary.

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 validate that the approved STIP meets requirements related to fiscal constraint. To make conformity determinations of applicable MPO TIPs and in isolated rural areas when necessary.

Outcome

TIP/STIP that meet all state and federal requirements.

Partner Role Type Description
MPO Observer (urban), No Role (rural) Observes the approval of the STIP (including the metropolitan TIP) with respect to conformity and fiscal constraint.
FHWA/FTA Decision Maker Approves STIP with respect to fiscal constraint; make conformity determination for MPO TIPs and isolated rural areas, when necessary, before approving STIP.
State DOT Advisor Provides information required for approval of the STIP as needed.
Resource Agency Advisor US EPA has a consultation role in the conformity process, along with the State air agency.
Public Transportation Operator(s) Observer Observes the approval of the STIP (including the metropolitan TIP) with respect to conformity and fiscal constraint.

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
  • No specific questions
Programming
  • What did the stakeholders tell us?
  • What did we do in response to the feedback from the stakeholders? How did we communicate our decisions to them?
  • Are the individual MPO TIPs that have been incorporated into the STIP consistent with their LRTP fiscal constraint?
  • Is the STIP fiscally constrained?
Corridor Planning
  • No specific questions
Environmental Review
  • Does funding include those needed for avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation?
Bicycles and Pedestrians
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Capital Improvement
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Economic Development
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
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
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Human Environment and Communities
  • Has input from non-metropolitan stakeholders representing their communities and/or disadvantaged populations been gathered?
Land Use
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Linking Planning and Operations
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Performance Measures
  • Do investment priorities in the STIP reflect state and National Goals, performance measures, and targets?
Planning and Environment Linkages
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Public Private Partnerships
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application
Public Transportation
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application
Safety
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application
Stakeholder Collaboration
  • What input was received from stakeholders?
  • What was done in response to stakeholder feedback?
  • Does the Draft STIP address regional mobility priorities identified by the stakeholders?
  • Have the outcomes been communicated to the public and all interested stakeholders?
  • Have rationales for any decisions related to these community interests been provided? This is essential for any decisions that were not supported by stakeholder input.
Transportation Conformity
  • For areas outside of MPO boundaries, does the STIP meet air quality conformity requirements?
  • Where appropriate, are the individual MPO TIPs incorporated into the STIP consistent with the LRTP conformity?
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
  • No specific data
Programming
  • Validation of fiscal constraint.
  • Final communication plan
  • Public input and State's consideration of the Draft STIP
Corridor Planning
  • No specific data
Environmental Review
  • Identified avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation costs
Bicycles and Pedestrians
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Capital Improvement
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Economic Development
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
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
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Human Environment and Communities
  • Input from non-metropolitan communities and/or disadvantaged population stakeholders
Land Use
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Linking Planning and Operations
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Performance Measures
  • Performance measurement and reporting commitments
Planning and Environment Linkages
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Public Private Partnerships
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Public Transportation
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Safety
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Stakeholder Collaboration
  • Stakeholder input on STIP
  • Basis of decisions communicated to the public and stakeholders
Transportation Conformity
  • Conformity analysis and approvals by MPOs and state
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:
None.

Other Examples:
None.