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.

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
To Environmental Review/NEPA Merged with Permitting	ENV-6 - Approve Full Range of Alternatives	Information from the TIP regarding a project description, logical termini, and funding identified for the project.	To inform, but not constrain, the development of the full range of alternatives for environmental review.
	ENV-8 - Approve Draft EIS with Conceptual Mitigation	Funding for mitigation programmed in the STIP.	To inform partners of the sufficiency of funds for avoidance, minimization and mitigation programmed in the STIP.
	ENV-12 - Reach Consensus on Avoidance and Minimization for the LEDPA	Funding for mitigation programmed in the STIP.	To inform partners of the sufficiency of funds for avoidance, minimization and mitigation programmed in the STIP.

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.

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	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	Specific engagement of stakeholders will depend on individual projects.
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	There is no specific linkage to other Application topics at this Key Decision.
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	Prior to the adoption of the STIP, decision makers must consider stakeholder input. Stakeholder comments may not result in specific changes, but should be addressed in documentation or other feedback mechanisms.
Transportation Conformity	Ensure that the STIP, which combines all TIPs from across the state, also meets air quality conformity requirements. Consider Stakeholder Collaboration to collect comments prior to reaching the decision and provide feedback following approval
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.