US Department of Transportation

FHWA PlanWorks: Better Planning, Better Projects

US Department of Transportation

FHWA Planworks: Better Planning, Better Projects

ENV-7: Approve Alternatives to be Carried Forward

Environmental Review/NEPA Merged with Permitting

Description:

This is a shared step between the NEPA and permitting processes which involves the approval of the alternatives that are suggested to be carried forward based on the application of the evaluation criteria and input from stakeholders. In order to meet permitting requirements the alternatives approved to be carried forward must include those that avoid and minimize impacts to natural resources to the greatest extent possible.

There is information developed in prior Key Decisions that informs this step. In order to effectively execute this Key Decision there is essential information created LRP-8 and COR-7 that informs this decision.

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 narrow the alternatives for detailed analysis. For permitting, alternatives should be narrowed to those that avoid and minimize resource impacts to the greatest extent practicable.

Outcome

Approved list of alternatives for detailed analysis.

Partner	Role Type	Description
MPO	Advisor	Provides support on consideration of alternatives to be carried forward based on LRTP and/or corridor solutions considered; including documentation of alternatives eliminated.
FHWA/FTA	Decision Maker	Approves the alternatives to be carried forward as meeting the purpose and need; agrees to the elimination of specific alternatives.
State DOT	Decision Maker	Ensures the selection of alternatives to be carried forward is defendable and well documented.
Resource Agency	Decision Maker	The USACE is a decision-maker approving Alternatives to be Carried Forward that meet NEPA, permitting and consultation requirements and that include/have not eliminated a potential LEDPA. Other resource agencies are advisors, supporting alternatives to be carried forward that have been informed by resource planning.
Public Transportation Operator(s)	Advisor	Provides support as needed on consideration of alternatives to be carried forward based on LRTP and/or corridor solutions considered; including documentation of alternatives eliminated.

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-8 - Adopt Preferred Plan Scenario	Documentation of the preferred plan scenario	To provide information on the possible range of solutions in order to preclude inconsistencies with the region-wide multimodal improvements
To Programming	PRO-2 - Approve Project Cost and Revenue Allocation Approach	Project alternatives	To trigger calculation of the range of costs for the potential project alternative in order to assess potential impact on LRTP fiscal constraint and the TIP
To Corridor Planning	COR-7 - Adopt Preferred Solution Set	Information on the preferred solution set from the corridor planning process providing adopted project concept	To incorporate the community's recommended solution into the detailed analysis

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	Are the remaining alternatives consistent with the preferred scenario?
Programming	Are project alternatives and their potential costs available to assess potential impact on LRTP fiscal constraint and the TIP?
Corridor Planning	Are the remaining alternatives consistent with projects in the solution set from corridor planning?
Environmental Review	Are the remaining alternatives different enough to support a clear decision about the preferred alternative? Is there consensus on the alternatives to be carried forward? What alternatives are recommended for elimination from further consideration, and what is the rationale for that elimination? How have the recommendations and rationales been documented?
Bicycles and Pedestrians	Will the remaining alternatives support bicycle and pedestrian connectivity and accessibility?
Capital Improvement	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Economic Development	Have the full range of alternatives been compared using economic development criteria and methods?
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	How do the different alternatives compare on health, especially in relation to vulnerable populations? How well do the different alternatives address health issues important to the community, such as health disparities among populations or access to the social determinants of health (e.g., to education, jobs, and health services) for vulnerable populations? Would any alternatives lead to disparate or disproportionate health impacts for vulnerable population groups? Are there any alternatives that can help reduce health disparities or improve healthy equity and access for vulnerable populations? Have alternatives that minimize negative consequences and respond to health and community stakeholders’ concerns been included? Which alternatives do health stakeholders support or oppose? Has the input received from health and community stakeholders been adequately considered? Are there modifications that can be made to the alternatives to improve health outcomes and be more responsive to community and health stakeholders’ concerns?
Human Environment and Communities	How does each alternative benefit or impact community goals and interests, especially for disadvantaged populations? Has input received from community stakeholders and representatives of disadvantaged populations been adequately considered? Has the assessment of the benefits or impacts of the alternatives been communicated to the community?
Land Use	How does each alternative impact the ability to meet land use goals? Do smart growth principles apply to any of the alternatives? Are any of the alternatives fatally flawed because of conflicts with adopted land use plans?
Linking Planning and Operations	Will the alternatives support system operations and performance in the project area? Were TSMO strategies and treatments that address both the short- and long-term considered?
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	Have the alternatives to be carried forward been informed by ecological planning? How does each alternative impact the ability to meet conservation priorities and goals? Do the selected alternatives include those that avoid and minimize impacts to natural resources to the greatest extent possible?
Performance Measures	How were identified performance measures used to screen alternatives?
Planning and Environment Linkages	Has information from the adopted plan and/or corridor solution set been used to inform the alternatives to be carried forward?
Public Private Partnerships	Are previous funding assumptions still valid? If not, how have they changed and how does this impact the P3 project? Have all currently available private and public data on P3 project finances been considered?
Public Transportation	How do the alternatives support the public transportation network and needs of public transportation users?
Safety	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Stakeholder Collaboration	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
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	Preferred scenario in the LRTP
Programming	Costs of project alternatives
Corridor Planning	Preferred solution set in corridor planning
Environmental Review	Justification for the elimination of any alternatives Assessment of how each alternative addresses the purpose and need of the project Assessment of whether the alternatives are feasible and rational Comparison of alternatives across the evaluation criteria, methodology and performance measures
Bicycles and Pedestrians	Alternatives that support bicycle and pedestrian needs
Capital Improvement	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Economic Development	Major conflicts or fatal flaws between economic development plans and any specific alternative
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	Analysis of the health tradeoffs associated with the different alternatives Input from health and community stakeholders on alternatives
Human Environment and Communities	Assessment of how alternatives influence the community, especially in relation to equity and environmental justice concerns Input from community stakeholders and representatives of disadvantaged populations
Land Use	Major conflicts between adopted land use plans and each alternative
Linking Planning and Operations	Data and information on TSMO strategies
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	Potential ecological impacts of alternatives based on any available crediting strategy Analysis of alternatives according to ecological criteria and measures
Performance Measures	Comparison of alternatives to selected performance measures
Planning and Environment Linkages	Information from long range or corridor planning to ensure consideration of previously identified improvements
Public Private Partnerships	P3 alternatives that are fatally flawed
Public Transportation	P3 alternatives that are fatally flawed
Safety	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Stakeholder Collaboration	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
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	Identify major conflicts between selected alternatives and bicycle and pedestrian network connectivity and accessibility.
Capital Improvement	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Economic Development	During evaluation of alternatives for further study, ensure that the economic impacts of each are part of decision making. Input from economic development Stakeholder Collaboration will help identify unreasonable alternatives for the project.
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 might also influence the health implications of potential alternatives, including Bicycles and Pedestrians, Human Environment and Communities, Land Use, and Safety.
Human Environment and Communities	This decision relates to any of the Application topics influencing the project area. Primary influences will likely be Safety and Natural Environment and Implementing Eco-Logical.
Land Use	In assessing whether the alternatives are compatible with adopted land use plans and priorities, consider also their effects on topics that are related to land use, such as Bicycles and Pedestrians, Health in Transportation, and Natural Environment and Implementing Eco-Logical.
Linking Planning and Operations	Consider how TSMO strategies address the goals and objectives for the project area, and the potential for Public-Private Partnerships. Identify supporting relationships with Safety strategies, Human Environment and Communities, and Natural Environment and Implementing Eco-Logical benefits. If Transportation Conformity is a consideration, address how TSMO strategies will impact emissions.
Natural Environment and Implementing Eco Logical	Determine through analysis the amount and relative degree of potential impacts of alternatives in relation to resource conservation priorities.
Performance Measures	Consider comparison against performance measures in the selection of alternatives. Specific comparison to Safety, Linking Planning and Operations, Natural Environment and Implementing Eco-Logical, Human Environment and Communities, and Freight Applications may be important
Planning and Environment Linkages	Consider how the alternatives carried forward compare to those in the PEL study. If the long range plan preferred scenario and/or corridor plan preferred solution set is not represented in the alternatives carried forward, there are implications for the adopted plan (LRP-10) and agreements made in corridor planning (COR-7).
Public Private Partnerships	There are no specific links to other Application topics.
Public Transportation	Identify major conflicts between selected alternatives and public transportation plans and goals.
Safety	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Stakeholder Collaboration	This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
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:
Hollister Bypass env-7_per-4

Other Examples:
None.