US Department of Transportation

FHWA PlanWorks: Better Planning, Better Projects

US Department of Transportation

FHWA Planworks: Better Planning, Better Projects

LRP-11: Make Conformity Determination

Long Range Transportation Planning

Description:

In nonattainment and maintenance areas for the transportation-related pollutants, FHWA/FTA must make a Federal conformity determination.

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 receive conformity determination from Federal Agencies.

Outcome

Federal conformity determination.

Partner Role Type Description
MPO Observer Submit conformity determination documents to Federal agencies for review and final decision.
FHWA/FTA Decision Maker Make conformity determination.
State DOT Observer Observes final conformity determination for LRTP.
Resource Agency Advisor USEPA reviews and comments on conformity documents.
Public Transportation Operator(s) Observer Observes final conformity determination for LRTP.

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
  • No specific questions
Corridor Planning
  • No specific questions
Environmental Review
  • No specific questions
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
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
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
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
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
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Transportation Conformity
  • Does the plan conform?
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
  • LRP-9: MPO adoption of conformity analysis
Programming
  • PRO-6: Adopted TIP
Corridor Planning
  • No Specific Data.
Environmental Review
  • No Specific Data.
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
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
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
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
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
  • This Key Decision is not associated with the Application.
Transportation Conformity
  • State Implementation Plan (SIP) budget and transportation control measures
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.