Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) Publications
The resources listed below provide guidance on a number of key initiatives that encourage the integration of planning and the environment in the transportation decision-making process.
Publications are grouped in the following categories:
Practical Applications of PEL
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Guidance on Using Corridor and Subarea Planning to Inform NEPA (2011). FHWA published this guidance as part of the Every Day Counts and PEL initiative to assist transportation planners and environmental practitioners in the use of corridor and subarea planning to inform the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process. This document responds to the need for additional guidance on how best to use corridor and subarea planning to bridge the transportation planning and NEPA processes as described in 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 450 – Linking the Transportation Planning and NEPA Processes. The guidance is also available in PDF. |
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Using Corridor Planning to Inform NEPA Peer Exchange Summary Report (2010). This report summarizes the FHWA Peer Exchange on Using Corridor Planning to Inform NEPA, held December 2 and 3, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The peer exchange workshop examined the use of corridor planning studies as a foundation for NEPA decisionmaking. It highlighted several different approaches that states and metropolitan areas across the country have taken in the use of corridor studies. Peers shared lessons learned and made recommendations on how best to use corridor planning to bridge the transportation planning and environmental review processes. The report is also available in PDF. |
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Environmental Mitigation in Transportation Planning: Case Studies in Meeting SAFETEA-LU Section 6001 Requirements (2009). The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) included provisions intended to enhance the consideration of environmental issues and impacts within the transportation planning process. This report presents and synthesizes the findings from nine case studies that examine a spectrum of environmental mitigation strategies, policies, and activities transportation agencies have undertaken to meet the requirements. It is expected that the observations and insights described can be used to assist transportation professionals nationwide in improving their agencies' planning processes and outcomes. The report is also available in PDF. |
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FHWA has published A Guide to Measuring Progress in Linking Transportation Planning and Environmental Analysis (2009) to assist transportation agencies in developing their own programs to measure the successes of PEL-related activities. The guide provides a measurement framework, an overall PEL goal, four sample objectives, and an array of example metrics to track progress toward achieving the goals and objectives. |
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NCHRP 25-25(49): Effective Practices for Considering Historic Preservation in Transportation Planning and Early Project Development (2009). This report examines how State Departments of Transportation (DOT) effectively engage historic preservation agencies and organizations, and Federally recognized tribes, during planning and the initial stages of project development. It also compiles effective practices for considering historic preservation factors during transportation systems planning and early project development. The final report is also available in PDF. |
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Environmental Consultation Peer Exchange, Summary Report: This report summarizes the results of the Environmental Consultation Peer Exchange held January 27, 2009 at the U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters. The purpose of the Environmental Consultation Peer Exchange was to explore and showcase several approaches that agencies have taken to coordinate on environmental considerations and successfully meet the consultation requirements of Section 6001 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), as implemented by the final rule on statewide and metropolitan transportation planning. You may also view presentations from the event. The report is also available in PDF. |
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NCHRP 25-25 (32): Linking Environmental Resource and Transportation Planning (2009) presents the results of a survey and interviews with practitioners on progress agencies have made to integrate planning and environment. The study includes profiles of seven successful regional and state collaborative processes. The final report is also available in PDF. |
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Planning and Environment Linkages Implementation Resource Guide (2008). This resource guide explains the concepts of PEL, describes how agencies can benefit from it, and provides references and diagrams to help practitioners from multiple disciplines understand how best to bring about Planning and Environment Linkages. |
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AASHTO's Practitioner's Handbook Using the Transportation Planning Process to Support the NEPA Process (2008) is intended to help transportation planners and NEPA practitioners improve linkages between planning and NEPA processes, while also complying with recent legislative changes that require increased consideration of environmental issues in the planning process. The handbook is also available in PDF. |
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AASHTO Practitioner's Handbook: Defining the Purpose and Need and Determining the Range of Alternatives for Transportation Projects (2008) provides practical suggestions for defining the purpose and need and determining the range of alternatives in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). If planners consider the purpose and need and range of alternatives early in the planning process, they can work with their project development counterparts to carry those decisions into NEPA. The handbook is also available in PDF. |
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FHWA's Integration of Context Sensitive Solutions in the Transportation Planning Process (2007) report presents the Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) Toolkit for use by both planners and the public. The toolkit includes background information on the CSS approach, a glossary of key CSS terms, fact sheets, and detailed case studies representing the best use of integrating CSS principles in the transportation planning process. |
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GAO Study: Transportation Planning: State and Metropolitan Planning Agencies Report Using Varied Methods to Consider Ecosystem Conservation or pdf version (2004). The United States General Accounting Office (GAO) completed this study to evaluate the extent to which transportation planners consider ecosystem conservation in planning, factors that affect the consideration of ecosystem conservation in planning, and the effects of such consideration. This study is based on interviews with staff from resource agencies as well as state and metropolitan planning agencies. |
PEL Data and Analysis Tools
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Key Practices for Implementing Geospatial Technologies for a Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) Approach (2008). This report presents three case studies that illustrate how GIS has been used to implement the FHWA's PEL approach. The PEL approach provides information and tools to help agencies integrate consideration of environmental factors into transportation planning. PDF version. |
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Applications of Geographic Information Systems for Planning and Environment Linkages (2007). The FHWA Office of Interstate and Border Planning sponsored a 1.5-day peer exchange focusing on select State DOT applications of GIS for Planning and Environment Linkages. The purpose of the peer exchange was to explore how GIS can help accomplish the goals of PEL. The final report is also available in PDF. |
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Streamlining Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) through Statewide GIS Applications (2007) — article in FHWA monthly newsletter, Successes in Stewardship, highlighting current environmental streamlining practices from around the country. The article provides general information about use of GIS to streamline the PEL approach, and summarizes the 2007 one and a half-day peer exchange for state GIS, planning, and environmental staff to explore how GIS might help accomplish the goals of PEL. Attendees included representatives from the Florida, Idaho, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington state DOTs; the FHWA Oregon and Washington Division Offices; and the USDOT Volpe Center. |
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NCHRP 25-22: Technologies to Improve Consideration of Environmental Concerns in Transportation Decisions (2000) presents existing and emerging technologies for achieving improved transportation decisions. Many of these technologies are tools that enable and facilitate better planning and environment linkages. |
Eco-Logical
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FHWA Awards Grants for Ecosystem-Based Infrastructure Projects (2008) — article in FHWA monthly newsletter, Successes in Stewardship, highlighting current environmental streamlining practices from around the country. The article provides general information on the Eco-logical program and announces the FHWA award grants totaling approximately $1.4 million to 14 projects. Recipients include state and local departments of transportation, state resource agencies, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and a university. |
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Eco-Logical (2006) is a guidebook that describes a framework for making infrastructure projects more sensitive to wildlife and ecosystems through more integrated planning, new partnerships, and cooperative conservation. Eco-Logical's framework and set of implementation steps are very similar to those being promoted here. Eco-Logical: Funding and Partnerships describes available funding and partnering programs and financial tools to help implement integrated planning programs and projects, including activities that might be conceived under Planning and Environment Linkages. |
Freight
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NCHRP Web-Only Document 112: Integrating Freight into Transportation Planning and Project-Selection Processes (2007) documents the approach and findings resulting from a project that explored techniques designed to help states and MPOs more fully incorporate freight throughout the entire transportation planning and programming process and more effectively plan, develop, program, and implement freight improvement projects. |
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NCHRP Report 594: Guidebook for Integrating Freight into Transportation Planning and Project Selection Processes (2007) explores a framework for incorporating freight needs for all modes into transportation planning and priority programming by state, regional, metropolitan, local, and special transportation agencies. The report covers technical issues, organizational suggestions, and communication requirements of freight planning and programming. |
Climate Change
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Integrating Climate Change into the Transportation Planning Process (2008). This report explores the possibilities for integrating climate change considerations into long range transportation planning at state DOTs and MPOs. It reviews the experience of a number of DOTs and MPOs that are already incorporating climate change into their transportation planning processes and identifies their successes as well as challenges. |
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The US DOT's Center for Climate Change and Environmental Forecasting's Assessing State Long-Range Transportation Planning Initiatives in the Northeast for Climate Energy Efficiency Benefits (2005) identifies tools and methodologies to help the Northeastern states develop and implement strategies to reduce GHG emissions through the statewide, long-range transportation planning process. This research provides best practices and methods by which states can integrate GHG-reduction/mitigation goals in their long-range plans. |
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The US DOT's Center for Climate Change and Environmental Forecasting's Greenhouse Gas Reduction through State and Local Transportation Planning (2003) evaluates how and why states, metropolitan planning organizations, cities, and transportation providers are pursuing GHG emission reductions, with a focus on transportation planning. The research improves understanding of how states and localities might contribute to GHG reduction through transportation decisions. |
PEL — Overview and Benefits
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PEL Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2011 (2011) highlights the range of PEL activities undertaken by FHWA in FY11, including technical assistance, training, outreach and communication. In addition, information on FHWA's vision for PEL activities in Fiscal Year 2012 is provided. (Also available in PDF) |
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PEL Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2010 (2010) highlights the range of PEL activities undertaken by FHWA in FY10, including technical assistance, trainings, outreach and communications. In addition, information on FHWA's vision for PEL activities in Fiscal Year 2011—2012 is provided. (Also available in PDF) |
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PEL Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2009 (2009) highlights the range of PEL activities undertaken by FHWA in FY09, including technical assistance, trainings, outreach and communications. In addition, information on FHWA's vision for PEL activities in Fiscal Year 2010–2011 is provided. (Also available in PDF) |
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NCHRP 25-25 (55): Awareness Guidance for Mainstreaming Environmental Stewardship and Enhancement Activities into Planning and Project Development (2009). This report provides information for transportation agency staff on the options and opportunities for integrating environmental considerations into the transportation planning process. The report is intended to serve as a resource for connecting planning and NEPA; improving consultation and data sharing with resource agencies; expanding efforts to integrate planning realms; and as an education tool for increasing awareness of the importance of integrated planning approaches. The report also includes case studies of noteworthy practices from agencies across the country. |
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PEL Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2008 (2008) highlights the range of PEL activities undertaken by FHWA in FY08, including technical assistance, trainings, outreach and communications. In addition, information on FHWA's vision for PEL activities in Fiscal Year 2009 is provided. (Also available in PDF) |
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PEL: A Path to Streamlining and Stewardship (2008) article in FHWA Public Roads Magazine highlighting how FHWA's PEL program works to ease project delivery through efficient and integrated decision-making. |
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AASHTO's Above and Beyond: The Environmental and Social Contributions of America's Highway Programs (2008) demonstrates successful practices employed by transportation agencies to connect and enhance the environmental, social and economic well-being of their communities, to make things better than before, not because it is required, but because it is the right thing to do. PDF version. |
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Planning and Environment Linkages: Overview and Examples (2008) presentation at 2008 Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting. The presentation introduces the concepts and benefits of the PEL approach and provides some examples of PEL in practice. |
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Using the PEL Umbrella Approach to Streamline Transportation Decision-making (2008) presentation at 2008 Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting. The presentation introduces the concepts and benefits of the PEL approach, provides examples of PEL in practice, and lays out the goals for the PEL program moving forward into the future. |
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Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL): Streamlining Transportation Decision-making (2007) — article in FHWA monthly newsletter, Successes in Stewardship, highlighting current environmental streamlining practices from around the country. The article provides an overview of the PEL approach and links to resources for more information. |
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Federal Highways' Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2007 (2007) highlights the range of PEL activities undertaken by FHWA in FY07, including technical assistance, trainings, peer exchanges, outreach and communications. In addition, information on FHWA's vision for PEL activities in Fiscal Year 2008 is provided. (Also available in PDF) |
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NCHRP 8-36 (48): Improved Linkage Between Transportation Systems Planning and NEPA (2006) explains the benefits of and methods for linking planning and NEPA processes, particularly in the context of SAFETEA-LU requirements. It details how to integrate these processes and overcome potential barriers. The report was based in part on experience from FHWA's Linking Planning and NEPA workshops and describes approaches and activities similar to those described here. PDF version. |
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NCHRP Report 541: Consideration of Environmental Factors in Transportation Planning (2005) presents an approach for integrating environmental factors in systems level transportation planning and decision-making. The report describes changes in planning regulations, institutional relationships, and emerging technologies that will help make transportation agencies better stewards of the environment. PDF version. |
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Linking Planning and NEPA: Facilitated Workshops Sponsored by FHWA and FTA (2005) — article in FHWA monthly newsletter, Successes in Stewardship, highlighting current environmental streamlining practices from around the country. This article provides general information about the Linking Planning and NEPA workshops held from 2004 to 2006. While these trainings are not currently offered, there is information available to help identify how to begin a more integrated process at the state or local level. |
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Executive Order 13274: Environmental Stewardship and Transportation Infrastructure Project Reviews, Integrated Planning Work Group (2005), developed descriptions of concepts, relevant regulations, and obstacles and examples of integrated planning. The work was done to respond to Executive Order (EO) 13274, which calls for the "development and implementation of transportation infrastructure projects in an efficient and environmentally sound manner," and is summarized in a baseline report. Integrated Planning puts forth a framework that is very similar to the PEL framework. |
Federal Regulation and Guidance
Funded Positions
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State Transportation Liaison Funded Positions Study (2009). This study describes the use of funded positions and provides recommendations to State DOTs and resource agencies to support more effective use of funded positions. The study is based on a literature review of funded positions and agreements and a series of interviews with funded position program managers and individuals in those positions. |
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AASHTO report: DOT supported positions and federal and state resource agencies, local governments, and tribes (2005). This report from the AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence is based on a 2005 survey administered to State DOTs. It presents an overview of funded position arrangements and documents improvements to project delivery timeframes that DOTs attribute to funded positions, including relevant performance measurements and lessons learned. |
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For questions or feedback on this subject matter content, please contact Bruce Bender or Spencer Stevens.
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Publications
