Colorado: Planning and Environmental Linkages

1. Colorado: Planning and Environmental Linkages Integrated Planning Work Group Peer Exchange Washington, DC – January 27, 2009

2. SAFETEA-LU • Consideration of potential environmental mitigation activities • Consultation with resource, regulatory and land management agencies, and Tribal governments • Transportation planning studies

3. Considerations in planning process and use decisions in NEPA later Ecosystem vs. project perspective Early and better coordination Progression from just NEPA focus PEL Concept

4. Benefits of PEL • Common sense • Early and continuous coordination with agencies • Better decisions result in: • Environmental stewardship • Financial stewardship • Ultimately save time, money and effort • Relationship-building

5. History of PEL in Colorado • STEP UP • Linking Planning and NEPA (LPN) On-line Training • LPN Guidance • Statewide Transportation Plan Process • CDOT PEL Program Manager • PEL Corridor Studies • FHWA PEL Questionnaire

6. STEP UP – Environmental Streamlining • New Planning Process: • Identify environmental issues early • Establish early and continued involvement by resource agencies • Create a better link between transportation, environmental, and land use planning • Evaluate and rank projects using environmental data • Web-based GIS Tool http://www.nfrmpo.org/planning/

7. Linking Planning and NEPA Training • On-line training • Provides guidance to integrate planning and NEPA • How to incorporate planning process elements into project-level environmental review http://www.dot.state.co.us/environmental/Training/NEPA_index.asp

8. CDOT LPN Guidance • For use by CDOT staff and regional transportation planning partners • Addresses how data, analysis, and products from planning can be incorporated into NEPA • Meets SAFETEA-LU requirements http://www.dot.state.co.us/environmental/Training/linking-overview.html

9. Statewide Transportation Plan Process • Developed Corridor Visions, Goals and Strategies • Environmental Forum with Resource Agencies • Environmental Tabs • Resource Management Plans http://www.dot.state.co.us/StatewidePlanning/PlansStudies/2035Plan.asp

10. CDOT PEL Program Manager • Develop effective working relationships with FHWA, CDOT and MPOs • Form the link between transportation planning and project delivery to advance NEPA analysis into the planning process • Assure environmental data are available to planning staff and their consultants and are appropriately utilized and interpreted • Be available to furnish expertise and institutional knowledge

11. PEL Corridor Studies • Arapahoe Road – Denver, 2007 • 56th Avenue – Denver, 2008 • Parker Road – Denver, current • US 50 West – Pueblo, current • US 24 East – Colorado Springs, current

12. FHWA PEL Questionnaire • Consistent with 23 CFR 450 Appendix A • Submitted with PEL Study Document • Consists of 13 Questions: • Corridor Vision/Purpose and Need • Range of Alternatives and Screening Criteria • Agency and Public Coordination • Resources • Relationship to Future NEPA Document

13. Barriers • Money • Database development • Different perspectives between land use, transportation and environmental planning • Coordination with various disciplines (engineers, environmental, regulatory agencies, etc.) • Time and staffing • Carry forward into NEPA

14. Statewide Environmental Forum • Bring together • Local Transportation Officials • 10 rural areas • 5 “urban” areas • Resource and Regulatory Agencies • Goal: Better understanding of the resources and issues • Best meeting ever!

15. CDOT’s Statewide Environmental Forum

17. Results • Question 1: Was this an effective tool for sharing information between agencies about programs and activities? 87% said yes. • Question 2: Was there sufficient time for conversations? 30% said yes. A majority of evaluations requested between 5 and 15 minutes more for each conversation • Question 3: Did you feel you were able to effectively communicate with other parties? 91% said yes. • Question 4: Should CDOT host similar events in the future as transportation plans are developed? 89% said yes.

18. What’s Next? • Developing a more refined process of moving from planning through NEPA • Ensuring that planning decisions are recognized in a NEPA study • Education and outreach on planning process • Current CO PEL efforts include: • Partnering agreement with Transportation Environmental Resource Council (TERC) • PEL web-based decision tool • PEL training • Charting CDOT transportation and environmental planning processes

19. Questions for You • Success with alternatives elimination in planning? • Moving into NEPA and how much is revisited? • How much time between a planning study and NEPA?

20. SUBJECT: 56th Avenue: Havana Street to Pena Boulevard Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study Process Dear Mr. Mutz: This letter is in response to your request for FHWA concurrence regarding the Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study initiative undertaken by the City and County of Denver, CDOT, and URS Corporation on the 56th Avenue Corridor Study project. We appreciate and commend the efforts the team has undertaken to conduct this corridor planning study in a manner consistent with the FHWA PEL guidance which outlines a process similar to that required by NEPA. The benefits of this streamlining effort will undoubtedly be realized in terms of time and cost savings on future NEPA studies conducted within the corridor planning study limits. The completed PEL Questionnaire submitted to FHWA on December 16, 2008 provides a good summary of the work completed in PEL study and the information that will be needed once projects enter into the NEPA process……. FHWA letter responding to a PEL Study

21. Colorado PEL Contacts