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Maximizing Planning & Environmental Linkages for Effective Decision Making

Learn about Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) in Kentucky, the study process for identifying transportation issues, priorities, and environmental concerns. Contrasting PEL with traditional corridor studies, reasons to use PEL, when to utilize it, and making PEL more effective. Understand the benefits of PEL for stakeholders, cost-effectiveness, time-saving, and collaborative engagement with agencies and the public.

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Maximizing Planning & Environmental Linkages for Effective Decision Making

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  1. Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL)

  2. Kentucky Statewide Planning Meeting Eric RothermelEnvironmental Protection SpecialistFHWA- Kentucky Division Office

  3. What is PEL? Study Process used to Identify: • Transportation Issues • Transportation Priorities (potential funding) • Environmental Concerns

  4. PEL vs. Traditional Corridor Studies Traditional Corridor Studies Typically: • Do Not Require federal involvement • Are broad in scale • Do Not have a well-defined Purpose and Need Statement • Very broad alternative analysis

  5. Why use PEL? • Make better planning decisions with limited resources • Build relationships with agencies, stakeholders; gauge public support • Conduct analyses for: - Developing/refining range of alternatives - Prioritizing future projects - Identifying environmental constraints and potential mitigation strategies • PEL can be used to bridge long-range planning and NEPA process • Can help streamline the NEPA process

  6. To Use PEL or Not? When to use PEL: • Project funding not yet identified • Problem not well defined • Solutions to problem not identified If you are starting an EA or EIS, FHWA strongly recommends completing a PEL Study prior to beginning NEPA. FAST Act put new requirements on completing projects of EA and EIS level and PEL can assist in meeting those deadlines.

  7. To Use PEL or Not? When Should PEL not be used? • Not sure if federal funds will be used • Lead federal agency is not sure of the study objective • NEPA isn’t expected for more than 5 years after completing PEL • Project already has construction funding in the STIP/TIP

  8. How To Make Your PEL Most Effective Make Your PEL NEPA-like: • Well coordinated P&N • Stakeholder and agency involvement • Environmental impacts evaluated • Alternatives Analysis studies • Recommended Alternative that supports the P&N • Traffic Data • Potential Mitigation • Environmental Justice issues • Section 4(f) outlook • Section 106 and Section 7

  9. Advantages to PEL • Assists in the environmental review process • Save Money • Saves Time • Flexible Evaluation of Alternatives • Shovel Ready NEPA-like document

  10. Benefits for Stakeholder • Gives them knowledge of the project • Early Engagement and Input • Builds Relationships and Trust • Allows for an on-going collaborative process with agencies and the public

  11. Additional Resources https://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/legislation/authorizations/FASTact.aspx https://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/env_initiatives/PEL.aspx https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/guidance/pel/pelfaq16nov.cfm https://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/env_initiatives/pel/corridor_nepa_guidance.pdf

  12. Questions

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