Transportation for Communities - Advancing Projects Through Partnerships
- User Portal
Are you a Partner or Stakeholder?
Partner Portal
Partners are the four groups who make decisions affecting transportation: FHWA, DOTs, MPOs, and resource agencies.
Stakeholder Portal
Stakeholders are anyone with an interest in transportation but without the authority to make decisions.
- Applications
Transportation Phases
- Long Range Transportation Planning
- Integrated Programming and Fiscal Constraint
- Corridor Planning
- Environmental Review Merged with Permitting
Applications - Integrated Planning - Land Use
Land use and transportation directly affect each other. The consideration of both access and mobility represents the foundation of transportation planning. The location and density of land development affects the demand for travel (the number of trips). The location and number of access points (driveways, intersections, exit ramps, etc.) affects traffic flow. Therefore, land use planning is essential in order to identify and plan for future transportation needs. However, land use decisions are not made by transportation agencies. Collaboration with land use partners can greatly enhance transportation decisions.
Beginning with the community context and development patterns, land use planning contributes data and analysis that help determine a reasonable forecast of transportation needs in the future. Decisions made by land use partners to support a preferred transportation solution can mean a faster implementation and a better outcome. Collaborative participation of land use partners in transportation decision making may result in land use solutions that limit the need for costly transportation improvements.
By integrating the transportation and land use processes, it is possible to ensure that decisions made in each process are supportive of each other. In this integrated process, information is shared back and forth between the two processes, and representatives of each discipline are involved in both planning efforts. Within transportation planning, the sharing of information occurs at multiple key decisions in long-range planning, corridor planning, and environmental review. The Decision Guide provides detailed information on the individual key decisions at which these processes are integrated, under the tab labeled "Integration."
To get a snapshot of each Key Decision, roll over the Decision Guide graphic below. Click on any individual Key Decision to access detailed information including: purpose and anticipated outcomes; partner roles; integration with external planning processes; linkages across phases; questions to assist decision makers; and data, tools, technologies that support the decision.
Key Decisions that are grayed-out have no specific relevance to the individual Practical Application or topic area but are still accessible from this graphic.
LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
Invitation of land use partners to participate in long-range planning. Information provided about land use for use in scoping, including partnerships, political context, and constraints to land use plan implementation.
Information provided on the amount and type of growth in planning area, changes in land use plan and priorities, and integration of transportation and land use goals.
Information exchanged between transportation and land use planners on the development of evaluation criteria and performance measures.
The approved list of specific corridors, roads and areas which are deficient identified at this key decision serves as a basis for problems and opportunities addressed in both the corridor planning and environmental review processes.
At this key decision information from the Programming / Fiscal Constraint Phase is introduced into the LRTP decision making process.
Information provided on land use assumptions and constraints. Consensus reached on acceptable range of land use strategies to be included in transportation plan.
Approval of land use policy changes in support of long-range transportation plan scenarios, including necessary changes to the land use plan.
Information provided on land use to ensure consistency between land use and transportation plans.
Air Quality conformity analysis is done within the air quality process in order to validate that the preferred scenario meets current conformity requirements.
This is a legally required decision consisting of the federal approval of conformity of the LRTP.
PROGRAMMING
This key decision establishes the revenue basis for both the fiscal constraint of the long range plan as well as the funding sources for the TIP.
This key decision establishes a consistent methodology for estimating project costs for both the long range transportation plan and the TIP.
This key decision establishes the list of projects drawn from the long range plan or corridor planning process that will be considered for funding in the TIP.
At this key decision, the approved project list is prioritized using the methodology previously developed.
At this key decision project priorities are compared to available funding within program restrictions to select those projects to be included in the TIP.
At this key decision, the MPO adopts the TIP. Before the MPO can do this, comments on the draft TIP must be addressed and a final TIP must be produced.
The Governor or designee should ensure that the TIP meets other state and federal requirements so that the TIP can be incorporated into the STIP and be in agreement with the state document.
At this key decision the draft STIP is developed to release for public comment.
In order to meet federal requirements, the STIP must meet conformity and fiscal constraint, where required.
CORRIDOR PLANNING
Agreement between transportation decision-makers and land use partners to collaborate in corridor planning. Information provided on current land use plans and issues, to inform the corridor plan scope.
Information on land use context for inclusion in corridor planning process and assessment of opportunities in land use plan that are dependent on transportation decisions.
Information on land use and development goals within the corridor.
Ensure consistency between land use plans and environmental review scope.
Ensure consistency between land use plans and evaluation criteria, methodology, and performance measures used in corridor plan.
Information provided on land use scenarios that are supported by land use partners as potential solutions.
Ensure consistency by committing to make changes in land use plans and policies in support of the adopted corridor plan solution set, if necessary.
At this key decision priorities for implementation of the individual solutions are established.
Approve land use implementation actions consistent with corridor plan priorities.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW/NEPA MERGED WITH PERMITTING
Invitation of land use partners to participate in environmental review process. Information provided on physical data and partnerships from land use that should be incorporated into environmental review.
This key decision is required to satisfy the legal requirement of publishing a Notice of Intent (NOI) to inform partners and the public of the commencement of the environmental review phase.
Information provided on land use context and public involvement for inclusion in the project development process.
Information provided from land use planning, including detailed data on current and planned land use, zoning, and parcels, and validation of consistency between land use plans and land development implementation (such as rezoning and building permit activity).
Data provided from land use plans for use in evaluation criteria. Adequacy of available land use data evaluated in terms of the proposed environmental review methodology.
Information provided on land use alternatives that meet the project purpose and need.
Identification of major conflicts between adopted land use plans and alternatives being considered.
Ensure consistency by endorsing range of land use policy changes in support of Draft EIS alternatives and conceptual mitigation, as required.
This key decision is required to satisfy the regulatory requirement for Section 404 permitting that the public receive notice of a permit application.
Decision makers approve a preferred project alternative/LEDPA using input from stakeholders, planning partners, and detailed information about potential impacts, and validate that the preferred alternative is consistent with the LRTP and TIP/STIP.
LEDPA
This decision is a required procedural step in the Section 404 permitting process. At this step, a final determination of jurisdictional waters of the United States in the project area is made.
Following selection of the preferred alternative/LEDPA, partners reach consensus on additional avoidance and minimization measures not included in the preliminary design.
A final EIS is approved that meets all legal requirements and addresses comments received on the Draft EIS.
Assess the consistency of sites identified for compensatory mitigation with current land use plans.
Assess the consistency of sites identified for compensatory mitigation with current land use plans.