Transportation for Communities - Advancing Projects Through Partnerships
- User Portals
- Applications
Transportation Phases
- Long Range Transportation Planning
- Integrated Programming and Fiscal Constraint
- Corridor Planning
- Environmental Review Merged with Permitting
Collaborating in Transportation Decision Making - Information for Resource Specialists
TCAPP provides information and tools to help resource agency staff understand the transportation decision making process and contribute their expertise when it is most needed. The goal is to streamline transportation decisions while protecting and enhancing the natural and human environment.
The Decision Guide is the foundation of TCAPP. It consists of all of the key decisions in four phases of transportation decision making. Purpose, outcome, roles, and other details are identified for each key decision.
There are four partners in transportation decision making: resource agencies, FHWA, DOTs, and MPOs. Understanding the roles and interests of each partner is essential to collaboration.
The Integrated Ecological Framework (IEF) is a detailed, step-by-step, technical process guiding the integration of transportation and ecological planning.
This TCAPP tool is critical for natural resource specialists.
Integrated Planning: How TCAPP approaches specific topics of interest like land use planning and economic development.
Library: A growing collection of research about collaboration in transportation and the environment.
TCAPP Connect: A community of interest about collaboration in transportation.
Decision Maker
This partner acts as the lead agency or is mandated to take action at this key decision. Decision Makers have the authority to stop the decision making process. |
Advisor
An Advisor provides input and feedback at the key decision, including support or opposition. This feedback helps to avoid revisiting issues or decisions in future key decisions. |
Observer
An Observer does not provide substantive input or direction at the key decision, but is invited to participate and is kept updated. |
No Role
When the resulting action is outside the interests and requirements of the partner agency, it has No Role. |
Explore the graphic below to learn more about the roles of resource agencies.
Select any key decision to access all of the supporting data.
Transportation Decision Guide
LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
Advisor
Agree to collaborate in long range planning and ensure appropriate information is brought forward and used, including a planning region, goals, and priorities that consider the natural and human environment.
Advisor
Support a vision and goals that protect the natural and human environment. Provide input on priorities in the planning area, including conservation and restoration needs.
Advisor
Support the use of evaluation criteria, methods, and measures that consider the natural and human environment. Support the use of an agreed-upon ecological crediting strategy.
No Role
The deficiencies only represent transportation needs.
Advisor
Recommend that data on funding and long-term management options and costs of ecological crediting are considered. Advise if the LRTP and STIP include plans for conservation and mitigation spending.
Advisor
Support broad strategies that consider indirect and cumulative impacts, avoidance and minimization of impacts on resources, and that support a vision and goals developed with input from partners and stakeholders.
Advisor
Advise partners about potential impacts on protected resources or conservation and restoration priorities associated with transportation plan scenarios.
Advisor
Recommend the selection of a preferred scenario that is consistent with resource agencies' goals. Recommend the selection of a preferred scenario that is consistent with a joint vision for conservation/restoration action. Provide input to transportation agency partners about preferred mitigation strategies.
Advisor
US EPA participates in air quality conformity partnership. Other resource agencies have no role.
Advisor
Advise partners in the development of a conservation and mitigation strategy for the preferred transportation scenario. Approve an MOU, agreement, or programmatic permit and performance monitoring strategy for mitigation sites.
Decision Maker
USEPA approves the conformity analysis for the LRTP. Other resource agencies have no role.
PROGRAMMING
Observer
Observe development of the project cost and revenue allocation.
Observer
Observe the project list drawn from the adopted plan scenario to inform conservation planning of future potential projects.
Advisor
Advise that any prioritized mitigation projects and costs from ecological planning inform the prioritization of projects in the TIP.
Observer
Consider mitigation funding included in the Draft TIP in ecological planning.
No Role
No action on TIP incorporation in STIP.
Decision Maker
USEPA approves STIP with respect to air quality conformity. Other agencies have no role.
CORRIDOR PLANNING
Advisor
Agree to collaborate in the corridor planning process and ensure appropriate information is brought forward and used, including a planning region, goals, and priorities that consider the natural and human environment. Alternatively, ensure information carried forward from LRP is up-to-date.
Advisor
Recommend broad statements of problems and opportunities that incorporate resource considerations and priorities.
Advisor
Support goals for the corridor that consider the natural and human environment. Provide input on the most important resource needs in the planning area.
Decision Maker
Agree to a scope that provides a clear understanding of what will be needed in and relevant to the environmental review phase.
Advisor
Support the identification and use of evaluation criteria, methods, and measures that reflect resource agency visions, goals, and priorities, and incorporate environmental metrics.
Advisor
Support the use of a combined map of conservation priorities, land uses, and solution sets. Support solution sets that avoid important resources.
Advisor
Support the selection of a preferred solution set that is consistent with resource agency priorities in the region. Inform transportation partners about potential mitigation options, cumulative effects, and preferred solutions from the resource-agency perspective. Recommend preparing appropriate documentation of all decisions for transfer to the environmental review process.
Advisor
Provide information to support prioritization of solutions as needed, including evaluation criteria, methods, and performance measures, and documentation of prioritization process.
Advisor
Approve an MOU, agreement, or programmatic permit and performance monitoring strategy for mitigation sites. Provide information about prioritized opportunities and methods for prioritizing.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW/NEPA MERGED WITH PERMITTING
Decision Maker
Reach consensus on a scope that is sufficiently broad to consider all options. Identify and support the use of a planning region, goals, and priorities that consider the natural and human environment. Agree to work with transportation partners. US EPA has an advisory role designated under Section 309 of the Clean Air Act.
Decision Maker
USACE approves a purpose and need that can be used for Section 404 requirements. Other resource agencies are advisors, supporting a purpose and need that represents the true need for the project and can be supported by all partners.
Decision Maker
Reach consensus on an initial study area that is sufficiently broad to include all transportation options and consideration of indirect and cumulative impacts.
Advisor
Support the identification and use of evaluation criteria, methods, and measures that reflect resource agencies’ vision, goals, and priorities.
Decision Maker
USACE is a decision maker, approving a full range of alternatives that meet NEPA, permitting, and consultation requirements. Other resource agencies are advisors, supporting a full range of alternatives that consider their agencies' goals.
Decision Maker
USACE is a decision maker approving alternatives to be carried forward that meet NEPA, permitting, and consultation requirements and that include or have not eliminated a potential LEDPA. Other resource agencies are advisors, supporting alternatives to be carried forward that have been informed by resource planning.
Decision Maker
USACE is a decision maker, approving the DEIS and validating the sufficiency of any early mitigation strategy. US EPA advises on this key decision (pursuant to Section 309 of the Clean Air Act). Other resource agencies inform transportation partners about potential direct and cumulative effects.
Decision Maker
USACE is a decision maker, approving a public notice that is consistent with 33 CFR Part 325.3
Decision Maker
USACE approves a preferred alternative that is also the LEDPA, meeting preferences regarding avoidance, minimization, potential conservation and restoration investments and mitigation needs.
LEDPA
Decision Maker
USACE is a decision maker, approving the jurisdictional determination. US EPA has veto authority, but rarely exercises it.
Decision Maker
USACE is a decision maker, approving the avoidance and minimization measures. This is also an important key decision to collaborate on with state permitting agencies.
Decision Maker
USACE approves Final EIS that satisfies the regulatory process in order to issue a Section 404 permit. Other resource agencies advise the approval of a Final EIS. Pursuant to Section 309 of the Clean Air Act, US EPA reviews Final EIS if required.
Advisor
Advise that the ROD contain all environmental commitments as appropriate.
Decision Maker
Approve a permit that contains all mitigation agreements as appropriate.