Development and Implementation of an Initial Transportation

Planning Process for Federal Land Management Agencies

Lewis G. Grimm, P.E.Planning Team Leader

FHWA - EFLHD

Transportation Planning Directive (23 U.S.C. Section 204)

In consultation with the Secretary of each appropriate Federal land management agency, the (DOT) Secretary shall implement transportation planning procedures for Federal lands and tribal transportation facilities that are consistent with the planning processes required under sections 134 and 135 (State and Metropolitan Transportation Planning regulations).

FLH/Federal-Aid Similarities & Differences

Similarities FLH and Fed-Aid planners are responsible for the oversight of Title

23 and 49 funds. They are also responsible for providing guidance to partner agencies

interpreting federal regulations and implementing the planning process.

Differences Geography Partner agencies’ missions Level of involvement in plans and TIP/STIP development

The question is: How do we better coordinate the similarities and bridge the differences, as

appropriate at the various levels of planning?

Why Now? New initiatives underway by FLH to promote long

range planning – National, regional and unit (local) level planning – Demonstrate “real” benefits from specific project

coordination Linkages with FLH management systems and

Federal-aid requirements– GIS Applications and data integration– FLH CMS requirement and metro CMPs

Common Bottom line– Limited resources requires better leverage of knowledge

and funding across both programs

**Project Identification, Selection, & Programming

(4-6yr Horizon, fiscally constrained)

Statewide Long Range Transportation Plan**Long-Range Plans

(20-30 yr Horizon, MPO Is fiscally constrained or “reasonably available”)

Fed-Aid Stewardship and Oversight Umbrella

Integrated State/Regional/Local Transportation Planning Process

MPO Regional Transportation Plan*

MPO Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)**

City/County General PlanTransportation Element*

Public Involvement Integrated at each level

Project Planning andImplementation

Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)**

(20-30 yr Horizon, not fiscally constrained or ‘reasonably available’)

*Long Range Plans

National Transportation Plan*

**Project Identification,Selection, & Programming (3-6yr Horizon, fiscally constrained)

**Project Identification,Selection, & Programming ( -6yr Horizon, fiscally constrained)

FLHD Stewardship and Oversight Umbrella

Proposed Multimodal Transportation Planning Process for FLMAs

Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)*

Regional Trans. Improvement Program (RTIP)**

Regional Trans. Improvement Program (RTIP)**

Unit Transportation Plan (NPS GMP or FWS CCP)*

Project Planning andImplementation

Project Planning andImplementation

National Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)**

Public Involvement Integrated at each level

Fish & Wildlife Service Regions

Transportation Planning Guidance for FLMAs“Transportation planning with FLMAs needs to be conducted in conjunction with governing FLMA policies and with general comprehensive or master planning for FLMA units. The coupling of U.S. DOT regulations with FLMA policy and practices has been undertaken to make FLMA transportation planning unique, challenging, and beneficial to all overseeing Departments and corresponding agencies.”Transportation Planning Guidance for Federal Land Management Agencies, Final Draft for Review, 12-09-2011

Regional Long Range Transportation Plan Elements Minimum 20-year horizon Process for updating every four to five years, or as

determined to be appropriate by the agency Operational and management strategies Financial plan that demonstrates how the transportation plan

can likely be implemented, indicates the identification of all public and private resources that are reasonably expected to be available to carry out the plan, and recommends any additional financing strategies for needed projects and programs.

LRTP Elements (Cont’d)

Public involvement process Defined elements (as appropriate) of the respective FLMA’s

national plan. For all regionally significant projects, the FLMA region or

unit should consider all elements of the project and collaborate with appropriate stakeholders early in the planning process.

Existing conditions review and future forecast of conditions Natural and cultural resource analyses and preservation /

improvement strategies

Public Involvement

“FLMA agencies shall include reasonable and appropriate opportunities for public involvement in the development of their transportation plans. This action should be coordinated with state DOT and MPO activities where appropriate. Citizens and other interested parties shall be provided with a reasonable opportunity to comment on the long-range plans.” Transportation Planning Guidance for Federal Land Management Agencies, Final Draft for Review, 12-09-2011

Specific Actions for FLMAs

At a minimum, the public involvement plan component of any FLMA transportation plan should include the following :

Documentation of the public involvement process Stakeholder plan to determine appropriate stakeholders Adequate public notice of public involvement activities and ample

time for public review and comment at key decision points Early and continuous public involvement opportunities throughout

the planning and programming process Explicit consideration and response to public comment Consideration of the needs of traditionally underserved population

groups, including low‐income and minority citizens

Typical Public Involvement Processes Being Employed State DOT coordination/collaboration using

Statewide multimodal LRTP update processes MPO/RPO RTP development/update processes FLMA national and regional websites (NPS

Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website, FWS Visitor Surveys, etc.)

Federal Register Notices (Alaska LRTP) Outreach to “Friends Groups” and general public

via brochures, e-mail, and social media sites

Experiences to Date

Assessment of effectiveness still being determined

No obvious “best” techniques have yet been identified

Each FLMA unit, regional, and national planning and public involvement process is relatively unique to some degree

Stay tuned for updates

Questions/Discussion