The Transportation Decision-Making Process



How Does a Transportation Project Originate?

1. PLANNING:

Vision Plan
 (evaluates current transportation system and estimates future issues such as population growth, economic changes, transportation needs, safety, preserving the human and natural environment)

Long Term Plan
A. Development of Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP), and
B. MPO's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

2. DEVELOPMENT:

 Documentation
Using NEPA guidelines, documentation is developed on all options available for the proposed project. Impacts that the options may have on the community and the environment are discussed in these documents. Documents are prepared before and after decisions are made so that government officials and citizens can understand why decisions were made and can voice their opinions on them. Documents may include an EIS, DEIS & FEIS, CE, EA, ROD, or FONSI (see 'Documentation Process' graphic below).

NEPA (the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969) requires that any project (or activity) to receive Federal funding, undergo analysis to ensure preservation of the human and natural environment.

 

Documentation Process for a Proposed Transportation Project
Click on the boxes below to show a description of each document.


3. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT:

 How YOU can get involved
Let transportation officials know your opinions regarding the US 231 Relocation Project. Your opinion counts! Any information we can gather from you will help aid the process of selecting the best alternative. Let us know the important areas in your community the project should avoid; which enhancements would benefit your community (ie: sidewalks/bikepaths, streetscape renovations, etc.), any present safety issues, which alternatives you prefer, etc.

Other ways to be active throughout the project:
- Attend scheduled public involvement workshops.
- Request a project representative attend your civic organization meeting to explain the project to your group.
- Put your name on the project's mailing list to receive the project newsletter.
- Visit this website often for the latest information on the project.


The National Environmental Policy Act
42 U.S.C. s/s 4321 et seq. (1969)

The National Environmental Policy Act was written to provide a national guideline for protecting our environment. NEPA's purpose is to verify that the government is giving adequate consideration to the environment, prior to any Federal-proposed action that could affect the environment (ie: construction of roadways, buildings, airports, etc.).

Environmental Assessments (EA's) and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS's), must be written by Federal agencies for all Federal projects that significantly affect the environment. Each document contains detailed information on the assessment of the area, the likelihood of impacts of the proposed project, any impacts that cannot be avoided should the project be implemented, alternatives to the project, the relationship between short-term and long-term productivity of the area's environment, and any resources that may be lost should the project be implemented.

Each document must be reviewed by any Federal agency that is concerned with an environmental impact the project might cause. The document, along with the comments made by appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, is made available to the President, the CEQ, and the public.

The National Environmental Policy Act also created the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The CEQ falls within the Executive Office of the President and has four main functions: (a) to develop environmental policies for the nation; (b) to monitor environmental quality; (c) to prepare an annual environmental quality report; and (d) to monitor Federal actions.

The combination of these goals of NEPA ensure that we "maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans" (Sec. 101 [42 USC § 4331]).

For more information, go to the EPA's NEPA page: http://es.epa.gov/oeca/ofa/nepa.html

 

Want more Information? Visit these sites:

Indiana FHWA's - "A Citizen's Guide to Transportation Decisionmaking" (HTML or PDF).
FHWA's Transportation Decision-Making Factors

NEPA:
FHWA's NEPA Implementation

Section 106:
Cultural Resources Page
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's Protecting Historic Properties: A Citizen's Guide to Section 106 Review
FHWA Indiana Division Section 106 Consultation Procedures

Section 4(f):
FHWA's Section 4(f)
Cultural Resources Page

Noise:
INDOT's Highway Traffic Noise Policy

home | back to top

© 2002 INDOT & Michael Baker Jr., Inc.
Des. No. 9802890

 

 

 

DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement): document required for Federal projects that will have significant effects to the environment should the project go forward. This document provides details on the existing environment in the proposed project area, a full description of the proposed project, and an analysis of the benefits and adverse effects to the environment for all proposed alternatives. FEIS (Final Environmental Impact Statement): document required for Federal projects that will have significant effects to the environment should the project go forward. This document provides details on the existing environment in the proposed project area, a full description of the proposed project, and an analysis of the benefits and adverse effects to the environment for all proposed alternatives. ROD (Record of Decision): document stating the decision (or selected alternative) and the mitigation (ways to avoid, lessen, or compensate for impacts) to take place for that selected alternative. This document is a follow-up to the EIS. EA (Environmental Assessment): document prepared for a Federal project when it's not clearly known if there will be significant impacts to the environment should the project take place. If the EA shows there is a significant impact, an EIS is prepared. If no significant impacts are found, a FONSI is prepared. FONSI (Finding of No Significant Impact): document stating that the proposed project would create no signficant impacts on the environment (an EIS is not prepared if a FONSI has been prepared).