America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act of 2019 · HTTP://POLICY.TRANSPORTATION.ORG 1 America’s Transportation Infrastructure . Act of 2019. AASHTO Committee on Environment

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America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act of 2019

AASHTO Committee on Environment and SustainabilityAugust 6, 2019

AASHTO 2019 WASHINGTON BRIEFINGWASHINGTON, D.C.


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PROJECT DELIVERYOne Federal Decision (Sec. 1301)

o Major infrastructure projects Multiple federal approvals Reasonable availability of funds EIS- but project sponsor can request for EAs

o One EIS for all federal agencieso 2 years from NOI to ROD (1 year extension)o 90 days for required approvals/permittingo DOT report to Congress o Performance accountability systemo DOT CEs adopted by other federal agencies

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Project Delivery Projects in Operational ROW (Sec. 1309)• Preventative maintenance, preservation, highway safety, and

new turn lane projects that are CEs • Deadlines (45 days with 30 day extension) for Federal agencies

for permit, approval, or other authorization

Fiscal Constraint (Sec. 1202)• Eliminates fiscal constraint requirement beyond 4 years in

planning documents


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Federal-State stewardship and oversight agreements (Sec. 1307) o Secretary to develop, with public comment, a template for

Federal-State stewardship and oversight agreements DOT Reports (Sec. 1310)

o Annual report each year via the FAST 41 Dashboard Median time for the completion of environmental

reviews New categorical exclusions Regulatory requirements removed or reduced, and cost

savings Flexibility (Sec. 1306)

o Secretary “shall” exercise all existing flexibilities to expedite processes - upon request of a state

Project Delivery


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National Highway Performance Program (Sec.1105)o 15% of program funding for protective features designed to

mitigate risk of recurring damage or future repair costs, from extreme weather events, flooding, or other natural disasters

Emergency Relief (Sec.1106)o Amends definition of a natural disaster to include wildfire and

sea level riseo Program funds may be used on “economically justifiable”

protective featuresFederal share payable (Sec. 1107)o Federal share 100 % for projects to add protective features to

improve resiliency

Climate Change: Resilience Funding


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Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (Sec. 1109)

o Allows program funding to be used for “Projects that use natural infrastructure alone or in combination with other eligible projects to enhance resilience of a transportation facility...”

Resilience Funding


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Climate Change Resilience

Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Grant Program (Sec.1407)• Formula ($786 M) and competitive grant program ($200

M/year) for resiliency improvements

Disaster Relief Mobilization Pilot Program (Sec.1505)• Provides grants to local communities to develop

disaster preparedness and disaster response plans • $5M per year


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Climate Change Resilience

Emergency Relief Projects (Sec.1523)• Update FHWA emergency relief manual- include definition of

resilience, identify procedures to incorporate resilience into ER projects, encourage use of Complete Streets design, develop best practices and track costs of ER projects


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Reducing Carbon Emissions

Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grants (Sec.1401)• Deployment of EV, hydrogen, and natural gas charging and

fueling infrastructure along alternative fuel corridors • $100M progressing to $300M per year

Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities (Sec. 1402)• Competitive grant program to reduce idling and emissions at

port facilities• $60M progressing to $90M per year


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Carbon Reduction Incentive Program (Sec. 1403)

Formula Grant Programo Transportation improvements to reduce on-road mobile

sources of carbon o $100M per year, 65% suballocated

Carbon Reduction Planning Strategieso States may develop plans- projects and strategies to

reduce emissions and set emissions reduction goalsCarbon Reduction Performance Program Grants

o States and MPOs eligible if slowed or reduced transportation carbon emissions over last 2 years

o $100M per year, grants $5M to $30M


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Congestion Relief Program (Sec. 1404)o Discretionary grants to urbanized areas for multimodal

solutions to congestion reliefo $40 million per year, minimum grant $10M

Freight Plans (Sec. 1405)o Inclusion of resilience and strategies to reduce local air

pollution and water runoff in national freight strategic plan


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Innovative Technologies (USE IT Act) (Sec. 1406)• Supports carbon reduction research, and development of

carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration facilities and carbon dioxide pipelines

Federal Interagency Working Group (Sec. 1510)• Creates a new federal interagency working group (organized

through CEQ) with goal of transitioning the federal vehicle fleet to hybrid-electric vehicles, plug-in EVs, and alternative fuel vehicles


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Wildlife CrossingsWildlife Crossing Safety (Sec. 1125)

o 5-year, $250 million competitive wildlife crossing pilot program to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity

o Requires Secretary to assist States

Funding- STBG (Sec. 1109)• Adds eligibility for construction of wildlife crossing structures

and projects/strategies to reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions


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Wildlife Crossings Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP) (Sec. 1112)

o Raises FLTP cap to improve public safety and reduce wildlife vehicle collisions while maintaining habitat connectivity from $10 million to $20 million per year

Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Research (Sec. 3007)o Adds animal detection systems to reduce the number of

wildlife-vehicle collisions as eligible ITS research projects


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Stormwater • DOT to study effects of permeable pavements on flood

control (Sec. 1522)• DOT and EPA to request a TRB study of stormwater runoff,

including estimated pollutant loads, TMDL compliance strategies, and best practices (Sec. 1526)

• Requires FHWA to update its stormwater best management practices report (Sec. 1527)

• Requires Federal Lands Access Program projects to consider use of native plants and designs that minimize runoff and heat generation (Sec. 1113)


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Miscellaneous• Requires the Comptroller General to evaluate CMAQ-

emissions reductions- cost effectiveness of reductions and impact of CMAQ program on reductions (Sec. 1520)

• Allows up to 10 % of CMAQ to be used on lock and dam modernization/rehabilitation projects and marine highway corridor projects--rail and transit CMAQ-eligible operating costs are not subject to a time limitation or phase-out requirement (Sec. 1115)

• DOT to fund activities to eliminate or control invasive plants-priority to projects that utilize revegetation with native plants and wildflowers

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Office of Human EnvironmentAASHTO Council on Environment and Sustainability

August 6, 2019Shari Schaftlein, Director

Research and Financial Services Team

12/7/2015

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National Systems and Economic Development Team Principal Program Areas

Maintain official record of National Highway SystemManage Interstate Highway System modificationsInterstate withdrawal/de-designation Research into Economic Development impacts of HighwaysCorridor Studies

Economic Development

Case studies Primer Site Selection Factors Right Sizing Economic Development Working Group Sponsorship of TRB I-TEDWebinars EDC-5 Value Capture:

Capitalizing on the Value Created by Transportation

Economic Development Analysis in Project Development DocumentsSAFETEA-LU codified the use of economic development goals in

purpose and need statementsProject examines how economic development is used in practice to

support P&N Review and summarize EISs Develop case studies OutreachFinal reportWebinar

12/7/2015

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Accelerating Multimodal Networks, Sample Resources: 2015-2019

Community Focused Resources and ActivitiesResources • EJ and CSD/S State of the Practice Reports• New NHI EJ Analysis Course • EJ FAQsCoordination• Design Flexibility Workshop – AASHTO COD/CAT Joint Summer Meeting• EDC-5 Virtual Public Involvement • ITS/JPO Underserved Communities Program Support• AASHTO EJ Community of Practice Capacity Building• TRB Research Coordination (2021 Equity Conference)Under Development• Meaningful Involvement of Underserved Populations in Transportation Decision

Making, Case Studies.

Bicycle and Pedestrian ProgramResources• Pedestrian and Bicycle Funding Opportunities Reference• AASHTO Ped & Bike Facility Guides• NHI Bike Facility Design class for Web-based deliveryCoordination• Pooled Fund Study: Three projects underway, 14 State DOTs

participating• Multimodal Network Pilot planning project grants to 8

communities; Reports due Fall 2019New Research• AV/CV interaction with pedestrians and bicyclists• Increasing Safety and Reducing Railroad Trespassing (with

PHMSA, NHTSA, FRA, and FTA)

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/funding/funding_opportunities.cfm

Transportation Alternatives Set-AsideSurface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG)

Funding: $767 million Authorized annually (after $83 million, RTP)Eligibility: On- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, historic preservation, vegetation management, environmental mitigation, trails, safe routes to school projects.Implementation: States obligated $13.2 billion for >35,000 projects (single largest Fed-aid source for pedestrian and bicycle safety).

Recreational Trails ProgramFunding• Authorized annually for $83 million.• Since 1993, States have obligated $1.257 billion for 25,000 projects.• States return 1% for FHWA administration, research, technical assistance.Implementation• Operates as a stand alone program: 45 States administer thru State resource

or grant agency.• Develop and maintain trails and related facilities for motorized and

nonmotorized use.

Youth Service and Conservation CorpsOverview• Requires DOT/FHWA to “encourage the States and regional transportation

planning agencies to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with qualified youth service or conservation corps ... to perform appropriate projects.”

• 17 State DOTs are in negotiation to revise agreements with Corps organizations, 7 States are working to start agreements.

• Supports Recreational trails, transportation alternatives, bicycle and pedestrian, safe routes to school.

• Cooperative agreement with The Corps Network (TCN) to develop materials. • Building the Future: A Guide for Utilizing the Recreational Trails Program to

Partner with Service and Conservation Corps (May 2019)

https://corpsnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Building-the-Future_RTP-Partnership-Guide_5.13.19.pdf

Mobility InnovationFocus Areas• Accelerating Multimodal Networks/Connectivity • Shared Mobility/Micromobility/Mobility on Demand• Public Space Needs Assessment• Curb Space Management Analysis• Complete Trips for Underserved Populations• Sustainable Transportation/Resiliency

New Research• Micromobility Typology Reference Guide • Internal Memo on Micromobility and Safety• Curbside Management• Mobility on Demand

Coordination• Internal Micromobilty Working Group• Mobility Innovation Working Group• Equitable Mobility for Underserved Communities Workshop• Integrated Mobility and Communities Consortium

Multimodal Innovation OutreachHuman Environment Digest

U.S. Department of TransportationFederal Highway Administration

Heather HolsingerAugust 6, 2019

Federal Highway AdministrationOffice of Natural Environment


Office of Natural Environment

Transportation Conformity –2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program CMAQ Emissions Calculator

Toolkit CMAQ Cost-Effectiveness

Tables CMAQ Performance Measures

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Mobile Source Air Toxics Guidance Update NoiseTraffic Noise ModelNHI Highway Noise

Training CourseNoise Regulation

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Alternative Fuel Corridors Renewable Energy in the

Right-of-Way INVEST 2.0

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Rapid Response Resilience Assessment

Integrating Resilience Resources: Planning Process Asset Management Nature-Based Design

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Office of Natural Environment Resilience and Durability Pilots

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Heather [email protected]

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/air_quality/https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sustainability/https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/alternative_fuel_corridors/https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sustainability/resilience/

THANK YOU!

mailto:[email protected]

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/air_quality/

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sustainability/

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/alternative_fuel_corridors/

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sustainability/resilience/

FHWA UpdatesEmily Biondi Office of Project Development and Environmental Review

Rulemakings

23 CFR 771/774 Final Rule – Published October 28, 2018

23 CFR 778 - (Pilot Program for Eliminating Duplication of Environmental Reviews) Final Rule –Anticipated Fall 2019

23 CFR 771 – New rulemaking

New Policy/Guidance/Information

OMB - One Federal Decision Accountability System (September 2018)

Pre-NOI Activities Message (October 2018)OMB/CEQ Guidance on the Application of EO

13807 to NEPA Assignment States (Feb 2019)USDOT Guidance on Combined FEIS/ROD Guidance

(April 2019)CEs with Limited Federal Assistance –Annual Update

February 2019 Flexibilities in Fiscal Constraint of STIP and TIP (July

2019)

In Progress Policy/Guidance/Information(Modal led)NEPA Re-Evaluation Q and As (FHWA/FRA/FTA)Section 139 Guidance (FHWA/FRA/FTA)PEL Guidebook (FHWA/FTA) Liaison Guidance (FHWA) FAST Act 1415 Guidance Updated FHWA Q/As on Environmental Justice Technical Advisory

In Progress Policy/Guidance/Information(USDOT led)

Page Limits for NEPA Documents and Focus Analysis on Relevant Issues

One Federal Decision Implementation GuidanceDOT NEPA Order