A Federal Highway Administration report on funded position programs at state departments of transportation is the focus of the January 2010 issue of FHWA’s Successes in Stewardship newsletter. The October 2009 State Transportation Liaison Funded Positions Study examines trends in the use of federal funding to support staff at resources agencies, commonly referred to as funded positions or transportation liaisons, who are engaged in streamlining the environmental review process for transportation projects. The report also provides recommendations for state DOTs and resource agencies on more effective use of such funded positions. Findings of the report include the benefits, challenges, and decisionmaking steps involved in developing and managing funded position programs. According to the newsletter, a webinar is planned for February 2010 to discuss the study, and funding under the Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program (STEP) will be used to support a Liaison Community of Practice to encourage peer exchange on best practices and lessons learned. For more information, link to the January 2010 Successes in Stewardship Newsletter, Supporting Environmental Streamlining Through Funded Positions. (1-4-10)

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The November 2009 edition of the Transportation Research Board’s Environmental Analysis in Transportation (ADC10) Committee newsletter includes highlights of the 2009 Mid-Year Workshop held at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, W.Va. The newsletter also features articles on expanded metropolitan and statewide transportation planning factors in the proposed Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009, a list of 20 new transportation and environmental research ideas gathered from the 2009 Mid-Year Workshop, and the 2009 edition to the Directory of State Highway Agency and Federal Highway Administration Environmental Officials. ADC10 subcommittee reports, research news, a list of committee members, and upcoming events are also covered. For more information, link to the ADC10 Newsletter – November 2009. (12-4-09)

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Successful efforts to strengthen interagency relationships in Colorado for streamlining the transportation planning and environmental review process are highlighted in the latest issue of the Federal Highway Administration’s Successes in Stewardship newsletter. The December 2009 issue describes efforts by FHWA and Colorado DOT to develop a partnering agreement between 15 transportation and resource agencies to formalize the Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) approach for statewide transportation planning. Key elements leading to success of the PEL Partnership Agreement include establishing interagency relationships, a strong environmental ethic among Colorado residents and agencies, and the clear, user-friendly language used in the agreement itself. For more information, link to December 2009 Successes in Stewardship Newsletter, Interagency Relationships Help Bring About Planning and Environmental Linkages Agreement in Colorado. (12-1-09)

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Guidance for transportation agency staff on the options and opportunities for integrating environmental considerations into the transportation planning process are provided in a report developed under the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (Project 25-25, Task 55). The report is intended to serve as a resource for connecting planning and NEPA; improving consultation and data sharing with resource agencies; expanding efforts to integrate planning realms; and as an education tool for increasing awareness of the importance of integrated planning approaches. Background information on planning requirements under SAFETEA-LU Section 6001, streamlining, and the Federal Highway Administration’s Planning and Environmental Linkages efforts are provided. The report also includes case studies of noteworthy practices from agencies across the country. In addition, a brochure highlighting the project summary and a PowerPoint presentation are included. For more information, link to Awareness Guidance for Mainstreaming Environmental Stewardship and Enhancement Activities into Planning and Project Development (NCHRP Project 25-25, Task 55). (11-24-09)

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The Federal Highway Administration has published a report on funded position programs at state departments of transportation. Section 6002(j) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) provides for the use of federal-aid project dollars on “funded positions” (also known as “funded liaisons”), or staff at state and federal resources agencies that are dedicated to working on state DOT projects on environmental streamlining and related planning activities. The report follows a study conducted by FHWA and the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center to assess trends in the use of funded positions and provide recommendations to state DOTs and resources agencies on more effective use of these programs. The study included a literature review and interviews of personnel at funded position programs in eight states that varied in program size and maturity. Findings include common benefits, challenges, and decisionmaking steps involved in developing and managing a funded position program from the ground up. For more information, link to the State Transportation Liaison Funded Positions Study. (11-4-09)

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The Federal Highway Administration has published the November 2009 issue of Successes in Stewardship, marking the 100^th issue of the monthly newsletter, which was launched in August 2001 to highlight innovative environmental streamlining practices implemented by state transportation agencies. The publication has expanded over its nine year history to include projects, policies, and guidance that demonstrate sound environmental stewardship. The current issue follows the progress of environmental stewardship and streamlining practices as seen in the newsletter since 2001, highlighting coverage of topics such as implementing context sensitive solutions (CSS) and planning and environmental linkages (PEL) approaches, reducing transportation’s contribution to climate change, and addressing the environmental impacts of congestion. For more information, link to the November 2009 issue, Celebrating the 100^th Issue of Successes in Stewardship. (11-3-09)

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Successful efforts at interagency collaboration and environmental stewardship as part of the Columbia River Crossing project are highlighted in the August 2009 issue of FHWA’s Successes in Stewardship newsletter. The ongoing project, which involves the replacement of an aging bridge connecting Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, includes transit and highway improvements designed to reduce congestion in the Interstate 5 corridor. As part of the project, 12 state and federal agencies formed the Interstate Collaborative Environmental Process (InterCEP) Group to advise the project team on the environmental process. Other successful collaborative components of the project include a unique greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions analysis, an extensive public involvement process, and tribal consultation. In recognition of these environmental stewardship efforts, the draft environmental impact statement for the project was awarded the National Association of Environmental Professionals’ Environmental Excellence Award for NEPA excellence. According to FHWA, the project may serve as a model for future transportation projects because of its successful interagency collaboration and innovative GHG analysis. For more information, link to the August 2009 Successes in Stewardship Newsletter, The Columbia River Crossing Project: A Model for Collaboration and Environmental Stewardship. (8-4-09)

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The Federal Highway Administration has published its final report summarizing the third audit of the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) program to assume federal authority for environmental reviews for transportation projects under the pilot program established by Section 6005 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).  The third audit report, published in the July 28, 2009, Federal Register, finds that Caltrans “continued to work toward meeting all responsibilities assumed” under the pilot program, as specified in the memorandum of understanding with FHWA. The third audit – which covers the start of the pilot program in July 2007 through January 2009, focusing on the most recent six month period – reviews the program’s compliance with criteria established in the FHWA/Caltrans MOU. It details areas of compliance as well as areas that need improvement or that are deemed deficient and must be improved.  For more information, link to the Federal Register notice. (7-28-09)

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• Successes in Stewardship: FHWA Peer Exchange on Using Corridor Planning to Inform NEPA - March 2010 NEW 
• Successes in Stewardship: Measuring Progress in Linking Transportation Planning and Environmental Analysis - February 2010  
• Successes in Stewardship: Supporting Environmental Streamlining Through Funded Positions - January 2010  
• Successes in Stewardship: Interagency Relationships Help Bring About Planning and Environmental Linkages Agreement in Colorado - December 2009  
• Successes in Stewardship: Celebrating the 100th Issue of Successes in Stewardship - November 2009  
• Successes in Stewardship: Double Issue! Nebraska Environmental Streamlining Workshops and ICOET 2009 - October 2009 
• Successes in Stewardship Newsletter - FHWA Archive

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