The Federal Highway Administration has announced the availability of the proposed 2011 implementation strategy for the Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program (STEP). The program was established under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), which expired on Sept. 30, 2009. However, FHWA anticipates that funding for STEP or a similar program for national research on issues related to planning, environment, and realty will be included in future transportation legislation.
Research Funding for Planning and Environment, FY2003-2010 (STEP, TELUS, TRANSIMS, earmarks,minus obligation limitations, rescissions)
FHWA Research Funding for Planning and Environment by Source, FY2003-FY2010 (minus obligation limitations, rescission’s)
* TELUS is the Transportation, Economic and Land Use System. Funding was included in Technology Deployment for FY03-FY05
** The proposed FY2011 STEP funding levels are subject to the completion of the FY2011 Department of Transportation (DOT) appropriations process.
In FY 2011, STEP is likely to address national research priorities that include:
- (1) Conducting research to develop climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies;
- (2) Improving state of the practice regarding livability and the impact of transportation on the environment;
- (3) Developing and/or supporting accurate models and tools for evaluating transportation measures and developing indicators of economic, social, and environmental performance of transportation systems;
- (4) Developing and deploying research to address congestion reduction efforts;
- (5) Developing transportation safety planning strategies for surface transportation systems and improvements;
- (6) Improving planning, operation, and management of surface transportation systems and rights of way;
- (7) Enhancing knowledge of strategies to improve transportation in rural areas and small communities;
- (8) Strengthening and advancing State/local and tribal capabilities regarding surface transportation and the environment;
- (9) Improving transportation decision-making and coordination across borders;
- (10) Conducting research to promote environmental streamlining/stewardship;
- (11) Disseminating research results and advances in state of the practice through peer exchanges, workshops, conferences, etc;
- (12) Meeting additional priorities as determined by the Secretary; and
- (13) Refining the scope and research emphases through active outreach and in consultation with stakeholders
Stakeholders with an interest in environment and planning research is enormous and diverse, including these three tiers:
Tier 1 – Federal Agencies and Tribes: There are at least a score of Federal agencies with strong interest in transportation planning and environmental programs including: the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, Agriculture, Energy, Interior (DOI) and Housing and Urban Development, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Within each of these agencies, there are many discrete organizations/programs with an interest – e.g., National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management within the DOI. Within the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), FHWA partners with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on virtually all planning and environmental work, including research. The FHWA also coordinates with the Federal Railroad, Aviation, Research and Innovative Technology, National Highway Traffic Safety and Maritime Administrations, and with the Office of the Secretary of Transportation on Global Climate Change as well as other issues. There are over 500 federally recognized Native American Tribes, which have a major interest in research affecting their planning and environmental needs.
Tier II – State and Local Government: State Departments of Transportation (State DOTs), Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), local governments, state/local environmental and natural resource agencies and State Historic Preservation Officers all have a major interest in environment and planning research, as the research affects national policy and can also provide important tools, information, and training to meet short term and long term needs of these agencies. Universities also play a key role in conducting research that addresses emerging environment and planning issues.
Tier III – Nongovernmental Transportation and Environmental Stakeholders: Within the transportation and environment sector, there are hundreds and perhaps thousands of nongovernmental stakeholders such as: the American Automobile Association, American Road & Transportation Builders Association, American Highway Users Alliance, Surface Transportation Policy Project, Defenders of Wildlife, American Association of Retired Persons, Sierra Club, Conservation Law Foundation, American Council of Engineering Companies, American Planning Association, League of American Bicyclists, National Trust for Historic Preservation, International Right of Way Association, National Alliance of Highway Beautification Agencies and others too numerous to specify here.
The FHWA faces a great challenge to involve all of the above stakeholders in STEP, considering the large number of interested organizations and the dramatic differences in their views and interests. Nonetheless, FHWA will make a strong effort to seek out and consider the views of all of the above interests in shaping STEP and carrying out the STEP.
