2008 NAHBA Conference Kalispell, MT August 10-13, 2008 FHWA Update Gerry Solomon Office of Real Estate Services 2008 NAHBA Conference Kalispell, MT August 10-13, 2008 Intro to NAHBA 11TH Annual Educational Conference. The challenges confronting the states and the FHWA with respect to OAC are complex. The FHWA believes that state transportation professionals benefit greatly from interaction with their peers from other states as well as with FHWA staff and this conference is an effective tool to partner with the states in the area of OAC.

FHWA Organizational Update FHWA Administrator August 1, 2008 - Thomas J. Madison Jr., confirmed by the U. S. Senate to head the Federal Highway Administration, was Executive Director Associate Administrator Office of Real Estate Services We have a new FHWA Administrator - Thomas J. Madison Jr., former head of the New York State Dept. of Transportation is confirmed by Senate We have a new Executive Director, Jeff Paniati. The Associate Administrator for Environment, Planning and Realty is Gloria Shepherd HEPR is expanding by filling positions in each of the two teams – Program Development Team and Program Implementation Team The FHWA leadership has articulated a vision centered on four basic goals 1. Leadership 2. Program Delivery 3. System Performance 4. Corporate Capacity

Office of Real Estate Services Outdoor Advertising Control Janis Gramatins, Program Implementation Team Leader Ed Kosola Cathy O’Hara Division Office Realty Staff Within HEPR, Janis Gramatins, Ed Kosola and Cathy O’Hara are responsive to OAC questions from the public, the Divisions, the DOTs, the Industry and Scenic Groups. We have assistance from new HQ staff, Mary Jane Deluge and Dave Leighow, whom many of you know from their days in the Division Offices. As you are aware, the first point of contact for most questions is at the FHWA Division Office level. There is quite a bit of turnover at the Division level so we have increased our training and technical assistance aimed at the newer Division realty staff.

SAFETEA-LU SAFETEA-LU Future Authorization August 2005 Fiscal Years 2004 – 2009 Expires on September 30, 2009 Future Authorization Next Congress and Administration DOT Proposal SAFETEA-LU August 2005 Fiscal Years 2004 – 2009 Expires on September 30, 2009 Regardless of which party wins the elections this fall, there will be newcomers in Washington, DC, next year, with new priorities.

A New Transportation Approach to America Plan to refocus, reform and renew national approach to highway and transit systems in America http://www.fightgridlocknow.gov/ We are seeing a strong push for change, due to raising gas prices and the slowdown of the economy. Everyone is looking for ways to increase revenue.

A New Transportation Approach to America Address issues of Congestion Fuel prices Gas tax Spending decisions Outdoor Advertising Control Delegation of Oversight Plan intended to propose a way to: Renew Federal focus of maintaining and Improving Interstate system Address urban congestion and provide flexibility to invest in highway and transit priorities Create accountability measures to ensure investments deliver results Refocus emphases on safety, while providing flexibility to address specific safety challenges Streamline federal review process for new projects OAC – Delegation of Oversight Rationale - The HBA and implementing regulations established broad national standards for control of outdoor advertising. Within those parameters, the law gives States the ability to adopt controls tailored to own needs. As a result, controls vary widely, and the role of FHWA in providing consistent national standards is limited. FHWA’s involvement in a State’s OAC program administration is often redundant and counterproductive. This proposal would remove FHWA from day-to-day administrative involvement in control programs and reinforce the principle that States are directly responsible for compliance. The result would be a streamlined administrative structure and more effective use of FHWA resources. Description of Proposal • Creation of an option for assignment of administrative responsibility for OAC to States, similar to Section 6004 of SAFETEA-LU assignment of categorical exclusion responsibilities; • Maximization of State control over the program through the assignment process; and • Building on current laws, a requirement for States that take on responsibility to certify annually to FHWA compliance with regulations.

STEP : Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program Information and website to submit feedback: http://knowledge.fhwa.dot.gov/cops/step.nsf/home Deadline: September 22, 2008 STEP funded Studies Underway: OAC: - CEVMS and driver attention and distraction - Neutral assessment follow-up General: Support for partnering and outreach Local agency stewardship Peer exchanges

Current STEP Research Support of Organizations NAHBA, IRWA Outdoor Advertising Control CEVMS Study U.S. Institute Assessment GIS – Integrating GIS technology into ROW data management process Voluntary Incentives - Peer Exchange Local Public Agency Stewardship We are proud to support our partner organization. The STEP research provides funds for our partnering effort. There will be more on our driver distraction and assessment follow-up later in the conference. In July we assembled peer exchange to discuss use of GIS by ROW and OAC. Obviously many of you are well versed in using GIS to locate outdoor advertising signs and updating your sign inventory. You are leaders in that regard. Use of incentive payments and local agency stewardship are other projects funded using STEP08 money. We look forward to receiving your input for STEP09 funds!

Office of Real Estate Services - Newsletter Quarterly publication Include Outdoor Advertising Control information Soliciting articles for consideration In order to continue and improve the momentum of marketing and building capacity, the Office of Real Estate Services began publishing a quarterly newsletter.  The newsletter provides a synopsis of the Office of Real Estate Services – headquarters’ endeavors and research. It is an opportunity to get information from our field offices. It is hoped that NAHBA will share the newsletter with members. You are encouraged to submit articles for consideration to be published in the newsletter. Articles can be emailed to Cathy O’Hara @ Cathy.O’hara@dot.gov.

Outdoor Advertising Control Efforts Training National Highway Institute (NHI) courses Bonus States (23 States) Non-bonus States (remaining States) HEPR Core Training Modules NHI Web-base courses. The NHI Outdoor Advertising Control web-base training courses are designed as a basic knowledge of the limits of signs adjacent to the interstate, national highway system, and other federal-aid primary routes. Information on registering for these free courses is being provided by separate handouts and all stakeholders are encouraged to participate in this training opportunity. Core Training. Another training tool developed by the Office of Real Estate Services uses a web-conference format based on adult learning modules. This training has been labeled “Core” training for our office. The training modules enables instructor to narrate information, adapt slides to specify issues or States, and promotes participation by enrollees.

Outdoor Advertising Control Efforts Research Commercial Electronic Variable Message signs and distraction to drivers Stakeholders Assessment NCHRP 20-7 (256) (Jerry Wachtel) NCHRP 20-7(247) (Clyde Johnson) Commercial Electronic Variable Message signs and distraction to drivers Phase 1 to develop a methodology and define key elements related to Commercial Electronic Variable Message Signs was received on June 30, 2008 and has been reviewed by two teams during July. The FHWA review team included the Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty; Division Offices in Colorado, New York, Mississippi, and Texas; as well as the headquarters offices of Safety, Design and Transportation Operations. The second review team was composed of members of the TRB Human Factors subcommittee, and members from the National Alliance of Highway Beautification Agencies. The report is scheduled to be posted on the FHWA website at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/realestate/out_ad.htm. The Office of Real Estate Services is meeting with the researchers to prepare the Statement of Work for implementing the field investigation phase of study, using currently available resources, to determine the best process to develop meaningful data in real world conditions. Once the process is defined, the Office of Real Estate Services will solicit State DOTs to assist in identifying appropriate field locations to perform driving tests and identify sources for follow-on research efforts useful in relation to this specific research effort. It is anticipated that the full study and final report will be completed in the latter part of 2009. In the long term, it is anticipated that this study will assist governing jurisdictions in further policy development regarding electronic signs. Stakeholder Assessment of OAC Program In 2007, a neutral assessment of the national OAC program was completed. A neutral entity to reach out to parties interested in OAC to identify: issues that cause controversy, perspectives of stakeholders, and methods for addressing conflicts and improving OAC program results. This next step will focus on one of the identified issues and explore the potential for agreement and/or resolution. NCHRP 20-7 (256) (Jerry Wachtel) While there are some similarities to the FHWA CEVMS and distraction to drivers, but this research is intended to be less research oriented, and more oriented toward helping the States to develop guidelines for these CEVMS signs NCHRP 20-7 (247) (Clyde Johnson) This is a comprehensive study and analysis of the States rules and regulations.  

Outdoor Advertising Control Efforts South Carolina Pilot Project Field oversight State regulations and enforcement procedures [CFR 750.705(j)] Excellence in Outdoor Advertising Control Award South Carolina Pilot Project The Office of Real Estate Services and the South Carolina Department of Transportation have expended considerable effort to finalize the details of this pilot project. The pilot is intended to allow the upgrading of certain nonconforming signs. Additional details and updates will be addressed later in this conference. Field oversight. Assistance to Division Offices to implement and complete OAC oversight reviews is being formulated. State regulations and enforcement procedures [CFR 750.705(j)]. There is considerable ongoing effort by FHWA Division and HQ to review amendments to State laws, regulations, policy, and procedures. This work is ongoing. Excellence in Outdoor Advertising Control Award. I am pleased to announce an Office of Real Estate Award to FHWA staff in a Division office in recognition of outstanding contribution to the management of the Federal Highway Administration Outdoor Advertising Control Program – Indiana Division (Colleen Smith and Woody Woodruff). I anticipate that this will be an annual award.

Other Office of Real Estate Efforts International ROW / Utility Scan Project Development Guide Federal Land Transfer Manual Future Needs of Public Sector Real Estate Succession Planning International ROW / Utility Scan – Streamlining and Integrating Right of Way and Utility Processes with Planning, Environmental, and Design Processes Project Development Guide Federal Land Transfer Manual Revisit our 2006 research called “Future Needs of Public Sector Real Estate” Succession Planning – Recruitment, Training / Development, Retention (PDP and STIPDG)

2008 NAHBA Conference Kalispell, MT August 10-13, 2008 Thank You Office of Real Estate Services 2008 NAHBA Conference Kalispell, MT August 10-13, 2008

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