AASHTO Standing Committee on Highways October 18, 2008

CENTER WEB SITE  One stop source of environmental information for transportation professionals  Revised and updated all topic sections  New sections on Historic Bridge Preservation, Noise, SAFETEA–LU, Environmental Considerations in Planning, and 4f  New Sustainability section posted soon  New Case law summary database

CENTER WEB SITE Transportation and Environmental Ideas (TERI) Database  Comprehensive list of environmental research needs  Links to completed reports and ongoing research databases  Ideas prioritized by SCOE  Coordination with SCOR, USDOT, Federal Resource Agencies, NCHRP, TRB, state DOT research contacts, Universities

PRACTITIONER HANDBOOKS Series of documents to provide practical advice on a range of environmental issues that arise during the planning, development, and operation of transportation projects. Series of documents to provide practical advice on a range of environmental issues that arise during the planning, development, and operation of transportation projects. Center received the 2008 FHWA Transportation Planning Excellence Award for this series. Center received the 2008 FHWA Transportation Planning Excellence Award for this series. Downloadable from the Center website. Downloadable from the Center website.

PRACTITIONER HANDBOOKS Handbooks to be developed this year include: Storm water program management for transportation facilities Storm water program management for transportation facilities Reincorporation of Construction Materials/Recycled Materials into Road Projects Reincorporation of Construction Materials/Recycled Materials into Road Projects Secondary and cumulative effects analysis for both routine and complex projects Secondary and cumulative effects analysis for both routine and complex projects Clean Water Act 404 Clean Water Act 404 Section 4f Section 4f

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE A team of highly qualified and experienced experts on-call and ready to assist transportation and environmental agency officials in improving environmental performance and program delivery. A team of highly qualified and experienced experts on-call and ready to assist transportation and environmental agency officials in improving environmental performance and program delivery. Forty (40) technical experts are currently available for assignments in a variety of subject matters. Forty (40) technical experts are currently available for assignments in a variety of subject matters. Each expert’s biography is listed on the Center’s webpage. Each expert’s biography is listed on the Center’s webpage.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Recently hired experts in four new topical areas: Recently hired experts in four new topical areas: Climate Change Climate Change GIS GIS Environmental Information Management Environmental Information Management Sustainability Sustainability Five states will be receiving EMS technical assistance in developing and/or advancing EMS initiatives. Five states will be receiving EMS technical assistance in developing and/or advancing EMS initiatives.

Above and Beyond: The Environmental and Social Contributions of America’s Highway Programs Transportation Enhancements Transportation Enhancements Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources, Including Tribal Consultation Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources, Including Tribal Consultation Recycling and Waste Management Recycling and Waste Management Air Quality Air Quality Context-Sensitive Solutions Context-Sensitive Solutions Brownfields Redevelopment Land Use Brownfields Redevelopment Land Use Bicycle and Pedestrian Bicycle and Pedestrian Wetlands and Water Quality Wetlands and Water Quality Wildlife and Ecosystems Wildlife and Ecosystems Noise Abatement Noise Abatement Scenic Byways Scenic Byways Vegetation Management Vegetation Management Center received the 2008 ARTBA Pride first place award for public media relations/education. Center received the 2008 ARTBA Pride first place award for public media relations/education.

CLIMATE CHANGE Three climate change webinars. Potential webinar topics include: Three climate change webinars. Potential webinar topics include: Climate change mitigation strategies, including activities in planning, construction, maintenance, design, and operations, as well as measures to reduce the DOTs own carbon footprint. Climate change mitigation strategies, including activities in planning, construction, maintenance, design, and operations, as well as measures to reduce the DOTs own carbon footprint. Climate change adaptation. Climate change adaptation. Climate change research, what has been done, what is underway and what is needed. Climate change research, what has been done, what is underway and what is needed.

OTHER INITIATIVES National webcast on Integrating Transportation Planning and NEPA Decision-Making. National webcast on Integrating Transportation Planning and NEPA Decision-Making. Communities of Practice: Communities of Practice: Climate change Climate change Air Quality Air Quality Stormwater Stormwater Wetlands Wetlands Historic bridges Historic bridges Sustainability Peer Exchanges Sustainability Peer Exchanges

Center Advisory Board Members Carlos Braceras, UT, Chair Carlos Braceras, UT, Chair Kathy Ames, IL Kathy Ames, IL Don Arkle, AL Don Arkle, AL Gail D’Avino, GA Gail D’Avino, GA Tim Hill, OH Tim Hill, OH Richard Land, CA Richard Land, CA Gary McVoy, NY Gary McVoy, NY Dianna Noble, TX Dianna Noble, TX John Njord, UT John Njord, UT Neil Pedersen, MD Neil Pedersen, MD Carol Lee Roalkvam, WS Carol Lee Roalkvam, WS Raja Veeramachaneni, FHWA Raja Veeramachaneni, FHWA

COMMENTS/INFORMATION Shannon Eggleston (202) Damon Fordham (202)