4: HUMAN AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Protect and enhance the natural environment and communities affected by highway transportation.

Other Information:

KEY HUMAN AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES: Highways and transportation facilities are major contributors to the quality of life in communities and can be a major factor affecting the quality of the natural environment, especially air quality. Through initiatives in planning, environment, analytical models, new technologies, and research, we will work with our partners to ensure that highway facilities balance local, regional, and national concerns with the natural environment and add value to the community. The major focus of FHWA's initiatives will be the following: Enhancing Communities Through Highway Transportation: FHWA will foster community and regional level transportation solutions through enhancements in urban and rural community planning. We will develop and share tools for State, local, Federal land management agencies, and tribal government planners to effectively incorporate environmental justice and the preservation of scenic, historic, natural, and community resources, as well as traffic safety into transportation plans. FHWA will help ensure transportation plans address the community concerns and social impacts of transportation facilities and recognize the role of transportation in supporting Welfare-to-Work, mobility for people with low incomes, and accessibility for people with disabilities. FHWA will promote programs and initiatives to enhance communities through effective public involvement, a thorough assessment of impacts, and creative approaches to mitigation and enhancement. To accelerate and improve decisionmaking, FHWA will promote processes which effectively integrate Federal, State, and local transportation, land use, and environmental decisionmaking in a streamlined and timely manner. Sustaining the Quality of the Natural Environment: Through research, new technologies, and analytical models, FHWA will promote the construction, maintenance, and use of highways that are compatible with the national environmental objectives. In partnership with our stakeholders, we will support the development of environmental analytical models to assist decisionmakers. FHWA will promote initiatives to protect and enhance ecosystems on a programmatic basis, including the use of inventories, partnerships with resource agencies, and practices such as wetland banking. FHWA will provide resources, flexibility, and technical assistance for States and local agencies to ensure compliance with environmental standards, especially reducing transportation-related air emissions. FHWA will promote streamlined environmental processes, requirements and procedures to accelerate and improve decisionmaking to meet the goals of transportation, the community, and the natural environment. While FHWA is focusing its strategic indicators on air quality and wetlands, progress in these high priority areas is indicative of general progress in achieving our overall environmental goals.

Objective(s):

4.1: Economic and Social Benefits

4.2: Natural Environment

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