STEP PowerPoint Presentation in HTML format
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I. STEP - Title Page
Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program (STEP).
II. STEP - Agenda
- Background
- References, legislative guidance, funding
- Implementation
- Emphasis areas, stakeholder outreach activities
- Next Steps
- Resources and contact persons
III. STEP - References
- SAFETEA-LU - Title V- Research
- Section: 5207: Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program (STEP)
- Section: 5208: Transportation Research and Development(R&D) Strategic Planning
IV. STEP - Background
- STEP Objective:
- Improve understanding of the complex relationship between surface transportation, planning, and the environment
- Follow research and technology priorities to be established in the DOT STEP Strategic Plan
- DOT R&D Strategic Plan
- Secretary shall develop a 5-year Strategic Plan to guide Federal Transportation R&D
- Must include and integrate R&D of all DOT operating administrations
- Must undergo National Research Council Review
- Due August 2006
V. STEP - Legislative Guidance
- SAFETEA-LU requires, to the maximum extent practicable, that:
- best projects and researchers based on merit, open solicitations, and selection by a panel of appropriate experts;
- DOT has a qualified, permanent core staff;
- stakeholders are involved in program governance; and
- no duplication with the Future Strategic Highway Research Program (Section 5210 of SAFETEA-LU).
VI. STEP - Funding
- $16.875 M/year from FY 2006 to FY 2009 authorized
- Part of Title V Research: funds authorized in 5101(a)(1)
- Title V Research: over designated (i.e. funds designated exceed funds authorized)
- Approx. $11.7 M/year available for STEP from FY 2006 to FY 2009 due to over designation, obligation limitations and rescissions
VII. STEP - Challenges
- Source of funding for all FHWA Planning and Environment research
- FY2006 funding is approx. 39.2% less than average of Planning and Environment R & T funding FY 2003 to FY 2005
- 50% match required for grants/cooperative agreements
- Must encompass existing national mandates, mandated studies and projects
- Supports research that impacts a broad array of stakeholders
VIII. STEP - Implementation Activities
- FHWA is administering the STEP, within framework of DOT R&D Strategic Plan
- Implementation Strategy
- Federal Register Notice to solicit comments
- Meetings with major stakeholder groups and Federal agency partners
- STEP website:http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/index.htm
IX. STEP - Stakeholder Outreach
- March 2006 Federal Register notice requested public comment on STEP implementation strategy, announced STEP Website
- Comments were received from national associations, State DOTs, a consulting firm, and a private citizen
- Comments supported STEP principles
- Suggestions were made regarding emphasis areas, funding, stakeholder involvement, and other issues.
X. STEP - Stakeholder Outreach
- grouping the STEP emphasis areas into four major categories;
- identifying potential funding ranges within the four major categories;
- providing information regarding the goals and potential activities to be implemented within each of these emphasis areas; and
- adding contact persons for each of these emphasis areas.
XI. STEP - Potential Emphasis Areas
- Environment: Natural Environment; Human Environment; Environmental Process Improvement
- Planning: National/International Planning; Planning Focus Areas; State/Local Tribal Planning Capacity Building
- Tools to Support Planning and Environment
- STEP Program Management and Outreach
XII. STEP - Environment
- Natural Environment (Estimated FY07 funding: $2,290,000)
- Air Quality and Global Climate Change
- Water/Wetlands
- Vegetation/Wildlife/Habitat
- Human Environment (Estimated FY07 funding: $670,000)
- Historic Preservation
- Bicycle, Pedestrian and Health
- Noise
- Brownfields, Hazardous Materials and Recycling
- Outdoor Advertising Control/Realty Program Management
- Environmental Process Improvement (Estimated FY07 funding: $2,600,000)
- Environmental Streamlining/Stewardship
- Context Sensitive Solutions
XIII. STEP - Planning
- National/International Planning (Estimated FY07 Funding: $700,000)
- US/Canada and US/Mexico Border Planning
- National Security, Defense, and Interstate Planning
- Planning Focus Areas (Estimated FY07 Funding: $830,000)
- Congestion Planning
- Safety Planning
- Freight Planning
- State/Local/Tribal Planning Capacity Building (Estimated FY07 Funding: $3,060,000)
- Public Involvement, Environmental Justice, Visualization in Planning
- Other activities that support state/local/tribal planning capacity building, including land use planning, and travel surveys and data.
XIV. STEP - Tools to Support Planning and Environment
- Geographic Information Systems/Geospatial Information for Improved Decision Making (Estimated FY07 Funding: $350,000)
- Travel Modeling (Estimated FY07 Funding: $250,000)
XV. STEP - Program Management and Outreach
- Program Support
- Outreach
- Publications
XVI. STEP - Next Steps
- Ensure STEP will support DOT R&D Strategic Plan
- Issue Federal Register Notice to announce revised implementation strategy and to request comments on proposed STEP research activities
- Provide updates on STEP Implementation via STEP website and other mechanisms
XVII. STEP - Stakeholder Outreach
- FHWA also developed a Web-based feedback mechanism
- Stakeholders submit targeted comments on emphasis areas
- FHWA emphasis area contacts receive daily summary of comments and contact information for follow-up
- STEP Staff provide guidance on stakeholder follow up and email communications
- STEP Staff provide weekly reports on comments
XVIII. STEP - Stakeholder Outreach
- STEP Web-based feedback mechanism - draft introductory page
XIX. STEP - Stakeholder Outreach
- STEP Web-based feedback mechanism - draft feedback form
XX. STEP - 2006 Timeline
- July
- Issue Federal Register Notice to acknowledge comments on STEP Implementation Strategy
- Solicit suggestions for the lines of research that should be pursued within each emphasis area
- July/August
- September/October
- Announce FY06/07 STEP Research Plan
- Post on STEP website
- Fall
- Implement STEP FY06/07 Research Plan
XXI. STEP - Contact Persons
- Natural Environment
- Human Environment
XXII. STEP - Contact Persons (continued)
- Environmental Process Improvement
- National/International Planning
- Planning Focus Areas
XXIII. STEP - Contact Persons (continued)
- State/Local/Tribal Planning Capacity Building
- Tools to Support Planning and Environment
- STEP Program Management and Outreach Felicia.Young@dot.gov
XXIV. STEP - Website
STEP website
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/index.htm
