State Practices

The following guidance will help States and project sponsors meet Transportation Enhancement Activities (TE) requirements and provide best practices for accessibility, design, construction, and maintenance.

See also:

• Accessibility Guidance
• Financial Management Guidance
• State Practices

Transportation Enhancement Project Examples

• FHWA Livability Initiative Case Studies
  An overview of FHWA's Livability Initiative to enhance the environmental sensitivity and to help States explore multi-modal transportation options.

• AASHTO Programmatic Agreements Library Database
  The Programmatic Agreements Library is the Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO library of programmatic agreements. Programmatic agreements, and versions thereof (concurrence letters and the like) have been developed by State Departments of Transportation and/or FHWA in partnership with resource agencies to streamline compliance with Federal environmental laws (e.g., the National Environmental Policy Act - Categorical Exclusion, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act).

• Example Memorandum of Understanding for Categorical Exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act for projects which normally have no significant social, economic, or environmental effects.
  • Example Memorandum of Understanding
  • State Examples: Programmatic Agreement Survey Results (courtesy Ohio DNR, February 2004)
• State Assumption of Responsibility for Categorical Exclusions (SAFETEA-LU Sec. 6004)
  • Information: Guidance on the State Assumption of Responsibility for Categorical Exclusions (CE); April 4, 2006
  • FHWA Monitoring Reviews of SAFETEA-LU Section 6004 Categorical Exclusion Assignments; March 28, 2007
• State Examples:
  • California Department of Transportation Categorical Exclusion Delegation

• Sample Cooperative Agreement to Advance Funds to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for a Contract with an Indian Tribal Government under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. (From Kansas)

• Draft Project Documentation Form to help document project costs for labor, mileage, and basic expenditures associated with relatively small projects, usually located off of highway rights-of-way. (From FHWA Alaska Division)

• Conservation Corps and Transportation: Making the Connection
  This is a guide to transportation funding programs for service and conservation corps.

• State Advisory Committee Best Practices

• State Recreational Use Statutes: see ELCR Library of Resources with a link to Equine Activity Statutes and Recreational Use Statutes

• Exemplary Ecosystem Initiatives (EEI)
  Doing the Right Thing: Improving Transportation and Enhancing Ecosystems

• Exemplary Human Environment Initiatives (EHEI)
  Awarding transportation projects that create or improve conditions for human activities.