STEP: A Federal Research Program
Conducting Research That Links to Practice
Webinar November 16, 2009
Also available as Microsofte PPT format 7.5 MB. A PowerPoint viewer is available from Microsoft.
Agenda
- Welcome Remarks from the HEP Associate Administrator
- STEP Program Overview
- STEP Emphasis Area Research Highlights Presentations
- Questions & Answers Session
What is FHWA's STEP?
- A federally-administered nationally oriented research program
- Authorized in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy of Users (SAFETEA-LU)
- Section 5207 - Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program (STEP)
STEP Objectives
- Improve understanding of the complex relationship between surface transportation, planning, and the environment
- Identify, address, and reassess national research priorities for environment, planning and realty
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)
How is FHWA's STEP funded?
- SAFETEA-LU authorized $16.875 million per year for FY2006-2009
- Part of Title V Research - funds authorized in 5101(a)(1)
- Approximately $14 million anticipated to be available in FY10 due to obligation limitations and rescissions
- FY10 subject to Continuing Resolution and anticipated authorization legislation
Who gets FHWA's STEP money?
- STEP funds can be awarded to:
- State governments
- Metropolitan planning organizations
- Local governments
- Universities
- Federal agencies
- Private sector
How are FHWA's STEP funds awarded?
- A variety of procurement mechanisms are used to award STEP funds including:
- Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (ID/IQ)
- Interagency agreements
- Grants
- Cooperative agreements
- Small purchase contracts
- Broad Agency Announcements are used to obtain broad & diverse perspectives and options for advancing research initiatives
FHWA's STEP Challenges
- Congress mandated a 50% non-Federal share for grants & cooperative agreements
- "Non-Federal match" requirement does not apply to contracts or Federal Interagency Agreements
- SAFETEA-LU does not allow University Transportation Center or State Planning and Research funds to be used as the non-Federal match for STEP
- Primary source of funding for all FHWA Planning and Environment research
- Support research that impacts a broad array of stakeholders
Stakeholder Involvement
- On-going outreach & stakeholder feedback are used to refine & implement the national STEP research agenda
- Partnerships are formed to leverage funds with other sources including:
- Federal, State and Local agencies
- National Cooperative Highway Research Program
- Future Strategic Highway Research Program
- Pooled funds & foreign jurisdictions
- Examples of outreach activities include:
- National workshops
- Annual community-of-practice conferences
- Program advisory groups
- Peer reviews
STEP Stakeholders
- Tier I Stakeholders:
- Federal Agencies and Tribes
- Tier II Stakeholders:
- State and Local Government
- Tier III Stakeholders:
- Nongovernmental Transportation and Environmental Stakeholders
Implementation Timeline
- Winter
- Begin to implement current fiscal year
- Spring
- Refine STEP Implementation Strategy
- Publish Federal Register Notice
- Update website to solicit feedback on next fiscal year STEP activities
- Spring/Summer
- Develop priorities for and fund critical research
- Develop next draft fiscal year STEP Plan
- Fall/Winter
- Post current fiscal year plan on STEP website
Overview of FY10 STEP Activities
- A Federal Register Notice was published on September 4, 2009
- The deadline for comments is December 3, 2009
- The target date for completion of the FY2010 STEP Plan is Spring 2010
- Funding levels subject to completion of FY2010 appropriations and anticipated authorization legislation
How Do Stakeholders Participate in FHWA's STEP Research Program?
- Review FY2010 STEP Strategy
- Develop suggested lines of research
- Submit feedback
- Review Annual Plan
- Monitor FedBizOpps.gov
- Contact & work with STEP emphasis areas
Examples of STEP Feedback
- Conduct more research in terms of green infrastructure planning and environmental mitigation strategies. Calculate the true stewardship costs for wetland and buffer mitigation sites. The costs should include at a minimum: review of the baseline report, a site visit, identification of problem areas such as the presence of exotic/invasive species, corrective actions for the problem and reporting.
- Evaluate CSS performance - "how do we know it's working?" is a question frequently asked by upper management. Such evaluation tools will help provide support for funding CSS initiatives locally. Also, any type of procedural tools - steps, checklists, techniques, etc. are helpful for getting the engineering/technical staff involved in CSS components like effective communication, stakeholder involvement, public involvement, etc.
- Monitor highway vehicle traffic emissions for use to establish emissions gradients along highway (and smaller road) corridors in order to demarcate the impacted area; emissions gradient would be used as a planning tool so that residential, school, hospital, and other sensitive receptors could be located outside the affected area.
Proposed FY2010 STEP Emphasis Areas
The Office of Natural & Human Environment
Air Quality Research Highlights
Recently Completed:
Air Quality Research Highlights
- Research Underway:
- Mobile Source Air Toxics Near Roadway Study
- MOVES sensitivity analysis
- Transportation and Air Quality Emissions Analysis
- Modeling procedures and applications of MOVES
- Advanced methods in conducting project level emissions analysis
- Air quality outreach and communication strategies
- Air Quality Health Effects and Highway Proximity (Health Effects Institute)
- Contact: Cecilia.Ho@dot.gov
Global Climate Change Research Highlights
- Adaptation Research:
- Phase II of the Gulf Coast Study
- Working group on Global Climate Change (GCC) impacts
- Develop framework to conduct assessments
- Mitigation Research:
- 13-agency workgroup on Transportation, Land Use and GCC
- Two pilot projects on carbon sequestration in rights-of-way
- Study to reduce energy use through planning for mega-regions
- Develop sustainability evaluation and planning guidance
- Contact: Robert.Ritter@dot.gov
Bicycle/Pedestrian and Health .Research Highlights
- Research goals:
- Identify and promote best practices
- Evaluate environmental and health benefits of increased walking and bicycling
- Improve data and modeling of walking and bicycling trips
- Current projects:
- Contact: Gabriel.Rousseau@dot.gov
Noise Research Highlights
- FHWA Traffic Noise Model
- Development of Version 3.0
- Testing and Validation
- Increased Ldn Capabilities
- Pavement Validation Study
- Tire/Pavement Noise
- Temperature Effects Study
- TPF-5(135) Participation
- Contact: Mark.Ferroni@dot.gov
FHWA, Office of Planning
Activities that Support State, Local, and Tribal Planning Capacity Building Research Highlights
Activities that Support State, Local, and Tribal Planning Capacity Building Research Highlights
Activities that Support State, Local, and Tribal Planning Capacity Building Research Highlights
Research Underway:
- Executive Roundtable: Performance-based Planning and Programming
- Management Practices in Developing Fiscal Constraint for STIPs, TIPs, and MTPs
- Livability in Transportation Best Practices Guidebook
- Best Practices in Transportation Planning: Performance Measures, Environmental Mitigation, and Fiscal Constraint
- A Guide to Measuring Progress in Linking Transportation Planning and Environmental Analysis
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Congestion Research Highlights
Research Underway:
- Identifying Statewide Opportunities for Linking Planning and Operations
- Benchmarking and Targeted Technical Assistance
- Update Ridesharing/TDM resources
- Confidential GPS Travel Survey Data Center
- TDM and the Congestion Management Process
- Congestion and Environmental Analysis
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/congestion/
Public Involvement, Environmental Justice, Visualization in Planning Research Highlights
Research Underway: |
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Freight Planning Research Highlights
Research underway:
- International Scan on Policy and Program Structure of National and International Freight Corridor Programs
- Integrating Freight into NEPA Analysis Handbook
- Freight and Air Quality Handbook
- Freight and Land Use Peer Exchange
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Safety Research Highlights
Research Underway: |
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Travel Modeling Research Highlights
Research Underway:
- Support TRB in Establishing a National Travel Forecasting Resource
- 2005-2007 CTPP Profiles
- Travel Model Improvement Program (TMIP) Web Knowledge and Information Exchange Webinar Series
- TMIP Website and Email Listserve
The Office of Real Estate Services
Outdoor Advertising Control. Research Highlights
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/real_estate/
Real Estate Program Stewardship. Research Highlights
- Outreach and Informational Dissemination Programs
Real Estate Program Stewardship. Research Highlights
- Right of Way, Design-Build, and Acquisition Models
- Relocation Assistance Retrospective Study
- Integrating Visualization Technologies into the Right-of-Way Processes
- Peer Exchange - Use of Incentive Payments in Right-of-Way Acquisition and Relocation Programs. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/real_estate/practitioners/uniform_act/acquisition/incpeerexch.cfm
- Development of a Right Of Way Competency Navigator and Capacity Building and Training Curriculum Clearinghouse
- Identification and Development of Local Public Agency (LPA) Stewardship Tools and Techniques
The Office of Project Development & Environmental Review
Water/Wetlands/Vegetation/Wildlife/Habitat/Brownfields Research Highlights
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/
Water/Wetlands/Vegetation/Wildlife/Habitat/Brownfields Research Highlights
Water/Wetlands/Vegetation/Wildlife/Habitat
- Wildlife Vehicle Collision Study-Congressional Report,
- International Conference on Ecology & .Transportation Adapting to Change. http://www.icoet.net/ICOET2009.asp
- Culvert Design Field Test: HEC-26
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/
FHWA Grants for "Eco-Logical: . An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects"
Funded Research Underway:
Integrate transportation and environmental planning through to project level efforts for economic, environmental, & societal needs & objectives
- $1.4 million to fund work through 2011
- 15 projects selected from nationwide solicitation
- Diversity of funded recipients across the nation;
- State and local transportation agencies,
- State resource agencies,
- Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs),
- Local governments,
- Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs),
- Academia (University)
Future Grant Cycle Anticipated
Environmental Streamlining & Stewardship Research Highlights
- Green Highways Partnership - Watershed Resource Registry - http://www.greenhighways.org
- HQ Liaisons - New EPA position, Peer Exchange, Funded positions study - bachle.laura@epa.gov
- Communities of Practice: Re:NEPA, Successes in Streamlining
- New Course: Env. Factors in Construction & Maintenance
- SAFETEA-LU Performance (6002, 6005, 6009, EDTS, National Survey)
Environmental Streamlining & Stewardship Research Highlights
- Planning and Environment Linkages
- Conservation & Transportation Planning Workshop
- Visualization case studies and workshop
- Linking Planning & National Environmental Policy Act support tools
- Adaptation to Climate Change Effects
- Conflict Resolution - New Course, Consultant Services
- 4(f) NHI training
Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) .Research Highlights
- CSS Clearinghouse
- CSS Webinar Series
- CSS National Dialog
Historic Preservation Research Highlights Historic Preservation Research Highlights
- Ongoing Historic Preservation Research
- IAG w/ Advisory Council on Historic Preservation for Research and Innovation
- Enhanced website featuring case results and agreements
- MN Tribal experience training
- Peer exchange for DOT/SHPO liaisons
- On-deck Historic Preservation Research
- Best practices for PEL for historic properties
- Phase II case study digest and dissemination
- Post WWII housing model w/ NCHRP
- Best practices for historic bridge management
The Office of Interstate & Border Planning
- Presenters: Stefan Natzke & Roger Petzold
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- National Security, Defense, & Interstate Planning
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Contact: Stefan Natzke |
- U.S./Canada & U.S./Mexico Border Planning
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Contact: Roger Petzold |
- Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
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Contact: Mark Sarmiento |
- STEP Program Management & Outreach
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Contact: Felicia Young |
National Security, Defense & Interstate Planning Research Highlights
- Highway System and Corridor Support
- Monitoring of Case Studies: Interstate and NHS Economic Development
- NHS Designation and Product Development
- Electronic Dialogue on Transportation and Economic Development
U.S./Canada & U.S./Mexico Border Research Highlights
Ongoing Research
- Border Master Plan
- Develop Bi-National Border Master Plans along the Southern Border
- Developed Compendium of Border Infrastructure along Northern Border
- Border Wait Times
- U.S./Canada Border Wait Time Pilot
- U.S./Mexico Border Delay and Crossing Times for Freight (4 locations)
Geographic Information Systems .Research Highlights
Program Management & Outreach
- Coordinate STEP Implementation
- Seek Opportunities to Leverage STEP Research
- Outreach Activities
- STEP Website/Feedback System
- Annual Report
- Hot Topic Bulletins
Stakeholder Input Options
- Review FY2010 STEP Strategy
- Develop suggested lines of research
- Submit feedback by December 3rd
- Review Annual Plan
- Monitor http://FedBizOpps.gov
- Contact & work with STEP emphasis areas
- Participate in STEP outreach activities
Other Research Resources
Thank You for Participating!
If you have any questions about STEP, please send an e-mail to Felicia.Young@dot.gov. ..
To contact emphasis areas directly, please visit for the most up-to-date contact information: www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/contacts/
