Resources for Potential Bidders

This page is for parties interested in pilot testing either the initial version of a web-based resource for transportation planning and environmental review or an ecological approach to environmental protection, both being developed through SHRP 2 Capacity research projects. A presentation made by Neil Pedersen to the SHRP 2 Oversight Committee provides a status report on all Capacity research.

Putting SHRP 2 Capacity Research to the Test

The intent of the pilot tests described here is for agencies to use the products of Capacity research to address an issue of local concern and provide feedback to SHRP 2 on usefulness and functionality. SHRP 2 will then revise the products as appropriate.  For example, you could apply the collaboration guidance, which is oriented to key decision points in planning and the environmental review process, to a current project such as a corridor study or planned enhancement to capacity. You could do a “backcasting” approach and assess how a past project might have turned out differently with a different approach. You could apply visioning and collaboration to a “sustainable” long-range plan update that addresses wildlife, watershed, economic development, and transportation plans for a region. You could use the performance measures framework to develop measures for a project or group of projects. You could apply the collaboration assessment tools to interagency relationships involved in environmental review or permitting.  You could apply T-Pics (transportation project impact case studies) to assess the likely long-term economic impact of a transportation investment. Your experience and your assessment of it will be important to project developers as they refine the products and you may find that you’ve advanced your agency’s ability to deliver highway capacity.

Pilot Tests of Transportation for Communities-Advancing Projects through Partnerships (Project C18)

By some estimates, transportation agencies will face demand for an additional 173,000 Interstate lane-miles by mid century.  Delivering that added capacity will require timely decisions that balance economic, environmental, and community needs. Transportation for Communities—Advancing Projects through Partnerships (formerly the Collaborative Decision-Making Framework) is a web-based resource to help transportation and resource agencies work in collaboration to develop and deliver “right-sized” highway projects quicker.

The range of guidance spans long-range planning, corridor planning, programming, environmental review and permitting. Technical subjects included in this first release include

• an approach to incorporating greenhouse gas emissions analysis into transportation planning;
• a performance measurement framework;
• a case-based, transparent approach to estimating the economic impacts of highways (T-Pics);
• how community visioning fits into the process; and
• process guidance, based on case studies, for working collaboratively.

Log on to TCAPPS at http://www.transportationforcommunities.com/

Schedule

SHRP 2 Capacity Project Descriptions

Some projects are further developed and have more information available than others. The table will be updated as more information is made available.

Pilot Tests of the Ecological Approach to Mitigation of Environmental Impacts (Project 21)

This work builds on the document Eco-Logical, published in 2006 by the Federal Highway Administration in association with eight other federal agencies. The project takes a broad habitat and watershed stewardship approach to mitigation, the value of which is more effective mitigation supporting regional conservation and restoration goals. The business case from a transportation agency point of view is that environmental concerns are more likely to be addressed early in the process leading to more timely delivery. Testable products include:

• Templates for ecological analysis
• Assurances for transportation and resource agencies
• Sample programmatic agreements
• A credits system, and
• The business case for an ecological approach.
  

The intent of these pilot tests is to apply the ecological tools developed in Projects C06 A&B (watershed or habitat approaches) to a highway project that requires mitigation with the objective of improving the likelihood of successful conservation or restoration. An active project or a “backcasting” approach may be selected. A method must be proposed to submit a real or scenario-based mitigation plan to the regulatory agencies with jurisdiction to test its acceptability.   

Schedule

General Terms of the Requests for Proposal

Project C18: Pilot Test the Transportation for Communities framework
Release date: March 2010
Proposals due: 6 weeks after release April 2010
Selections made: May 2010
Total funds available: $1.25 million. Multiple awards are anticipated, probably 4-6.

Project C21: Pilot Test the C06A&B Ecological Approach to Environmental Protection
Release date: July 2010
Proposals due: 6 weeks after release August 2010
Selections made: September 2010
Total funds available: $1.25 million. Multiple awards anticipated, probably 4-6.

General conditions for both C18 and C21

1. Any transportation or environmental resource agency may propose, but a State Department of Transportation must be involved. Proposals involving more than one agency are encouraged.
2. Consultants or universities may be included in proposals
3. An approach to evaluating the SHRP 2 products you are testing is required in the proposal.
4. Division offices of the FHWA may be involved but cannot receive SHRP 2 funds.
5. Your team will be required to come to Washington, DC for training shortly after award.
6. Support from the product developers will be available.
7. Consultants or universities that were involved in conducting projects C01, C02, C03, C06A, C06B,  C08 or C09 may not be involved in proposals that test the product they developed.
8. Expert Task Groups will meet to fully develop RFPs and determine the selection criteria. The Standard SHRP 2 selection Criteria are:
   1. Demonstrated understanding of the problem
   2. The merit of the proposed research approach and experimental design
   3. The experience, qualifications and objectivity of the research team in the same or closely –related problem area
   4. Plan for participation by disadvantaged business enterprises
   5. Adequacy of facilities (e.g., laboratories, etc. where needed)
9. In addition to these criteria, additional criteria such as the following will be developed. (Not final until the Expert Task Groups meet)
   1. Creativity and innovation in using SHRP 2 products to make better capacity decisions and/or shorten the planning and environmental review time.
   2. Public agency(s) commitment to the pilot test
   3. The creativity of the collaborative effort proposed. The objective is to have the right people and the table at the right time with the right information.
   4. The national or regional significance of the types of problem(s) or issue(s) to which the SHRP 2 products will be applied
   5. The quality of the evaluation approach
   6. Budget commensurate with the proposed scope of the pilot test