EAST SIDE HIGHWAY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Sustainability Practices Focus Working Group Meeting #1 March 15, 2012
WELCOME “What sustainable practices do you use at your house?....
FOCUS WORKING GROUP MEETING #1 AGENDA • Review Ground Rules • Discuss Purpose of FWG • Provide ESH Project Background • Project Area Environmental Resources • Sustainability ‐ What is it? • Potential Sustainability Features to Investigate • Next Meeting
FOCUS WORKING GROUP GROUND RULES 1. All input from all participants in the process is valued and considered. 2. All participants will come to the process with an open mind and participate openly and honestly. 3. All participants in the process will treat each other with respect and dignity. 4. The project must progress at a reasonable pace based on the original project schedule. 5. Project milestones (Purpose and Need, Range of Alternatives) will not be altered once concurrence has been granted unless substantial new information becomes available. 6. The role of the FWG is to advise the PSG. An FWG consensus is sought prior to project decisions. The PSG will fully consider all FWG and stakeholder input when making project decisions. 7. All decisions of the joint lead agencies must be made in a clear, transparent manner and stakeholders should agree that their input was duly considered. 8. The list of FWG members is subject to change at any time as events warrant.
ALTERNATIVE MODES FOCUS WORKING GROUP WHAT IS A FWG? • Specific and structured form of an advisory group with specific interests and knowledge • Assembled for input to planning and design aspects of project • Advises the PSG at key milestones, before the information is finalized • Introduced at Public Information Meeting #4
ALTERNATIVE MODES FOCUS WORKING GROUP ESH FOCUS WORKING GROUPS 1. Land Use and Access Management 2. Sustainability 3. Alternative Modes
SUSTAINABILITY EA BACKGROUND FOCUS WORKING GROUP Timeline Evaluation Process Remaining Alternatives Website, www.eastsidehighway.com
ALTERNATIVE MODES FOCUS WORKING GROUP TIMELINE Reasonable Finding of Range of Project Purpose Preferred No Significant Alternatives Intro & Need Alternative Impact (FONSI) 2010 2010 2011 2011 2012 2012 2013 2013 2014 2014 WE ARE HERE Public Information Meeting (PIM ) FWG #1 Study Milestone MARCH 2012 Public Hearing
SUSTAINABILITY EVALUATION PROCESS FOCUS WORKING GROUP STEP 5 STEP 4 Environmental STEP 3 Assessment Alignment STEP 2 Analysis Macro STEP 1 Analysis Purpose & Need Initial Screening Screening Evaluation REMAINING 40 85 4 129 93 ALTERNATIVE S
REMAINING ALTERNATIVES SUSTAINABILITY ZIEBARTH RD FOCUS WORKING GROUP NORTHTOWN RD FORT JESSE RD CR 2000 E VETERAN’S PARKWAY TOWANDA BARNES RD GENERAL ELECTRIC RD CR 1300 N IRELAND GROVE RD
SUSTAINABILITY ROADWAY DESIGN FOCUS WORKING GROUP Typical Sections Crossroads Bicycle/Pedestrian Considerations Transit Considerations
SUSTAINABILITY TYPICAL SECTIONS FOCUS WORKING GROUP
I-LAST Illinois - Livable and Sustainable Transportation Rating System and Guide
I-LAST Team Cooperative effort between members of: Illinois Department of Transportation American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association
What is I-LAST? The purpose of I-LAST is threefold: • Provide a guide to sustainable practices • Establish a simple way to evaluate project sustainability • Recognize the use of sustainable practices in the transportation industry
Why I-LAST? • Growing interest in sustainability among: 1. Public 2. Legislators 3. Engineers • At the time we started there were no other comprehensive guides available for roadways. • Sustainability requirements are coming. An opportunity to be proactive.
What is Sustainability? “A set of environmental, economic, and social conditions in which all of society has the capacity and opportunity to maintain and improve its quality of life indefinitely without degrading the quantity, quality, or the availability of natural resources and ecosystem. ” American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Sustainable Development Committee, 2009
Sustainable Highways Sustainable Highways , includes three principal ideas: 1. Protect, maintain and preserve natural resources 2. Design to enable and encourage lower impact forms of transportation 3. Use construction practices that reduce the environmental and community impacts
Other Systems F H W A INVEST – Sustainable Highways Self-Evaluation Tool
Foundation Principles • Project team oriented – Focus on issues addressed by project team • No policy issues – Scoring for each team – Resource to project teams Bottom up approach
I-LAST Goals • Increase use of sustainable features Guide Useful information Feedback Measures of success Scores
Foundation Principles • Applicable to all highway projects – Small to large – Simple to complex • Applicable to all Phases • Phase I Planning • Phase II Final Design • Phase III Construction • No prerequisites – all projects • Information for all users
What is in I-LAST? Over 150 sustainable items that can be considered in the design of highway projects. The items are in nine major categories: 1. Planning • Context Sensitive Solutions – 4 Items • Land Use / Community Planning – 6 Items
What is in I-LAST? Over 150 sustainable items that can be considered in the design of highway projects. The items are in nine major categories: 1. Planning • Alignment and Cross Section – 7 Items 2. Design • Context Sensitive Design – 6 Items
What is in I-LAST? Over 150 sustainable items that can be considered in the design of highway projects. The items are in nine major categories: 1. Planning • Wildlife and its Habitat – 11 Items • Trees & Plant Communities – 10 Items 2. Design • Noise Abatement – 13 Items 3. Environmental
What is in I-LAST? Over 150 sustainable items that can be considered in the design of highway projects. The items are in nine major categories: 1. Planning • Reduce impervious area – 11 Items • Stormwater treatment – 10 Items 2. Design • Construction practices – 13 Items 3. Environmental 4. Water Quality
What is in I-LAST? Over 150 sustainable items that can be considered in the design of highway projects. The items are in nine major categories: 1. Planning 2. Design 3. Environmental 4. Water Quality 5. Transportation • Traffic Operations – 6 Items • Transit – 10 Items • Bicycle & Pedestrian – 13 Items
What is in I-LAST? Over 150 sustainable items that can be considered in the design of highway projects. The items are in nine major categories: 1. Planning • Reduce Electrical Consumption – 7 Items 2. Design • Stray Light Reduction – 2 Items 3. Environmental 4. Water Quality 5. Transportation 6. Lighting
What is in I-LAST? Over 150 sustainable items that can be considered in the design of highway projects. The items are in nine major categories: 1. Planning • Material Specifications – 31 items in 13 Groups 2. Design 3. Environmental 4. Water Quality 5. Transportation 6. Lighting 7. Materials
What is in I-LAST? Over 150 sustainable items that can be considered in the design of highway projects. The items are in nine major categories: 1. Planning 2. Design 3. Environmental 4. Water Quality 5. Transportation 6. Lighting 7. Materials 8. Innovation
What is in I-LAST? Over 150 sustainable items that can be considered in the design of highway projects. The items are in nine major categories: 1. Planning 2. Design • Items beyond IDOT specifications 3. Environmental • Items that are options in IDOT specifications 4. Water Quality 5. Transportation 6. Lighting 7. Materials 8. Innovation 9. Construction
ILAST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES • 44 Sustainable Items • Includes: Wildlife habitat, plant communities, energy, stormwater, and material management
Check List
Category Intent and Rationale P-2: Land Use / Community Planning Intent The objective of this section is to consider balancing community goals and transportation needs through increased consideration of transportation alternatives that accommodate a broad perspective of community interests. Rationale Sustainable transportation alternatives can emphasize the relationship between land use and transportation planning. Local and Regional planners are incorporating sustainable design principles into their development plans, thus reflecting the diverse goals and interests of communities. Social and environmental issues, such as congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy consumption, can be addressed through consideration of managed growth planning initiatives. The growing concern for the environment is leading to the objective of developing multi-modal transportation solutions that address mobility needs in an effective, efficient, and responsible manner. By focusing on land use and transportation planning from a holistic perspective and considering all users, transportation projects can achieve higher levels of sustainability.
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