Decision
‐
making
in
ODOT’s
Project
Development
Process
How to Use the Feasibility Study and Alternatives Evaluation Report in the PDP
Decision
‐
making
in
ODOT’s
PDP:
FS
and
AER
O Susan Daniels, PE, AICP
O Principal, Director of NEPA Planning
O Krista Horrocks
O Project Manager, Principal Investigator for
Agenda
O Explain the purpose and timing of a
Feasibility Study compared to an Alternatives Evaluation Report
O Discuss recommended content for each
O Provide tips for project managers, preparers
Background
O New PDP launched in 2012
O Goal = provide flexibility to streamline
project development
O Common sense approach to save time, save
Background
With great power
comes great responsibility
…and a little confusion
Background
O What is the difference between a Feasibility
Study (FS) and an Alternatives Evaluation Report (AER)? Does it matter?
O How is the report supposed to be used in
decision-making?
O Who must comment on/approve the report? O What authority does the Project Manager
Background
O ODOT’s Office of Environmental Services is
the owner of the PDP
O Heard concerns and commissioned a
guidance document for FS and AER
O Feedback from Project Managers, Central
Clarification
Required!
O Clarify process O Clarify content
The
FS
and/or
AER
in
Decision
‐
making
Clarify
the
Process
O Purpose of FS and AER is to identify a
Preferred Alternative
O Description – What will the project involve? O Method – How will we build it?
O Footprint – What information is needed to
Clarify
the
Process
A=Description B=Method C=Footprint
Preferred Alternative Identified Path 1 Path 2*
Path 3 Path 4 Path 5 Non-complex Complex Project Initiation A, B, C A, B, C Feasibility Study A, B, C A, B A, B A, B Alternatives Evaluation Report C B, C B, C
Clarify
the
Process:
Path
1
O Path 1 = Maintenance Projects O Low-level Categorical Exclusions O No FS needed
Clarify
the
Process:
Path
2
O Path 2 = Simple culvert and bridge
replacements, bike and pedestrian projects, intersection improvements, minor widening (no added capacity)
O Environmental approval typically low-level CE O FS is typically not necessary
Clarify
the
Process:
Path
2
O FS may be prepared if additional, specific
information is needed to identify the preferred alternative
O Can the bridge be constructed part-width? O Will the shoulder widening fit within existing
right-of-way?
Clarify
the
Process:
Path
3
O Path 3 = interchange reconstructions or
modifications, widening to add capacity, roundabouts, minor roadway realignments
O Environmental approval typically CE3 or
higher
O Non-complex Path 3 projects will need FS O Complex Path 3 will need FS and may need
Clarify
the
Process:
Path
3
O FS scoped with intent to select a Preferred
Alternative
O Or, FS scoped with the intent to narrow the
range of alternatives prior to proceeding to AER
O Critical that PM seek out and consider
advice from subject matter experts before making a decision on approach
Clarify
Process:
Paths
4
and
5
O Path 4 (rural) and Path 5 (urban) projects
involving major changes in access,
substantial right-of-way acquisition, impacts to high quality environmental features, or a high level of controversy
O Environmental approval typically CE4, EA or
EIS
O Will typically require FS to narrow range of
Document
is
a
Verb
Clarify
the
Content
O General principle = focus the discussion on
what matters to the selection of the Preferred Alternative
Clarify
the
Content
O Introduction – explain what the report
includes and why
O Purpose and Need – adequate to support
the need for the project and the range of alternatives
O Summarize key topics – which issues are
important to the decision-making process
Clarify
the
Content
O Comparison of Alternatives – Purpose and
Need and key issues
O Conclusion
O Do not present “recommendations”
O Do not present from consultant’s point of
What
is
the
Project
Manager’s
Authority?
Clarify
Roles
O Preferred Alternative decision formally
documented in the approval of the FS or AER
O Project Manager = Path 1 through
non-complex Path 3
O Office of Environmental Services = Complex
Path 3 through Path 5
O PM has obligation to respond to review
Clarify
Roles
O Project Manager may not have
decision-making authority, but is responsible for seeing that a decision is made
O PM cannot overrule subject matter experts
that have oversight and/or approval authority
O Examples: Interchange Modification Study,
Clarify
Roles
O What if you cannot make a decision on the
preferred alternative?
O Are there additional, specific questions that
need to be answered? Can those answers be obtained at a reasonable cost and over a
reasonable timeframe? Scope an AER.
O Is it challenging because of the magnitude of
issues to consider but no new information is needed? Consult Planning & Engineering Administrator and subject matter experts
Clarify
Roles
O Project Manager should take an active role
in scoping a project with a FS or AER
O Strategic part of decision-making process
O Consult with subject matter experts
O Make conscious choices on what to include
and not to include – document why
O Consider the questions the FS or AER should
answer
O What information is needed to choose the
Bonus
Round
Unsolicited
Advice
O Prepare the document so that reviewers
from all disciplines (and the public) can
understand it – Stay for the Reader Friendly Presentation!
O Provide context - do not assume that the
reviewer knows the history or the setting
O Give it the “Google Earth” test – explain why
something is not included that the reviewer may expect to see
Unsolicited
Advice
O Make sure the report provides adequate
detail for the review that is being requested, or provides a reference to where this
information is available
O PMs/consultant managers should have a
detailed conversation about what the FS is supposed to answer before checking things on the PDP task list
Unsolicited
Advice
O For schedule reasons, project managers
often initiate environmental tasks on a worst case study area while the FS is being
prepared. This is a smart thing to do. But if environmental issues will not impact the selection of the preferred alternative, they do not need to be completed before FS submittal. Need to clarify this at scoping.
