INVEST Self-assessment tool for transportation sustainability 2014 TxDOT Transportation Planning Conference June 5, 2014
Today s Focus Introduce you to INVEST Infrastructure Voluntary Evaluation Sustainability Tool Why INVEST? Basics of INVEST Case studies showing where and how INVEST is being used around the country Help you discover opportunities for INVEST to assist you 2
Why INVEST?
Why INVEST? Sustainability Enhance quality of life and serve the transportation needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. INVEST History For years, FHWA has supported research, development, and implementation efforts regarding sustainability. The Sustainable Highways Initiative efforts: INVEST Sustainability working group (engineers, scientists, planners, and economists) Sustainable Pavements Program 4
Sustainable Highways Initiative Balancing Environmental, Social, and Economic Factors Regional air quality and climate change Environmental management systems Movement of people and goods (not just vehicles) Transportation choices, such as safe and comfortable routes for walking, bicycling, and transit Efficient use of funding Incentives for construction quality 5
Why INVEST? Encourage sustainable practices through this online evaluation tool. Establish a method for identifying sustainable best practices in highway systems, projects, programs. Set performance measures. Provide a framework for communicating with stakeholders and decision makers about sustainability. Improve the 3-C decision making process. Help agencies assess their level of sustainability and identify areas for improvement. 6
Basics of INVEST
Basics INVEST IS AN ONLINE TOOL, USING SCORECARDS Voluntary Not required, not tied to funding Private Data belongs to the user, not collected Free No licenses and no limits Flexible Use it how and where user chooses Practical Relates to everyday projects and planning Suggested users: DOTs, MPOs, Council of Governments, public works departments, and their consultants and partners 8
INVEST Development Timeline written by subject matter experts reviewed, modified, and vetted through valuable stakeholder feedback, including professional organizations such as AASHTO and ASCE Tested and evaluated across a broad spectrum of agencies, projects, programs and geographies 9
Basics: Transportation Life Cycle System Planning Project Development Operations & Maintenance 1 scorecard 6 scorecards 1 scorecard 10
System Planning Scorecard Addresses agency-wide management and planning of highway networks. Owner-agency should already have policies and procedures in place to address these networks. SP-1 SP-2 SP-3 SP-4 SP-5 SP-6 SP-7 SP-8 Integrated Planning: Economic Development and Land Use Integrated Planning: Natural Environment Integrated Planning: Social Integrated Planning: Bonus Access & Affordability Safety Planning Multimodal Transportation and Public Health Freight and Goods Movement SP-9 Travel Demand Management SP-10 Air Quality SP-11 Energy and Fuels SP-12 Financial Sustainability SP-13 Analysis Methods SP-14 Transportation Systems Management & Operations SP-15 Linking Asset Management and Planning SP-16 Infrastructure Resiliency SP-17 Linking Planning and NEPA 11
Project Development Scorecards 1-Paving, 2-Basic Rural, 3-Basic Urban, 4-Extended Rural, 5-Extended Urban, 6-Custom Occurs once the proposed solutions to a transportation problem have been programmed. Involves environmental review, project planning, design, and construction decisions. PD-1 Economic Analyses PD-10 Pedestrian Access PD-2 Lifecycle Cost Analysis PD-11 Bicycle Access PD-3 PD-4 PD-5 PD-6 PD-7 Context Sensitive Project Development Highway and Traffic Safety Educational Outreach Tracking Environmental Commitments Habitat Restoration PD-12 PD-13 PD-14 PD-15 PD-16 Transit & HOV Access Freight Mobility ITS for System Operations Historical, Archaeological, and Cultural Preservation Scenic, Natural, or Recreational Qualities PD-8 Stormwater PD-17 Energy Efficiency PD-9 Ecological Connectivity PD-18 Site Vegetation 12
Project Development Scorecards (cont d) 1-Paving, 2-Basic Rural, 3-Basic Urban, 4-Extended Rural, 5-Extended Urban, 6-Custom PD-19 Reduce and Reuse Materials PD-20 Recycle Materials PD-21 Earthwork Balance PD-22 Long-Life Pavement Design PD-27 PD-28 PD-29 Construction Noise Mitigation Construction Quality Control Plan Construction Waste Management PD-23 Reduced Energy and Emissions in Pavement Materials PD-24 Contractor Warranty PD-25 Construction Environmental Training PD-26 Construction Equipment Emission Reduction 13
Operations & Maintenance Scorecard Addresses agency-wide practices, policies and procedures for overall functionality and efficiency of a highway network. OM-1 Internal Sustainability Plan OM-2 Electrical Energy Efficiency and Use OM-3 Vehicle Fuel Efficiency and Use OM-4 Reuse and Recycle OM-5 Safety Management OM-6 Environmental Commitments Tracking System OM-7 Pavement Management System OM-8 OM-9 OM-10 OM-11 OM-12 OM-13 OM-14 Bridge Management System Maintenance Management System Highway Infrastructure Preservation and Maintenance Traffic Control Infrastructure Maintenance Road Weather Management Program Transportation Management and Operations Work Zone Traffic Control 14
Version 1.0 Scoring NOTE INVEST is not based on third-party validation of scores or certifications. FHWA does not use scores to verify a program has met the achievement level of sustainability. Recognition is that the user has selfevaluated their program and met the indicated achievement level. 15
INVEST Case Studies
INVEST Website www.sustainablehighways.org Learn - provides both a guided tour through INVEST and a user toolkit Browse - includes a collection of sustainability best practices Score score projects and programs against the criteria 17
INVEST Pilot Sites By the Numbers Puget Sound Regional Council Oregon DOT Western Federal Lands Montana DOT (4 projects) 15 states had INVEST pilot projects 19 agencies pilot tested INVEST: 10 state DOTs 4 MPOs 3 local governments 2 Federal Lands Highway Divisions Western Federal Lands Ohio DOT Washoe County, NV Central Federal Lands Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Monterey County, CA Maryland DOT D.C. DOT Nevada DOT Utah DOT North Carolina DOT Nashville Area MPO City of Peoria, AZ Arizona DOT North Central Texas Council of Governments Georgia DOT 18
Sites using Version 1.0 (Mar 2014) Puget Sound Regional Council Washington DOT TriMet Federal Lands Highway Federal Lands Highway Greater St. Joseph Area MPO Des Moines MPO Springfield MPO Illinois Tollway Indianapolis MPO Ohio DOT By the Numbers 27 INVEST implementation projects In 18 states and DC By 23 agencies, including: 4 state DOTs 11 MPOs 3/3 Federal Lands Highway Divisions 5 other transportation agencies Lane Transit District Federal Lands Highway Kittery Area Comprehensive Transportation System Transportation Agency for Monterey County Cape Cod Commission Riverside County Transportation Commission Federal Lands Highway Arizona DOT Texas DOT Valdosta-Lowndes MPO North Central Texas Council of Governments Federal Lands Highway 19
North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Mobility 2035: Large Multi-Modal Transportation Plan Watch Video Case Study Here 16 counties in NC TX centered on Dallas/Ft. Worth area Projected regional growth: 6.5M to 10M by 2035 Projected funding shortfall of $45B Need to increase mobility, cut some improvements & reprioritize others Do the most with what you have - influence travel behavior & demand, improve transportation / land use links Extend life of existing assets, increase spending on O&M 20
North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Used INVEST Module: System Planning (Pilot Test Version) Scored Platinum Identified areas for improvement: infrastructure resiliency to natural hazards (i.e. flooding) linking asset management and planning set performance measures Current action items: conducting infrastructure vulnerability assessment analyzing asset data to screen project alternatives and planning scenarios developing sustainability related performance measures INVEST will be used for Mobility 2040 21
Ohio Department of Transportation George V. Voinovich Bridge: Complex, Urban Project Watch Video Case Study Here Vital link into downtown Cleveland spanning the Cuyahoga River Largest project in ODOT history replace bridge spans / expand lanes Involves coast-to-coast Interstate 90 Two phases WB bridge, completed in 2013 and EB bridge, began in 2014 Affects historic district and high-traffic sports complex Extensive public involvement process Areas around the bridges will be enhanced 22
Ohio Department of Transportation Used INVEST Module: Project Development (Pilot Test Version & Version 1.0) Pilot Version used on Phase I o o Validated major savings in diesel fuel, steel, water and landfill Scored Gold using Ext. Urban Based on Phase I INVEST success, Version 1.0 used in Phase II: o o o o D/B RFP required the contractor to develop a sustainability plan and use INVEST to demonstrate sustainability achievements Examples: improvements under PD-26 Construction Equipment Emissions (i.e., 5min idling policy) Project tracking towards Platinum score Will re-score every 6 months as project decisions are made 23
IL - Springfield Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission (SSRPC) Peoria Road / Route 66 Corridor: Conceptual Design Used INVEST Module: Project Development Includes historic Route 66, state fairground, museum, transit service, and residential/commercial mix. Held workshop with city officials and state DOT; raised interest in implementing sustainability practices. Evaluated 23 of the 29 PD criteria. Specific sustainability improvements: streetscape design, crosswalks, lighting, bus stops, public art. If conceptual results implemented, could achieve Gold or Silver score using Basic Urban scorecard. BEFORE AFTER 24
PD-15: Historical, Archaeological and Cultural Preservation Goal: Preserve, protect or enhance cultural and historic assets, and/or feature National Byways Program (NSBP) historic, archaeological, or cultural intrinsic in a roadway. Prerequisite 2: Any portion of the project is along one of America s Byways, a State Scenic Byway, an Indian Tribe Scenic Byway, or other route that was designated or officially recognized as such because of its significant historical, cultural and/or archa eological features. 1-3 points available 1 point Min. Impacts 2 points Avoid Impacts 3 points - Enhance Features: Protect, preserve, and/or enhance historic, archaeological, or cultural resources. This could be done through the installation of informational or interpretive facilities (e.g. Viewpoint, kiosk, sign for visitors detailing historical, archaeological or cultural significance.)
PD-18: Site Vegetation 1-3 points available Goal: Promote sustainable site vegetation within the project footprint that does not require long-term irrigation, consistent mowing, or invasive/noxious weed species removal. Prerequisite 1: All site vegetation shall use non-invasive, non-toxic species only, seeding not requiring consistent mowing, minimize disturbance of native species. State Fairground Bioswales Point Selection Features: 1pt - Non-mechanical maintenance 1pt - No long term irrigation 1pt - Grey water or reclaimed water irrigation plant establishment 1pt - Grey water or reclaimed water irrigation ongoing 1pt - Native species 1pt - Long-term vegetation planning
Utah Department of Transportation Maintaining State-Wide Highway System Watch Video Case Study Here Traffic monitoring and coordination across 6,000+ miles of highways Budget pressures driving need for more sustainable practices System goals: preserve infrastructure, optimize mobility, improve safety, strengthen the economy 27
Utah Department of Transportation Used INVEST Module: Operations and Maintenance (Pilot Test Version, scored Platinum) With the INVEST evaluation, sought ways to improve and promote sustainability: ID inexpensive ways, like better pavement conditions data. Create a snow removal decision support system to formalize the agency s current process. Used Criterion OM-12 Road Weather Management: Implement Standard Operating Procedure for Snow and Ice Control (2 points) o o o o o Salt reduction Anti-icing program Chemical storage BMPs Equipment calibration Fuel efficiency, planning and route optimization 28
Get started Login: Sign-up at www.sustainablehighways.org Explore the site, register and test drive the scorecards Help improve INVEST, click Provide Comments
Try INVEST at: www.sustainablehighways.org Contact: Kirk Fauver (kirk.fauver@dot.gov) Melissa Furlong (melissa.furlong@dot.gov) Additional Contacts - FHWA Headquarters: Mike Culp (michael.culp@dot.gov) Connie Hill Galloway (connie.hill@dot.gov) Tina Hodges (tina.hodges@dot.gov) Heather Holsinger (heather.holsinger@dot.gov) Rob Hyman (robert.hyman@dot.gov), or Diane Turchetta (diane.turchetta@dot.gov)