AASHTO PH03

Abstract

Scope: Overview This Handbook provides recommendations for conducting National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) studies for projects involving toll lanes and toll roads. It covers issues associated with the NEPA process itself as well as a range of related issues, such as developing tolling policies in the transportation planning process and coordinating a NEPA study with a procurement for a public–private partnership (PPP). Tolling has received increased attention in recent years as a method for addressing transportation needs. This trend has resulted from many factors, including the expanded availability of electronic toll collection; the inadequacy of traditional funding sources for transportation projects; the removal of certain legal restrictions on tolling under Federal law; and the success of toll projects both in the United States and around the world. Recent legislation seems likely to continue the trend toward tolling by increasing States’ authority to allow for the development of toll lanes and toll roads. The topics covered in this Handbook include: • Addressing tolling in the transportation planning process • Preparing to initiate the NEPA process for a tolled project • Developing the purpose and need and range of alternatives • Traffic forecasting for tolled alternatives • Environmental justice issues related to tolling • Addressing other direct and indirect impacts of tolling • Coordinating NEPA reviews with project financing and procurement • Considering tolled alternatives in a re-evaluation or supplemental NEPA document