Sustainable Transportation Practices - APWA · sustainable transportation practices for planning, development, operations, and maintenance 23 “Identifying Cost Savings from the

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Sustainable Transportation Practices: Can They Really Save Money?

APWA Sustainability in Public Works Conference

May 14, 2013

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Today’s Objectives

• Overview – FHWA, Sustainability, and Sustainable Transportation

• Overview – FHWA Sustainability Rating Tool - INVEST 1.0

• Describe FHWA Sustainability Cost Savings Research

FHWA, Sustainability, and Sustainable Transportation

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What is Sustainability?

Economic

SocialEnvironmental

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One Definition of Sustainability• The satisfaction of basic social and economic

needs, both present and future, and the responsible use of natural resources, all while maintaining or improving the well-being of the environment on which life depends

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What is a Sustainable Highway System?

• Integral part of sustainable development

• Satisfies functional requirements

› Fulfills transportation goals and needs

• Addresses development and economic growth

• Avoids, minimizes, reduces impacts

› Environment

› Consumption of resources

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INVEST – Background and Overview

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What is INVEST?

A web-based self-evaluation tool for assessing sustainability over the life cycle of a transportation project or program — from system and project planning through design and construction, to operations and maintenance

INVEST - Infrastructure Voluntary Evaluation Sustainability Tool

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What is INVEST?

• Launched October 2012

• Primary Users – State DOTs and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)

• Implementation Phase Underway

• Research Needs Identified and Initiated

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Why INVEST?

• Fulfills a need in the profession

• Connects sustainability principles with action

• Measures sustainability specifically for transportation

• Challenges us all to go above and beyond

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Built for the Real World

• Voluntary – agencies may use it how and where they want

• Private - data belongs to user

• Free - no licenses, no limits

• Tangible & Practical - relates to things done everyday in transportation planning, development, operations, and maintenance

• VOLUNTARY and FREE!

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Supports the Entire Lifecycle

System Planning & Processes

Project Development

Operations & Maintenance

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INVEST Goals

• Encourage implementation of sustainable practices• Help agencies assess their level of sustainability

implementation and identify areas for internal improvement › Assess single or multiple projects› Prospective vs. retrospective› Planning or O&M programs and processes

• Provide a framework for communicating with stakeholders and decision makers about sustainability

• Establish a method for identifying sustainable best practices in highway systems, projects, programs

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Evolution of INVEST

Beta Test Version

• Released Fall 2010

• Over 700 comments from AASHTO, EPA, SMEs, others

Pilot Test Version

• Released Fall 2011

• Over 1200 comments from pilot test participants, SMEs, FTA, others

Version 1.0

• Released October 2012

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INVEST Pilot Sites

Montana DOT (4 projects)

City of Peoria, AZ

D.C. DOT

Maryland DOT

North Carolina DOT

Oregon DOT

Ohio DOT

Western Federal Lands

Western Federal Lands

Central Federal Lands

Monterey County, CA

Washoe County, NV

Utah DOT

Nashville Area MPO

North Central Texas Council of Governments

Puget Sound Regional Council

Georgia DOT

Pioneer ValleyPlanning Commission 

Nevada DOT

Arizona DOT

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About INVEST 1.0

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Version 1 System Planning Criteria

SP-1 Integrated Planning: Economic Development and Land Use

SP-2 Integrated Planning: Natural Environment

SP-3 Integrated Planning: Social

SP-4 Integrated Planning: Bonus

SP-5 Access & Affordability

SP-6 Safety Planning

SP-7 Multimodal Transportation and Public Health

SP-8 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

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Version 1 Project Development Criteria

PD-1 Economic Analyses

PD-2 Lifecycle Cost Analysis

PD-3 Context Sensitive Project Development

PD-4 Highway and Traffic Safety

PD-5 Educational Outreach

PD-6 Tracking Environmental Commitments

PD-7 Habitat Restoration

PD-8 Stormwater

PD-9 Ecological Connectivity

PD-10 Pedestrian Access

PD-11 Bicycle Access

PD-12 Transit & HOV Access

PD-13 Freight Mobility

PD-14 ITS for System Operations

PD-15 Historical, Archaeological, and Cultural Preservation

PD-16 Scenic, Natural, or Recreational Qualities

PD-17 Energy Efficiency

PD-18 Site Vegetation

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Version 1 Project Development Criteria

PD-19 Reduce and Reuse Materials

PD-20 Recycle Materials

PD-21 Earthwork Balance

PD-22 Long-Life Pavement Design

PD-23 Reduced Energy and Emissions in Pavement Materials

PD-24 Contractor Warranty

PD-25 Construction Environmental Training

PD-26 Construction Equipment Emission Reduction

PD-27 Construction Noise Mitigation

PD-28 Construction Quality Control Plan

PD-29 Construction Waste Management

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Version 1 Operations & MaintenanceCriteria

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 Bridge Management System

OM-9 Maintenance Management System

OM-10 Highway Infrastructure Preservation and Maintenance

OM-11 Traffic Control Infrastructure Maintenance

OM-12 Road Weather Management Program

OM-13 Transportation Management and Operations

OM-14 Work Zone Traffic Control

FHWA Sustainability and Cost Savings Research

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“Identifying Cost Savings from the Use of Sustainable Practices in Highway Development” - Goals

• Identify the “low hanging fruit” of the sustainable practices included in INVEST 1.0; i.e., those with comparatively high money-saving potential achievable within a short period of time

• Develop set of recommendations for State DOTs and MPOs to help in the selection and application of sustainable transportation practices for planning, development, operations, and maintenance

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“Identifying Cost Savings from the Use of Sustainable Practices in Highway Development” - Objectives

• Identify, analyze, and quantify those sustainable transportation practices that save money compared to standard transportation practices

• Document and quantify the costs savings that may be gained from the use or application of sustainable highway best practices

• To establish a “business case” for sustainable highway practices and the use of an evaluation tool, such as INVEST 1.0

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What We Hope To Learn/Accomplish

• Research results may be used to help transportation leaders communicate to stakeholders the short- and long-term benefits of incorporating sustainability within an agency’s plans, programs, and operations

• Results may be used to help transportation agencies achieve identified sustainability goals and objectives, and measure progress and performance

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What We Hope To Learn/Accomplish

• Results can encourage deployment, application, and even reliance on tools, such as INVEST, at the State and local level by helping transportation leaders identify and select practices that will improve sustainability within their organizations

• Sustainable Transportation Practices – Can They Really Save Money???

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Next Steps

• Proceed with cost savings research and share results

• Encourage transportation agencies and others to use INVEST

• Encourage participation in implementation program

• Monitor performance/impact of INVEST 1.0

• INVEST 1.X, 2.0…beyond

Try INVEST atwww.sustainablehighways.org

Contact:Mike Culp (michael.culp @dot.gov)Connie Hill ([email protected])Tina Hodges ([email protected])Heather Holsinger ([email protected])Rob Hyman ([email protected])

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“But Wait – There’s More!”

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Next Steps – Implementation Opportunity

• Purpose:› Gather success stories, examples, feedback for improving tool.

› Encourage use of INVEST to improve practices

› Impact decision-making

› Lead to implementation of sustainable practices.

• Eligible activities: use INVEST to assess and improve:› Projects or a set of projects

› Transportation plans

› Business practices

› Programs

› Operations and maintenance practices

• Eligible entities: State DOTs, MPOs, Federal lands

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Next Steps – Funding Opportunity

• Multiple awards of $25,000 to $150,000 FHWA share

• 100% non-federal match required (in-kind such as staff time ok)

• Funding can be used for staff or consultant time to use INVEST and conduct analyses

• Submit letter of interest to FHWA Division Office

• Consult INVEST website for more info on implementation program

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INVEST: Sustainability throughout the Project Lifecycle

Social

EconomicEnvironmental

Voluntary Private Free Flexible PracticalVoluntary Private Free Flexible Practical

System Planning & Processes

Project Development

Operations & Maintenance

Try INVEST atwww.sustainablehighways.org

` Assess the Sustainability of Your Transportation Plans, Projects or ProgramsThe Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) developed INVEST, to help make the nation’s transportation systems more sustainable – economically, socially and environmentally. INVEST was created specifically for transportation agencies to evaluate the sustainability of the full lifecycle of their highway and transportation projects and plans.

` A Free, Web-based Self-Evaluation ToolINVEST provides a collection of criteria and practices that allow transportation agencies to gauge their level of sustainability and systematically integrate sustainable practices into their actions. Using the INVEST tool is completely voluntary and free. The name INVEST came from Infrastructure Voluntary Evaluation Sustainability Tool.

` Quantify, Balance, and Communicate Sustainability Benefits and Trade-offsINVEST helps State Departments of Transportation, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), local transportation agencies and others to identify, prioritize and communicate balanced choices between the different and sometimes competing goals of highway infrastructure programs.

With INVEST, users can balance the economic, social and environmental factors that define sustainability; identify and share sustainability best practices; and provide decision-makers with the information they need by systematically capturing criteria that affect a project’s sustainability performance over time.

INVEST provides a numeric means for measuring sustainability, assessing improvement options, and tracking continuous progress. INVEST’s approach unites internal groups and stakeholders around shared goals and needs and provides a collaborative platform to communicate performance.

` Sustainability in Transportation: Evaluate – Score – Improve• Evaluate – The collaborative process can be a very

important outcome.

• Score – The score provides recognition for implementing sustainability best practices and helps identify gaps.

• Improve – The process can lead to improvements in practice and identification of cost effective measures.

Econom

ic

Environmental

Social

The Sustainability Triple Bottom Line

“We used INVEST to measure the project’s sustainability and evaluate the planning, design and construction of the Innerbelt project from the beginning. INVEST told us that we went far beyond our projected sustainability goals.”

– Jocelynn Clemings, Public Information Officer, Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)

www.sustainablehighways.org

` Created with Extensive Feedback from Transportation Experts and Projects NationwideFHWA partnered with 19 organizations across the country to pilot test INVEST. Based on feedback from numerous experts in the transportation community on the pilot test version of the tool, FHWA included significant enhancements in INVEST 1.0 when it launched in October 2012. INVEST will continue to evolve as FHWA receives feedback on the tool and sustainability standards of practice change.

` Where INVEST Can Help INVEST includes three modules: system planning, project development, and operations and maintenance. Examples of how these can be used include:

SYSTEM PLANNING:• Inform the update of an MPO’s long range transportation

plan.

• Improve the statewide transportation planning process.

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT:• Assess and improve the sustainability of specific

transportation projects under development, or learn from projects already completed.

• Conduct a programmatic evaluation of agency construction practices and opportunities for sustainability improvements.

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE:• Review operations and maintenance programs at the district

or statewide level.

` Why Use INVEST?• Evaluate your level of sustainability and pinpoint ways

to improve.

• Demonstrate to the public and stakeholders a commitment to sustainability and self-improvement.

• Save your agency money by identifying practices that both reduce costs and improve outcomes.

• Use INVEST as an objective and comprehensive framework for communicating internally and with stakeholders about sustainability.

• Use as a benchmark for continuous improvement.

To learn more about INVEST, contact:Michael Culp – 202-366-9229, [email protected]

Heather Holsinger – 202-366-6263, [email protected]

Connie Hill Galloway – 804-775-3378, [email protected]

Tina Hodges – 202-366-4287, [email protected]

Rob Hyman – 202-366-5843, [email protected]

To try the INVEST tool for yourself, visit www.sustainablehighways.org

“INVEST showed us where we were already sustainable and it also provided inexpensive ways to promote sustainability, to help us save money and the environment.”

– Rukhsana Lindsey, P.E., Deputy Maintenance Engineer, Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT)