Community Impacts Assessment Toolkit
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Community Impacts Assessment Toolkit

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the EO on Limited English Proficiency (LEP), and the Uniform Relocation Assistance and the Real Property Acquisitions Policies Act (Uniform Act) govern TxDOT policy for conducting a thorough and defensible community impact assessment (CIA). Environmental practitioners can use these tools to conduct a CIA compliant with TxDOT policy, and to assess potential impacts to the human environment.

Questions? Contact the Environmental Affairs Division community impacts specialist at 512-416-2535.

TxDOT community impacts guidance

Title Date Description
Community Impact Assessment Technical Report Form 02/25 Used to complete the "Perform Community Impacts Assessment (CIA)" Activity in ECOS
Instructions - How to Conduct Community Impacts Assessments 02/25 Outlines the steps necessary to identify and address the community impacts of TxDOT transportation projects
Form - Appendix A - Detailed Economic Analysis 02/25 Used to prepare a Detailed Economic Analysis to be included as Appendix A in the Community Impact Assessment Technical Report Form

High-level guidance

Title Date Description
FHWA Title VI Toolkit   FHWA Civil Rights Program page for Title VI includes basic factsheets, data collection methods, and best practices
AASHTO Practitioner's Handbook: Utilizing Community Advisory Committees for NEPA Studies   Explains how and when practitioners should use a Community Advisory Committee to assist with the NEPA decision making process
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 23, Part 771 Environmental Impact and Related Procedures   Prescribes the policies and procedures of FHWA and other transportation agencies for implementing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as amended
Code of Federal Regulations Title 49, Part 24: Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition for Federal and Federally Assisted Programs   Promulgates rules to implement the Uniform Act of 1970 and ensures owners of real property proposed for acquisition for federal and federally assisted projects are treated fairly, consistently and equitably so displaced persons will not suffer disproportionate injuries caused by projects designed for the benefit of the public

Limited English proficiency (LEP)

Title Description
Executive Order 13166: Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency Directs each federal agency to "examine the services it provides and develop and implement a system by which limited English proficiency (LEP) persons can meaningfully access those services" to ensure agencies do not violate the Title VI prohibition against national origin discrimination through communication exclusively English
Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited Proficient Persons Department of Justice guidance to assist recipients of federal funding comply with the executive order on protecting persons with limited English proficiency
USDOT's LEP Guidance Website Describes USDOT responsibilities regarding EO 13166 and is modeled after the DOJ guidance
Policy Guidance Concerning Recipients’ Responsibilities to Limited English Proficient Persons Provides guidance for compliance with the LEP executive order, which largely mirrors the DOJ guidance, and explains how to specifically address LEP transportation projects
Limited English Proficiency Program and the Federal-Aid Highway Program Focuses principally on the obligation of federal departments and agencies extending federal financial assistance to clarify the long-standing legal obligation on the part of recipients of such assistance to address the language needs of their otherwise-eligible LEP beneficiaries and is used as part of the FHWA Title VI training program
TxDOT Title VI/Nondiscrimination Program Web page for TxDOT’s Title VI Program of the Civil Rights Division, which includes a Language Assistance Plan that is updated annually to assist the Districts, Divisions, and Offices in their efforts to ensure information and services are accessible to LEP individuals by providing guidance on translation, interpretation, and outreach services seeking access to TxDOT programs.