A sustainable approach to transportation project design and construction provides decision makers with balanced choices among environmental, economic, and social values that will benefit current and future road users. In early project development, it is vital for the transportation engineer to work closely with District environmental staff to identify the environmental, economic, and social concerns for a given a project.

Environmental tasks are often on the critical path in a transportation project’s schedule

; therefore, those issues must be identified in the early phases of project development. The transportation engineer should have a solid understanding of the environmental process to ensure that transportation project designs comply with environmental regulations, minimize impacts on the environment and are let or awarded on time.

District environmental staff should be part of the project scoping, PDCC, and Design Concept Conference (DCC) meetings to ensure the processes are followed correctly.

Environmental tasks occur concurrently with the project development life cycle as shown in . Environmental compliance tasks occur during construction of the project.

This chapter includes discussion on the following topics that the transportation engineer should be familiar with concerning environmental studies, clearance, and public involvement.

5.2 Responsibility of TxDOT in the Environmental Process;

5.3 General Environmental Guidance;

5.4 Environmental Review and Documentation;

5.5 The Environmental Process through Project Development;

5.6 Specific Environmental Compliance Requirements;

5.7 Public Involvement;

5.8 Interagency Coordination/Permits; and

5.9 Environmental Clearance.