Guidelines For Developing And Maintaining Successful Partnerships For Multimodal Transportation Projects

This report analyzes approaches taken by state departments of transportation (DOTs), their local partners, and other project sponsors to satisfy National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements for transportation projects involving more than one mode. Specific objectives of the research were to: 1) characterize the challenges inherent in satisfying the NEPA requirements of multiple U.S. DOT agencies; 2) identify strategies and tactics that state and local transportation agencies have used to overcome these challenges; and 3) suggest new and innovative strategies that can be applied by state and local transportation agencies in future multimodal NEPA processes. Twelve case studies illustrate successful practices and provide examples of institutional arrangements used to comply with NEPA requirements for two or more U.S. DOT agencies. The case studies demonstrated that there is no single best way to approach the NEPA process for multimodal situations. Success may depend more on the willingness and motivation of the agencies to work together, to find common ground, and to work around differing processes, and less upon a specific organizational structure. An effective interagency approach depends on how well the project sponsor and other agencies are able to work together and bridge their procedural differences.

This synthesis report will be of interest to department of transportation ( DOT) administrators, planning supervisors, managers, and staffs, as well as to planning consultants that work with them. It provides information for practitioners interested in the results of attempts to apply multimodal considerations at the statewide level and identifies key research findings. It covers post-ISTEA (Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991) processes and projects and both passenger and freight activities. The report examines the application of three multimodal aspects: alternatives, modal mix, and integration into three statewide planning functions, which include state planning, corridor studies, and financing, budgeting, and programming. The emphasis is on implementation. This report of the Transportation Research Board documents processes and research currently under development, using three approaches: a literature review, results of a survey of state DOTs, and five case studies. It cites the following states with exemplary practices in multimodal/intermodal transportation based on a 1998 report by the policy research project at the University of Texas on Multimodal/ Intermodal Transportation: Florida, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) conducts research to discover, develop, or extend knowledge needed to operate, maintain and improve the statewide multimodal transportation system. Specific goals include: evaluation and advancement of new technologies, materials and methods; development of design and analysis techniques; and study of current transportation challenges. The purpose of this manual is to provide guidance for the development and management of effective MDT Research Programs. Through the identification of the various research related functions and operational procedures of the MDT, this manual will produce a model of a research management system. The programs, projects, and products generated by the Research Programs, using the management system, are provided for the ultimate benefit of MDT's customers.

Examines the net economic benefits associated with various strategies and practices for coordinating human service transportation and general public transit, provides quantitative estimates for these strategies and practices, and identifies innovative and promising coordination strategies and practices.

The Transportation Research Board's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 312: Facilitating Partnerships in Transportation Research examines key factors facilitating transportation research partnerships, and presents approaches for producing synergies beneficial to research programs.