2015-16 POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Resolution of the Southern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (SASHTO)

Accelerated Project Delivery and Environmental Streamlining

WHEREAS, Congress in recent years has made accelerated project delivery and environmental streamlining a priority, as most recently evidenced by Subtitle C (Acceleration of Project Delivery) of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act ("MAP-21"), which includes sections on efficient and accelerated environmental reviews for project decision making, limitations on claims, accelerating completion of complex projects within 4 years, and integration of planning and environmental review; and

WHEREAS, President Barack Obama has also demonstrated leadership related to expediting project delivery by signing, on March 22, 2012, Executive Order 13604 “Improving Performance of Federal Permitting and Review of Infrastructure Projects”, which reinforces that Federal permitting and review processes be conducted with maximum efficiency and effectiveness, ensuring the health, safety, and security of communities and the environment while supporting vital economic growth; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Highway Administration has also supported the states in shortening the project delivery process while addressing the challenges of limited budgets through the Every Day Counts initiative and its focus on innovation and better business processes; and

WHEREAS, these efforts on the national level have proven helpful to the states as they try to deliver projects more efficiently and rapidly in an increasingly complex physical and regulatory environment with growing fiscal constraints; and

WHEREAS, states may assume the responsibilities of the Federal Highway Administration under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 which could accelerate environmental reviews and decisions, each SASHTO state is encouraged to consider applying for this delegation.

WHEREAS, the States acknowledge that there is still more for the Federal government to do to empower the states to reduce cost and shorten the time it takes to get projects on the ground.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the SASHTO Board of Directors urges the President of the United States and Congress to continue their efforts related to accelerated project delivery and environmental streamlining, and to continue to direct, influence, and manage initiatives and improvements that will further expedite environmental evaluations and decision-making and reduce unproductive regulatory burdens.

Approved by the SASHTO Board of Directors
on August 4, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee

2015-16 POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE AGENDA