Scorecard Environmental Conference URBAN MOBILITY. Omni Corpus Christi Hotel 900 North Shoreline Blvd. Corpus Christi, Texas 78401

Transcription

1 2016 Environmental Conference September 13 15, 2016 Omni Corpus Christi Hotel 900 North Shoreline Blvd. Corpus Christi, Texas URBAN MOBILITY Scorecard 2015 AUGUST 2015

2 SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Registration Desk Open 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast Exhibit Area 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Exhibits Open 3rd Floor Foyer 9:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Subject Matter Expert Room Laguna Madre 9:00 a.m. 10:15 a.m. GENERAL SESSION Corpus Christi Ballroom 10:15 a.m. 10:45 a.m. BREAK Exhibit Area 10:45 a.m. 11:35 a.m. GENERAL SESSION Corpus Christi Ballroom 11:35 a.m. 1:00 p.m. LUNCH (On Your Own) 1:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. GENERAL SESSION Corpus Christi Ballroom 2:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. BREAK Exhibit Area 3:00 p.m. 4:20 p.m. GENERAL SESSION Corpus Christi Ballroom 4:20 p.m. 5:00 p.m. TxDOT ONLY/Town Hall Meetin Corpus Christi Ballroom 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Exhibits/Reception 3rd Floor Foyer WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Registration Desk Open 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast/ Meet and Greet Exhibit Area 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Exhibits Open 3rd Floor Foyer 9:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Subject Matter Expert Room Laguna Madre 9:00 a.m. 10:15 a.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions: 1 4 Session 1 Corpus B Session 3 Corpus A Session 2 Corpus C Session 4 Nueces A 10:15 a.m. 10:45 a.m. BREAK Exhibit Area 10:45 a.m. Noon Concurrent Breakout Sessions: 5 8 Session 5 Corpus B Session 7 Corpus A Session 6 Corpus C Session 8 Nueces A Noon 1:30 p.m. LUNCH (On Your Own) 12:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Field Trip: Plant ID Workshop Nueces A 1:30 p.m. 2:45 p.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions: 9 12 Session 9 Corpus B Session 11 Corpus C Session 10 Nueces A Session 12 Corpus A 2:45 p.m. 3:15 p.m. BREAK Exhibit Area 3:15 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions: Session 13 Corpus B Session 15 Corpus A Session 14 Corpus C Session 16 Nueces A SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 8:00 a.m. Noon Registration Desk Open 8:00 a.m. Noon Exhibits Open 3rd Floor Foyer 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast Exhibit Area 9:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Field Trip: Community Impacts Training Partnership Boardroom 9:00 a.m. 10:15 a.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions: Session 17 Laguna Madre Session 20 Nueces A Session 18 Corpus B Session 21 Corpus A Session 19 Corpus C 10:15 a.m. 10:45 a.m. BREAK Exhibit Area 10:45 a.m. Noon Concurrent Breakout Sessions: Session 22 Corpus B Session 24 Nueces A Session 23 Corpus C Session 25 Corpus A Noon 1:30 p.m. LUNCH (On Your Own) 1:30 p.m. 2:45 p.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions: Session 26 Corpus B Session 28 Corpus A Session 27 Nueces A 2:45 p.m. 3:15 p.m. BREAK Exhibit Area 3:15 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Breakout Session: 29 Nueces A Save the Date: September 12 14, 2017 Omni Austin Hotel Southpark TxDOT Environmental Conference 3

3 TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 (Continued) 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. REGISTRATION DESK OPEN 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST (Exhibit Area) 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. EXHIBITS OPEN (3rd Floor Foyer) 9:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ROOM (Laguna Madre) Drop in to meet with TxDOT Environmental Affairs Division (ENV) subject matter experts in an informal setting and ask questions. 9:00 a.m. 10:15 a.m. GENERAL SESSION (Corpus Christi Ballroom) 10:15 a.m. 10:45 a.m. BREAK (Exhibit Area) Welcome Remarks Carlos Swonke, Division Director, TxDOT ENV TBA/Nelda Martinez, Mayor of Corpus Christi, with introduction by Chris Caron, TxDOT Corpus Christi District Preparing TxDOT s Project Portfolio Randy Hopmann, TxDOT Administration 10:45 a.m. 11:35 a.m. GENERAL SESSION (Corpus Christi Ballroom) Disruptive Technology Dan Tangherlini, Seamless Docs, President 11:35 a.m. 1:00 p.m. LUNCH (On Your Own) The increasing pace of change society and transportation transformations. 1:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. GENERAL SESSION (Corpus Christi Ballroom) The Urban Mobility Scorecard Bill Eisele, Texas A&M Transportation Institute The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) is considered a national leader in providing congestion and mobility information. TTI s Urban Mobility Scorecard, previously titled Urban Mobility Report, is the most widely quoted report on urban congestion and the associated costs in the United States. Beginning with data in 1982, the report measures system delay, wasted fuel and the annual cost of congestion (both passenger cars and freight) in all U.S. urban areas. Dr. Eisele serves as a co-author of this highly cited report and will provide an overview of the 2015 Urban Mobility Scorecard measures and findings. Agency Public Involvement Initiatives and Outcomes Jefferson Grimes, TxDOT Office of Public Involvement (OPI) As TxDOT moves toward even greater transparency, public involvement initiatives that include consistent guidance, electronic access to information, and a catalog of best practices and innovative outreach and meeting techniques are aiding this effort. This session will offer an overview of agency public involvement initiatives and their successes. Core Team Success Mike Chavez, TxDOT ENV Mr. Chavez will provide tips and best practices for implementing the core team process. He ll illustrate his points with an overview of an Environmental Assessment completed in nine months from scoping to Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). Environmental Achievement Award Finalists Video Presentation. 2:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. BREAK (Exhibit Area) TxDOT Environmental Conference 5

4 TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 (Continued) WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 14, :00 p.m. 4:20 p.m. GENERAL SESSION (Corpus Christi Ballroom) Harbor Bridge: More Than Just A Bridge Replacement Christopher Amy, TxDOT Corpus Christi District The Harbor Bridge Sustainability Program Linda Figg, FIGG Bridge Group and Carol Luschen, TxDOT SPD The Challenge of Sustainability The Design-Build Procurement Team for the Harbor Bridge Project was tasked with including a sustainability component into the request for proposals. The FHWA INVEST tool was selected for implementation on this Project. This will be the first use of the Project Development Module criteria in Texas. The developer is committed to achieve a platinum rating and will provide a glimpse into its sustainability plan. Mitigation Through Listening: US 181 Harbor Bridge Northside History Project Lynn Smith, HNTB The US 181 Harbor Bridge Northside History Project presentation describes the mitigation conducted in response to public comments gathered during the NEPA process. The new Harbor Bridge is designed to cross an area commonly referred to in Corpus Christi as Northside. The people who reside in Northside as well as those who were raised and educated there have a strong connection with the neighborhood and wonderful memories of the community. Few of the built resources that are associated with the fond memories of Northside residents remain, and more change is imminent. Therefore, the project is important to preserve a record of the extraordinary people who grew up in Northside and the events that changed the community forever. On behalf of the TxDOT Corpus Christi District with guidance from District Environmental Coordinator Chris Amy, the HNTB consultant team led by Lynn Smith prepared the Northside History Project. The project includes a report with 21 oral history interviews supported by extensive archival research, 10 large storyboard banners and a photo book. 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. REGISTRATION DESK OPEN 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST/MEET AND GREET (Exhibit Area) 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. EXHIBITS OPEN (3rd Floor Foyer) 9:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ROOM (Laguna Madre) Drop in to meet with TxDOT ENV subject matter experts in an informal setting and ask questions. 9:00 a.m. 10:15 a.m. CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS: 1 4 SESSION 1 Public Involvement (Part 1 of 2) (Corpus B) Roger Beall and Michelle Conkle, TxDOT Transportation Planning and Programming Division and Julie Beaubien and Amy Redmond, TxDOT OPI Public involvement specialists from the Transportation Planning and Programming Division (TPP) will model innovative strategies and techniques to answer questions, troubleshoot challenges and open the conversation about public involvement needs. Topics to be addressed include best practices from TTP 2040, public involvement challenges with the complexities of statewide planning, engaging stakeholders, and overcoming barriers to good public involvement. SESSION 2 Contract Compliance (Corpus C) Summer Chandler and Samantha Serino, TxDOT ENV We ll cover the contracting process from request for proposal to contract completion, including project management, contract management, invoicing and evaluating contract performance. 4:20 p.m. 5:00 p.m. TXDOT ONLY/TOWN HALL MEETIN (Corpus Christi Ballroom) 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. EXHIBITS/RECEPTION (3rd Floor Foyer) TxDOT Environmental Conference 7

5 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 (Continued) WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 (continued) 9:00 a.m. 10:15 a.m. CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS: 1 4 (CONTINUED) SESSION 3 Climate Issues (Corpus A) This session will present an overview of the pending Commission on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Guidance for Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions. Presentations will offer strategies for addressing requirements in the draft guidance regarding the climate s impact on a project and GHG emissions analysis. Pending CEQ Climate/GHG Guidance and TxDOT Climate Best Practices Jackie Ploch, TxDOT ENV FHWA Climate Change and Extreme Weather Vulnerability Assessment Becky Lupes, Environmental Protection Specialist, FHWA Questions and Answers SESSION 4 Prepare for the Worst, Hope for the Best: Building a Project File and Administrative Record (Nueces A) Lisa Mitchell, J.D., LL.M, Strategic Projects, TxDOT ENV Maintaining an accurate and up-to-date project file is a vital part of preparing an environmental document. This session explains the difference between a project file and administrative record, presents tools for producing and maintaining a project file and administrative record, and offers attorney perspectives and reflections on administrative records they have defended in court. Consultants Presenting Project File Tools Tricia Bruck, PMP, AICP, Jacobs Janice Jaafari, AECOM Tami Smith, Database Development, Michael Baker International Panelists Ken Ramirez, J.D., Law Office of Kenneth Ramirez Jessica Gray, J.D., Assistant General Counsel, TxDOT Office of General Counsel Shane Neldner, J.D., MELP, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Texas Attorney General 10:45 a.m. Noon CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS: 5 8 SESSION 5 Public Involvement (Part 2 of 2) (Corpus B) Susan Howard and Julie Jerome, TxDOT OPI, and Laura Cruzada, Rebekah Dobrasko and Michelle Lueck, TxDOT ENV Public involvement is critical to a successful NEPA process. Led by ENV Project Delivery and Cultural Resources Management staff, this session will explore the current status of the public involvement process related to training, MAPOs, ECOS, guidance and rules; and participation in historic preservation, tribal consultation and cultural sensitivity. Bring your public involvement issues, questions and ideas. 10:45 a.m. Noon SESSION 6 Precertification: Successfully Navigating the Changes (Corpus C) Summer Chandler and Samantha Serino, TxDOT ENV Ever wonder how consultants get precertified to work perform environmental work under TxDOT s engineering contracts? We ll tell you and give you an overview of the Consultant Certification Information System. We ll also let you know what s new in the precertification process, including an introduction to the new categories. Bring your questions; we ve got answers! SESSION 7 Introduction to the Environmental Compliance Oversight System (ECOS) (Corpus A) Mike Chavez, Clay Churchill, Troy Sykes and Frank Villarreal, TxDOT ENV The discussion will cover a summary of roll-out phases for the current ECOS application enhancements; a live ECOS demonstration of end-to-end navigation; and an overview of pending consultant access and essential documentation for Categorical Exclusions and Environmental Assessments (how to enter and what is needed).this session is geared toward consultants and new district personnel; however, it is applicable to all current and future ECOS users TxDOT Environmental Conference 9

6 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 (Continued) WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 (continued) 10:45 a.m. Noon CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS: 5 8 (CONTINUED) Noon 1:30 p.m. SESSION 8 Policy Update and Current Developments in Natural Resources (Nueces A) Sharon Mattox, Attorney, Sharon M. Mattox, PLLC and Alan M. Glen, Nossaman, LLP This session will provide an update on natural resource policy and trends, including recent developments with the Endangered Species Act, an update on the status of the Waters of the United States amendment, a review of any proposed changes to Nationwide Permits (if available), an update on pertinent case law (if applicable), and a discussion of other emerging issues that may impact transportation. LUNCH (On Your Own) 12:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. FIELD TRIP: PLANT ID WORKSHOP (Nueces A) Christopher Amy, TxDOT Corpus Christi District, and Andy Blair, TxDOT ENV This half-day workshop will be held in the field rather than a classroom. The workshop objective is to introduce participants to common wetland vegetation found in the areas of the Texas Lower Gulf Coast. Participants will visit two sites comprised of tidal marsh/coastal prairie and inland freshwater wetland communities. By the end of the workshop, participants will walk away with a basic understanding and ability to identify vegetation specific to this region. Transport vans will depart from the Omni at 12:30 p.m. The registration fee covers a box lunch. Vans will return to the Omni around 6:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 2:45 p.m. CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS: 9 12 (CONTINUED) SESSION 10 Case Studies: Approaches to Reducing Hazards and Impacts of Transportation Infrastructure (Nueces A) Copano Bay Causeway Demolition Integrated Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) Abatement David Morley, TxDOT ENV The TxDOT Environmental Affairs Division, Pollution Prevention and Abatement, Hazardous Materials Management team will explore strategies for integrating ACM abatement activities into bridge demolition Plans, Specifications and Estimates and ongoing, long-duration demolition fieldwork. The team will take questions on similar abatement topics for other projects. Quantifying Wildlife-Vehicle Interactions on South Texas Roadways John Maresh and Jason Kord, TxDOT ENV An effort to address brown pelican vehicle strikes in South Texas will be presented, including a review of the problem, the methodology to assess the problem, potential solutions, and how similar efforts might be applied to other wildlife-vehicle issues across the state. Pollinator Partnership How TxDOT Is Helping Bees and Monarchs Jill Seed, TxDOT ENV A decline in pollinator species and Monarch butterflies throughout their range has garnered much attention and concern about the health of our environment. Find out what TxDOT does to support these species and how certain management, maintenance and construction activities can have a positive impact. 1:30 p.m. 2:45 p.m. CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS: 9 12 SESSION 9 Overview of Recent Changes to TxDOT s Environmental Review Rules (Corpus B) Patrick Lee, TxDOT ENV Earlier this year, TxDOT made various revisions to its environmental review rules, codified at 43 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 2. These rules govern how TxDOT prepares and processes environmental review documents for transportation projects. We ll discuss several of these rule changes and how they will affect TxDOT s environmental review process. SESSION 11 Traffic Noise Workshop (Corpus C) Ray Umscheid, TxDOT ENV This session will discuss the basics of when and how to conduct a traffic noise workshop. The purpose, timing, attendees, voting and documentation will be discussed TxDOT Environmental Conference 11

7 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 (Continued) THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15, :30 p.m. 2:45 p.m. CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS: 9 12 (CONTINUED) 2:45 p.m. 3:15 p.m. BREAK (Exhibit Area) SESSION 12 Reviewing an ECOS Project File (Part 1 of 2) (Corpus A) Chad Davis and Bobby Jones, TxDOT ENV This session will cover how to look at a project file in ECOS. The instructors will explain what they look for to determine whether or not a file is complete and to appropriately document compliance with applicable laws and regulations according to TxDOT standards and procedures. This course will enable TxDOT staff, consultants and local governments to make a file easy to review and to consistently and logically document their decisionmaking process in the project file. 3:15 p.m. 4:30 p.m. CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS: SESSION 13 Improved Documentation Requirements for Open-Ended D-list CEs, NEPA Document Reevaluations and Section 4(f) Evaluations (Corpus B) Jenise Walton, ENV and Owen Lindauer, FHWA We ll discuss types of documents that you don t prepare often, including the updates associated with each of them. The topics include documenting a request for classification for an open-ended d-list CE, deciding when to prepare a reevaluation consultation checklist and how to document the proposed changes, working with the new and improved Section 4(f) checklists. SESSION 14 Contract Compliance (Repeat) (Corpus C) Repeat of Session 2. SESSION 15 Reviewing an ECOS Project File (Part 2 of 2) (Corpus A) Chad Davis and Bobby Jones, TxDOT ENV Continuation of Session 12. SESSION 16 Introduction to Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Statewide Permit (Part 1 of 2) (Nueces A) 8:00 a.m. Noon REGISTRATION DESK OPEN 8:00 a.m. Noon EXHIBITS OPEN (3rd Floor Foyer) 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST (Exhibit Area) 9:00 a.m. 12:30 FIELD TRIP: COMMUNITY IMPACTS TRAINING (Partnership Boardroom ) Nicolle Kord, TxDOT ENV This session will include discussion of how to define a community impacts study area and demonstration of the new Community Impacts Technical Report Form. This session will also include a visit to a local neighborhood where participants will practice how to conduct and document a community impacts field visit. 9:00 a.m. 10:15 a.m. CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS: SESSION 17 Introduction to Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Statewide Permit (Part 2 of 2) (Laguna Madre) Adrienne Boer, TxDOT ENV Continuation of Session 16. SESSION 18 Reviewing an ECOS Project File (Part 1 of 2) (Repeat) (Corpus B) Chad Davis and Bobby Jones, TxDOT ENV Repeat of Session 12. SESSION 19 Initial Site Assessment (ISA) and Issues, Identification, and Resolution (IIR) Questions and Answers, (Part 1 of 2) (Corpus C) Doug Mack, TxDOT ENV and Terry Dempsey, TxDOT ENV The ENV PPA-HMM team will be available to take questions related to HMM project scoping and the ISA and IIR processes. Adrienne Boer, TxDOT ENV This session will cover TxDOT s MS4 statewide permit, discussing specific implementation components of the permit. We will also cover the annual report template, providing training on this new reporting format for the statewide permit. Thursday morning we will host a hands-on session for the annual report template TxDOT Environmental Conference 13

8 THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 (Continued) THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 (Continued) 9:00 a.m. 10:15 a.m. CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS: (CONTINUED) 10:45 a.m. Noon CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS: (CONTINUED) SESSION 20 Air Quality Training for Roadways (Part 1 of 4) (Nueces A) Tim Wood, TxDOT ENV This training session will cover air quality compliance requirements for highway transportation projects. The training covers processes for project-level conformity determinations, hot-spots, Carbon Monoxide Traffic Air Quality Analysis, (CO TAQA), Mobile Source Air Toxics (MSAT) analyses and Congestion Management Process (CMP). Learn to use the Air Quality Toolkit. This session is specific to TxDOT districts located in non-attainment and maintenance areas. Noon 1:30 p.m. SESSION 25 NEPA Classification/Documentation (Part 1 of 2) (Corpus A) Bryan Ellis and Sonya Hernandez, TxDOT ENV This course will highlight project classification and documentation requirements for CE and EA-type projects. Quality Assurance/Quality Control measures for these types of projects will also be discussed to ensure proper NEPA classification and clearance. LUNCH (On Your Own) SESSION 21 Introduction to the Environmental Compliance Oversight System (ECOS) (Corpus A) Mike Chavez, Clay Churchill, Troy Sykes and Frank Villarreal, TxDOT ENV Repeat of Session 7. 10:15 a.m. 10:45 a.m. BREAK (Exhibit Area) 10:45 a.m. Noon CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS: SESSION 22 Reviewing an ECOS Project File (Part 2 of 2) (Corpus B) Continuation of Session 18. 1:30 p.m. 2:45 p.m. CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS SESSION 26 New Guidance and Tools for Project Delivery (Corpus B) Patrick Lee, TxDOT ENV TxDOT ENV has been active in developing new tools and guidance documents to improve the consistency, quality and efficiency of the environmental process. We ll introduce and explain several of these new tools and guidance documents. SESSION 27 Air Quality Training for Roadways (Part 3 of 4) (Nueces A) Continuation of Session 24. SESSION 23 Initial Site Assessment (ISA) and Issues, Identification, and Resolution (IIR) Questions and Answers, (Part 2 of 2) (Corpus C) Continuation of Session 19. SESSION 24 Air Quality Training for Roadways (Part 2 of 4) (Nueces A) Continuation of Session 20. 2:45 p.m. 3:15 p.m. BREAK SESSION 28 NEPA Classification/Documentation (Part 2 of 2) (Corpus A) Continuation of Session 25. 3:15 p.m. 4:30 p.m. BREAKOUT SESSION: 29 SESSION 29 Air Quality Training for Roadways (Part 4 of 4) (Nueces A) Continuation of Session TxDOT Environmental Conference 15

9 Thanks to our exhibitors: