Implementing Eco-Logical (C06)

Earlier consideration of ecological resources in the transportation planning process can help streamline environmental reviews and permitting while improving both the environmental and transportation outcomes of infrastructure projects. Through the second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2), Implementing Eco-Logical (C06) contains a process and information on how to operationalize the Eco-Logical approach presented in the 2006 document: Eco-Logical: An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects.

Implementing Eco-Logical offers a structured nine-step process, tools, and templates that can guide transportation agencies as they work to meet both ecosystem and transportation goals. The benefits of Implementing Eco-Logical include providing the opportunity to avoid, minimize, and mitigate environmental impacts either before or during the planning stage, potentially reducing mitigation requirements and reducing delays during project-level environmental review and permitting.

• Eco-Logical Starter Kit
• Eco-Logical Practitioner’s Handbook
• Eco-Logical Brochure
• Eco-Logical Bookmark
• Eco-Logical Fact Sheet
• Eco-Logical 2014/2015 Annual Report
• Eco-Logical 2015/2016 Annual Report

Community of Practice

• Eco-Logical Community of Practice: Pollinator Habitat Programs, July 13, 2016
  • Webinar
  • Slides
• Eco-Logical Community of Practice: Innovative Mitigation Contracting and Financing, October 5, 2016
  • Webinar
  • Slides
• Eco-Logical Community of Practice: How to Approach Your Transportation Environmental Needs Eco-Logically, January 31, 2017
  • Webinar
  • Slides

• AASHTO Annual Meeting, October 2013
  • Accelerating Project Delivery: The Next Generation of Environmental Streamlining, Oregon DOT
  • Improving the Health of the Western Lake Erie Coastal Zone, Michigan DOT
  • Success in Partnership and Planning Along Three Highway Corridors in California, Caltrans
  • Streamlining Project Development through the Watershed Resources Registry, Maryland DOT
• AASHTO Standing Committee on the Environment, 2014 Annual Meeting
  • Implementing Eco-Logical in a World of Schedules and Salmon, Maine DOT
  • Implementing Eco-Logical in North Central Texas, North Central Texas Council of Governments
  • I-75 Corridor Conservation Plan, Michigan DOT
  • Eco-Logical and Integration of Geospatial Tools and Data, Arizona DOT

• Wildlife and Transportation for the Colorado Department of Transportation, April 26-27, 2016
• Eco-Logical Technical Assistance Workshop, MaineDOT, April 1-2, 2015
• Michigan Department of Transportation/Southeast Michigan Council of Governments Technical Assistance Webinar, November 5, 2015
• Advance Wetland Mitigation Needs Workshop, South Carolina DOT, April 6-7, 2016
• Additional information on technical assistance

• Programmatic Mitigation Peer Exchange, Jun 20, 2016, San Antonio, Texas
• IAP Peer Exchange, October 14-15, 2015, Washington, DC
• Mitigation Approaches Peer Exchange, March 11-12, 2015
  • FHWA slides
  • CDOT presentation
  • Caltrans presentation
  • FDOT presentation
  • SCDOT presentation
• MPO Peer Exchange, June 2-3, 2015, Washington, DC
• REF Development Peer Exchange, July 6, 2015, Salt Lake City, Utah

• 13 state DOTs and MPOs were funded through the Implementing Eco-Logical Implementation Assistance Program (IAP): Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, Atlanta Regional Commission, Caltrans, Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization, Idaho Transportation Department, Maine DOT, Michigan DOT, Missouri DOT, North Central Texas Council of Governments, New Hampshire DOT, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments, and Southern California Association of Governments.

• David Williams, FHWA, david.williams@dot.gov
• Mike Ruth, FHWA, mike.ruth@dot.gov

• FHWA Eco-Logical webpage