A Project Development & Environmental (PD&E) study is developed to evaluate potential roadway improvement alternatives to meet future traffic patterns. The PD&E process ensures transportation projects are developed under current engineering standards, project costs and with minimal social and environmental impacts to the community all while involving the public throughout the entire study process.
The basic activities of a PD&E study are below.
Step #1: Data Collection
The first major step in the process is the collection of all available information on the study corridor including existing roadway characteristics, traffic counts, existing and future land uses, drainage patterns, locations of wetlands and habitat for threatened or endangered species, potential contamination sites and social and economic issues.
Step #2: Public Kickoff Meeting
A public kickoff meeting will be held to introduce the project to the public and provide an opportunity to view and comment on the project’s need and objectives. With input received at the kickoff meeting, the project team will develop alternatives to present to the public at the Alternatives Public Meeting.
Step #3: Alternatives Public Meeting
Combining the public input with the needs of the corridor, several improvement alternatives will be developed and evaluated along with the No-Build alternative (which leaves the corridor as is) during the PD&E study. This meeting will present the environmental and social impacts as well as estimated costs of the road widening alternatives as compared to the No Build alternative. The public will be provided with an opportunity to view and comment on the alternatives under consideration.
Step #4: Public Hearing
After all public comments are reviewed and the analysis of the alternatives has been refined, a formal public hearing will be held to provide a forum for input from property owners and interested parties on the final recommendations. A final decision is not made until after the public hearing. It is anticipated that the public hearing for this study will be held in the summer of 2012.
Step #5: Final Acceptance
After all comments from the public hearing have been addressed, project reports are finalized and submitted to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for location and design concept acceptance, also called LDCA. Once this acceptance is received, the study phase of the project will be complete. The phases that would follow the study phase include the design of the approved improvements, possible right-of-way acquisition and actual construction of the improvements.
The PD&E study is scheduled for completion by early 2013. Design, right of way acquisition and construction are currently unfunded by FDOT.
