The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) recently signed a three-year agreement with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) allowing NDOT greater control over certain federal environmental compliance reviews.
The agreement is part of FHWA’s efforts to reduce the federal burden on states and help reduce project delivery times. FHWA’s programs allow states to enter into agreements with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Nebraska is the latest state to join the Surface Transportation Project Delivery program. The program allows states to conduct environmental reviews and make approvals on projects under laws and regulations consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act.
It applies only to “categorical exclusion” projects, those without significant environmental impacts. Most federally funded highway projects in Nebraska fall into this category.
“The NDOT team has worked hand in hand with FHWA to streamline the project delivery process to improve reliability while upholding our commitment to the environment and the citizens of Nebraska,” NDOT Director Kyle Schneweis said. “It’s an honor to have Deputy Administrator Hendrickson with us to highlight the strong partnership that enables us to take ownership of the review authority for approximately 95 percent of the state’s transportation projects.”
NDOT and FHWA can renew the three-year agreement.