Federal Highway Administration

(FHWA) Overview

Allen MasudaAssociate Administrator

Office of Civil RightsFederal Highway Administration

January 2011

Livability and Civil Rights

Overview

• History & Defining Livability - Accessibility• Current FHWA Activities • Future

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History• National Livability Initiatives

– Carter Administration - Livable Cities Program (1977-81)– Clinton Administration - Building Livable

Communities Program (1993-2001)– Obama Administration - Livability and the

Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities (2009 - Present)

– Budgeting Considerations

Provide More Transportation

Choices

Coordinate Policies and Leverage Investment

Promote Equitable, Affordable Housing

Enhance Economic Competitiveness

Support Existing Communities

Value Communities and Neighborhoods

HUD-DOT-EPA Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities—Guiding Principles

4Breaking Up the Agencies Stovepipe

What are Livable Communities?

A livable community: one in whichpeople have multiple, convenient transportation and housing optionsas well as nearby destinations easily accessible.

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Transportation Affects Everything!

Walking/Wheeling/Safety/Air Quality

Commuting/Moving Freight

Transportation CostsMode & time

Health

Social/Community

Work

Money

Accessibility : individuals, families,

businesses, recreation

Quality of Life For an IndividualCommunity Vitality

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Livable Communities - Transportation Options

Multi-ModalMixed Development

Livable Communities Destinations Close By

• Mixed Use/ Development• Historic Preservation• Sense of Community/Place

Livable Communities Have Housing Options

Livability and FHWA • Livability Builds Upon Policies and Programs That

Have Been Around for a Long Time

– Planning: Statewide & Metropolitan– Planning and Environmental Linkages– Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS)– AASHTO Bike and Pedestrian Guides – Accessibility– Federal Funding programs (e.g., Transportation,

Enhancements, CMAQ, Recreational Trails, Scenic Byways, Safe Routes to School)

– Increased Funding Flexibility – Many stovepipes eliminated.

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Transportation PlanningState and Metropolitan Planning OrganizationsPrinciples:

3C - continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive Multimodal planning process The safe and efficient development, freight

management, and operations to move people and goods.

Provides for accessible pedestrian walkways and bicycle facilities

Fosters economic growth and development Clean Air - Minimizes fuel consumption Storm Water Management

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Livability – Streets and Highways• Mobility – Multimodal Choices – Convenient

and . . ..Accessible• Universal Design - People with Disabilities

• Communities - Preserve the Character and Enhance . .. Attractiveness• Context Sensitive Solutions• Clean Air Quality/Storm Water Management• Improve Safety – Traffic Calming• “A Sense of Place”

• Build the Local Economy• Contracts, Workforce Development, Tourism

• Global Competitiveness

AccessibilityA Civil Rights IssueA Livability Issue

An Economic IssueIndependence/Self-Reliance Issue

• Federal, States, Cities, and County Governments• Programs, Services and Activities• Buildings, Parks and Recreation Facilities• Highway and Street Facilities: Public Rights of Way

Rest Areas, Visitors/Welcome Centers, Traffic Management Centers, Sidewalks, Intersections, Signals, Bus Shelters and Stops

• Physical/Orthopedic – Need for Wheelchair, Walker, Cane, or Prosthetic Device

• Physical/Medical-Heart/Lung Conditions, Diabetes

• Visual-Blind/Low Vision

• Hearing-Deaf/Impaired

• Cognitive/Neurological-Autism, Brain Injury

Disabilities/Aging AffectsAccess to Programs, Services, and Facilities

“Who is the Design Person or Vehicle?” Universal Design

• 54 million Americans over the age of 15 have a disability (2000 Census)

• 17 million have serious hearing disabilities (2000 Census)

• 12 million have a visual disability - total blindness to low vision.

• 70 percent will eventually experience a temporary or permanent disability that makes climbing stairs impossible – Join Anytime

Nation's Largest Minority Group

Accessibility in the PROW

• ADA & 504 Standards

• DOT standards• DOJ 2010 Standards• Draft PROWAG (Public

ROW Accessibility Guidelines)

Reasonable & Consistent Policies

• Settlement agreements with over 150 Towns, Cities, Counties, and States www.ada.gov/civicac.htm

Tool Kit for State and Local Governments (Chapter 6 covers curb ramps): www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/chap6toolkit.htm

US Department of Justice

Project Civic Access Compliance ProgramProactive Enforce Approach

Accessibility within the Public Rights of Way (PROW)

• Planning Awareness – Accommodating persons with hearing, visual, cognitive or mobility impairments & assistive devices)

• Early Community Involvement – Not an After Thought• Program Accessibility Plans – Set Goals and Schedules

for Construction, Maintenance, Operations, and Upgrades/Retrofitting

• Coordination and Continuity With Adjoining Communities

2011 Learning & Development Seminar Team Meeting (Title VI Complaint Issues)

Accessibility: Highway and Streets Crossings and Sidewalks

Curb rampsCurb cuts

Detectible warnings

Unobstructed Paths

Accessible Pedestrian Signals

Ensuring Accessible Facilities

Planning

Design

Right-of-Way Acquisition

Utility Relocations

Construction

Maintenance

Operations

Educated and Sensitized Workforce

Project Hand-off and Dropping of Responsibilities

“Compliance Has to be 100%”

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Alternate Route? Safety Liability - Proper Ramp Needed

Alternate Routing

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Obstructions

Detectable Wide Enough

FHWA Activities—Livability Guidebook

• Designed for Practitioners

• MPOs, State DOTs and others for advancing livable community developments

• Developed with FTA

• Available under “Highlights” at www.fhwa.dot.gov/livability

FHWA Activities—Livability Guidebook(with Accessibility Initiatives)

Links Land Use and Transportation Planning Holistic Approach to Enhancing Communities

▪ Walk-able and Wheel-able Communities - Universal Accessibility

▪ Transit Oriented Development▪ Complete Streets ▪ Context Sensitive Solutions▪ Healthy Neighborhoods▪ Smart and Sustainability Growth

FHWA Livable Communities Activities

• Developing Resources to Support Practitioners• Research Paper

– Differentiate between livability and sustainability– Sustainability: Improving energy efficiency, reducing

dependence on oil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and benefiting the environment.

• Livability Workshops• Toolbox of Training Materials• Model Regional Comprehensive Livability Plan

• Dedicated Future Federal Funding

FHWA Livability Contacts

FHWA Office of Civil Rights • Allen Masuda– Allen.Masuda@dot.gov• Candace Groudine– Candace.Groudine@dot.gov• Janine Ashe– Janine.Ashe@dot.gov

FHWA Office of Human Environment • Gabe Rousseau – Gabriel.Rousseau@dot.gov• Shana Baker - Shana.Baker@dot.gov• Sharlene Reed - Sharlene.Reed@dot.gov