Program

Institutions of higher education play a pivotal role in transforming the lives of individuals and community by disseminating knowledge, fostering innovation, and promoting a more resource-efficient economy. They also act as catalysts for sustainability efforts in the cities where they are located by promoting engagement, participation and multi-sector collaborations across campuses and beyond. Such collaborations and networks tend to shift thinking, motivate, and create collective impact and sustainable communities.

Key members of the project team will discuss the unique challenges encountered and creative solutions implemented on I-70 East EIS project. The project proposed to rebuild the primary east-west corridor through a densely developed part of Denver. The team will discuss public outreach methods, building consensus, and developing mitigation to offset potentially significant community impacts throughout the corridor and particularly in areas with large minority and low-income populations.

This presentation will discuss the public relations lessons learned from the reporting on the discovery of a mammoth during investigations for a TxDOT project.

WORKING BEYOND THE ROAD TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE
SPEAKER: Laura Cruzada, TxDOT
(Cruzada presentation, 1.7MB)

The Environmental Affairs Division will touch on the work its done for Beyond The Road. ENV will brief everyone about how it is developing tools to help Districts and Divisions share our stories and share public-friendly information about our process, which can help streamline project delivery. ENV will show highlights of the advertising/marketing campaign and also preview the tools that will help public information officers and environmental coordinators talk to the public about NEPA.

ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
SPEAKER: Sue Theiss, TxDOT

TXDOT’S POLLINATOR PROGRAM
SPEAKER: Dennis Markwardt, TxDOT
(Markwardt presentation, 435KB)

Learn about TxDOT’s award-winning pollinator program that helps support Monarch butterflies and other pollinators, while still meeting infrastructure maintenance needs and requirements.

In this session, TxDOT presents information on a variety of short research and regulatory topics. Posters will be available for viewing for an extended period during the conference. The presenters will also be available at the posters to answer questions during the scheduled poster session.

Discussion of planned upgrades to ECOS in 2019.

This presentation will give an overview of revisions made by TxDOT to the Texas Administrative Code, Title 43, Chapter 2, “Environmental Review of Transportation Projects.”

A review of the issues commonly identified during ENV-Program Reviews for Hazardous Materials and how to avoid those same issues on future projects. The speaker will also discuss how to make the appropriate HMM impact determinations for potential HMM issues identified during the Initial Site Assessment (ISA) process. Specifically, how to populate Section 8 of the ISA and what needs to be transferred to an ECOS IIR form.

Millennials make up one-third of the U.S. population and their communication habits differ dramatically from their predecessors (Boomers and Generation X, for example). Involving Millennials in our transportation decisions must be an integral part of TxDOT’s culture of transparency, and online engagement is a tool for achieving that goal. Learn how TxDOT districts are using online engagement as an innovative and effective strategy of an overall public involvement plan to reach across generations.

This breakout session is designed for project managers and traffic noise practitioners and will provide an overview of traffic noise policy changes being implemented in 2018’s updated Traffic Noise Policy. These changes include: a new cost reasonableness process and costs for noise abatement approved by FHWA, a new minimum threshold for benefiting receivers for noise barrier feasibility determinations, and new public involvement procedures.

TxDOT’s Archeological Studies Branch works with federally-recognized tribes, many of whom are not based in Texas. Participants will hear from tribal representatives who will share their perspective on the history of tribes in Texas. This portion of the presentation will provide context for why TxDOT and tribes consult, how TxDOT addresses tribal concerns, and the various steps taken to ensure tribes are afforded early opportunities to participate in project development. Environmental coordinators and consultants can expect to gain a better understanding of consultation requirements and the documentation necessary for compliance with Section 106.

The latest emerging issues in the natural resource arena will be discussed, such as status updates on Migratory Bird Treaty Act interpretation, the Waters of the U.S. rule, and proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act. In addition, NRM staff will review common problems seen in ESA consultation documents in the development and review stages and how to avoid them (this discussion is highly recommended for consultants!).

Back by popular demand, museum expert Erin McClelland will lead a day-long workshop on interpretive writing for cultural resources. This workshop is designed for historical and archeological consultants interested in working with TxDOT to tell stories around the archeology and history uncovered beyond the road. The workshop will incorporate exercises and examples based on historic places and transportation history and will give you a chance to try your newly-found skill in interpretation.

This training will introduce recent updates to TxDOT’s Traffic Noise Analysis process, and provide a general overview of the Traffic Noise process with a concentration on documentation and interpretation of TNM modeling results. This class is designed for Project Managers and those with no traffic noise experience.