Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation’s mission is to serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people. Roads and transportation corridors comprise a significant portion of the nation’s infrastructure system and budget. There is increasing recognition of the opportunities to integrate green infrastructure features into transportation projects at all scales.
What is green infrastructure at DOT?
This agency does not specifically define green infrastructure, but uses it as a component of their air quality, public health and economic and community development programs.
What DOT departments are involved in green infrastructure?
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) coordinates highway transportation investments in cooperation with states, localities and other stakeholders to support the nation’s safety, economic vitality, quality of life and environmental resources. FHWA provides surface transportation planning programs which provide many opportunities to implement green infrastructure and initiated the development of the Eco-Logical project, which introduced ecosystem-based planning for infrastructure project development and mitigation of impacts.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) assists in developing improved mass transportation systems for cities and communities nationwide. FTA partners have partnered with additional federal agencies (i.e. EPA and HUD) to provide citizens with access to affordable housing, more transportation options and lower transportation costs, while protecting the natural resources in communities nationwide. They have also worked to protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, improve the quality of life, and promote consistency between transportation improvements and local planned growth and economic development patterns.
Additional DOT green infrastructure resources:
- Eco-Logical: An Ecosystem Approach to Developing Infrastructure Projects is a Federal Highway Administration program designed to encourage, Federal, State, tribal and local partners to endorse ecosystem-based mitigation infrastructure strategies.
- The Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities is a partnership between Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency and Housing and Urban Development to provide citizens with access to affordable housing, more transportation options and lower transportation costs, while protecting the environment in communities nationwide.
- Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program’s objective is to improve the understanding of the complex relationship between surface transportation, planning and the environment.
