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1998 FHWA
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Mobility and productivity need not be achieved at the expense of public health and the preservation of our natural environment. To safeguard public health and the environment, we are monitoring and regulating noise levels, pollutants, and en-croachments on wetlands. Good transportation planning and operations do not sacrifice our natural resources.
Lessons Learned | Predicting Highway Traffic Noise | Providing a Clear Framework for Advancement
Working with Universities to
Conduct Research
FHWA worked with the Metropolitan Washington, DC, Council of Governments to produce a video that describes enhanced public outreach activities. Reaching Out to Everyone: Techniques for Inclusive Transportation Planning shares the practical lessons this metropolitan planning organization learned from an intense effort to reach a broader range of citizens than previously participated in long-range transportation planning. This 20-minute video shares lessons that can be used by transportation planning and implementation agencies around the country to develop transportation investments that enhance the community and support community values. This tool can also be used to improve public satisfaction with highway investments.
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In March 1998, FHWA released a new Highway Traffic Noise Prediction Model that was the culmination of more than 6 years of research incorporating advancements in computer technology and more than two decades of improvements in our ability to predict highway traffic noise. This model uses entirely new acoustical prediction algorithms, many of which are based on newly measured vehicle-emission levels for automobiles, medium trucks, heavy trucks, buses, and motorcycles. Early validation of this new model shows a marked improvement in noise-prediction accuracy and the ability of this tool to help sustain the quality of the human and natural environments while meeting the transportation needs of communities. Work was performed with the assistance of the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center.
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FY 1998 marked the first release of FHWA's Strategic Plan for Environmental Research. This plan identifies the 1998 through 2003 research priorities for the Environmental Research Program. The plan is the result of a comprehensive strategic planning process, intense evaluation of research programs and activities, and input from a wide range of external customers and stakeholders. Our strategic objectives of reducing on-road mobile-source emissions and increasing net wetland acreage are highlighted in the plan. Public and private sector transportation, environment, and planning experts participated in the development of this plan.
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FHWA's Transportation Environmental Research Program (TERP) awards grants of $20,000 to $50,000 to universities to conduct research projects, ranging from 6 months to 2 years in duration. Participation by historically black colleges and universities is encouraged.
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