As the United States population and economy continue to grow and place larger demands on the Nation’s transportation infrastructure, improving the Nation’s transportation system to handle the stress is crucial. Project planning, programming, and delivery rely on effective and efficient processes to produce the most benefit to the U.S. transportation system. Additionally, careful consideration and mitigation of the environmental impacts of projects is required to minimize the effects that projects might have on noise, air quality, and other environmental factors.

To make better informed plans and decisions about highway projects, the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty develops new planning methodologies and environmental review processes to ensure the most beneficial infrastructure projects can be built as quickly as possible. The Planning, Environment, and Realty program area advances the processes that FHWA and other public sector partners use to screen, evaluate, and deliver projects that improve safety and mobility for the Nation.