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<p><b>[[Chapter 5 - Stakeholder Management#5.3.2.2.1.6 Noise|Section 5.3.2.2.1.6]] – Hazardous Material</b></p> | <p><b>[[Chapter 5 - Stakeholder Management#5.3.2.2.1.6 Noise|Section 5.3.2.2.1.6]] – Hazardous Material</b></p> | ||
<p><b>[[Chapter 5 - Stakeholder Management#5.3.2.2.1.7 Hazardous Materials|Section 5.3.2.2.1.7]] – Land Use</b></p> | <p><b>[[Chapter 5 - Stakeholder Management#5.3.2.2.1.7 Hazardous Materials|Section 5.3.2.2.1.7]] – Land Use</b></p> | ||
<p><b>[[Section 5.3.2.2.1.8]] – Right-of-Way</b></p> | <p><b>[[Chapter 5 - Stakeholder Management#5.3.2.2.1.8 Right-of-Way|Section 5.3.2.2.1.8]] – Right-of-Way</b></p> | ||
<p><b>[[Section 5.3.2.2.1.9]] – Other Social Impacts</b></p> | <p><b>[[Chapter 5 - Stakeholder Management#5.3.2.2.1.9 Other Social Impacts|Section 5.3.2.2.1.9]] – Other Social Impacts</b></p> | ||
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<p><b>[[Chapter 5 - Stakeholder Management#5.3.2.2.2 Natural Environment|Section 5.3.2.2.2]] – Natural Environment</b>: This section defines natural environment resources and introduces its subsections which define the state and federal level protections and associated considerations for these environmental resources.</p> | <p><b>[[Chapter 5 - Stakeholder Management#5.3.2.2.2 Natural Environment|Section 5.3.2.2.2]] – Natural Environment</b>: This section defines natural environment resources and introduces its subsections which define the state and federal level protections and associated considerations for these environmental resources.</p> | ||
Revision as of 21:13, 27 January 2025
This DelDOT Project Development manual has been developed to serve as a task-oriented guide to be referenced throughout the project development process to promote consistent, transparent, and efficient project delivery which adheres to all pertinent state and federal requirements.
Enhanced Table of Contents
This enhanced table of contents was created to assist staff in locating and then accessing the project development related information they are seeking. This enhanced table of contents provides a brief description of the individual sections of the manual and purposefully includes key words to make it simple to quickly search.
This chapter defines the project development process and its goals. The section introduces its subsections which outline the manual’s intended uses, limitations, and update process.
Section 1.1 – Federal and State Requirements: This section presents the framework of the laws, regulations, and other regulatory agency policy or advisory guidance at both the state and federal level which direct the DelDOT project development process. The section introduces the FHWA Federal-aid Highway Program and the DelDOT and FHWA Stewardship and Oversight agreement and its role in defining the DelDOT project development process.
Section 1.2 - Applicability to Local Public Agencies: This section establishes the manual’s applicability to local public agencies.
Section 1.3 - References to Other Resources: This section clarifies that the manual is not intended to replace other source documents referenced throughout the manual.
Section 1.3.1 - DelDOT Developed Resource Documents: This section lists and describes the resource documents DelDOT utilizes including manuals, Design Guidance Memorandums (DGMs), Policy Implements (PIs), Engineering Instructions (EIs), formal memorandums, and other guidance documents. The section also provides several considerations for the assigned update team when revising these DelDOT developed resource documents.
Section 1.4 - Developing and Maintaining the Project Development Manual: This section outlines the process and committees used to develop the DelDOT Project Development Manual and establishes the process which DelDOT will use to maintain the Project Development Manual.
Chapter 2 – Project Origination and Planning
This chapter details the process that DelDOT uses to plan and prioritize projects.
Section 2.1 - Planning Standards: This section describes the federal planning standards that a state must follow to be eligible for federal funding through the Federal-aid Highway Program.
Section 2.1.1 - Contributing Organizations: This section defines the entities involved in the federal planning and programming process as well as describes their responsibilities.
Section 2.1.1.1 - Metropolitan Planning Organizations
Section 2.1.1.2 - Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs) and Local Governments
Section 2.1.2 - Performance-Based Approach : DelDOT is required to utilize a performance-based prioritization process in accordance with state and federal requirements. This section defines these requirements and describes the processes DelDOT has implemented.
Section 2.1.3 - Public Involvement : Public involvement is required in the transportation infrastructure planning and programming process as their outcome has significant impact on communities. This section defines the public involvement processes DelDOT has implemented to ensure proactive and well-thought-out public engagement.
Section 2.1.4 - Deliverables : DelDOT’s planning process will result in the creation of numerous deliverables. This section describes the two deliverables required of DelDOT by federal and state law.
Section 2.1.4.1 - Long-Range Transportation Plan : This planning deliverable is intended to guide DelDOT in creating principles, policies, and performance measures meeting the State’s long-range economic, transportation, development, and sustainability goals over the forecast period.
Section 2.1.4.2 - Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) : This planning deliverable defines a staged, multi-year, statewide intermodal investment program comprised of transportation projects and programs that are consistent with the Long-Range Transportation Plan.
Section 2.2 - Programs Generating DelDOT Projects : DelDOT maintains multiple programs across its Divisions which each have their own process for generating and prioritizing projects. This section defines the programs and the processes that are used to generate DelDOT projects.
Section 2.2.1 - Entities Outside of DelDOT : This section describes entities and programs outside of DelDOT which have potential to generate DelDOT projects.
Section 2.2.2 - Division of Planning : DelDOT’s Division of Planning undertakes various planning level studies which could generate DelDOT projects. This section describes the individual planning programs overseen by the Division of Planning that may generate DelDOT projects.
Section 2.2.2.1 - Corridor Capacity Preservation
Section 2.2.2.2 - Multi-Modal Program : This section introduces its subsections which describe the individual programs managed within DelDOT’s Multi-Modal program.
Section 2.2.2.2.1 - Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP Program)
Section 2.2.2.2.2 - Bicycle and Pedestrian Program
Section 2.2.2.3 - Transportation Improvement Districts (TIDs)
Section 2.2.2.4 - Aviation Planning
Section 2.2.3 - Bridges and Structures Program : This section describes the three programs DelDOT uses to evaluate, plan, and prioritize structure maintenance throughout the State.
Section 2.2.3.1 - Bridge Program
Section 2.2.3.2 - Overhead Sign and High Mast Lighting Structures Program
Section 2.2.4 - Pavement Management Program
Section 2.2.5 - Traffic Engineering and Traffic Operations : This section introduces the specific strategic programs that DelDOT uses to identify operational and mobility deficiencies and potential safety related infrastructure improvement needs.
Section 2.2.5.1 - Traffic Calming Program
Section 2.2.5.2 - MUTCD Compliance
Section 2.2.5.3 - Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) : This section describes DelDOT’s federally required HSIP program and the individual programs it includes.
Section 2.2.5.3.1 - Hazard Elimination Program (HEP)
Section 2.2.5.3.2 - High-Risk Rural Roads Program
Section 2.2.5.3.3 - Highway Rail Grade Crossing (HRGX) Safety Program
Section 2.2.5.4 - Railroad Program : This section introduces the individual programs that are included within DelDOT’s Railroad Program.
Section 2.2.5.4.1 - Statewide Railroad Rideability Program
Section 2.2.5.5 - Intelligent Transportation Management Systems (ITMS)
Section 2.2.6 - Division of Maintenance and Operations (M&O) : This section introduces the programs that are managed by DelDOT’s Division of Maintenance and Operations.
Section 2.2.6.1 - Community Transportation Fund
Section 2.2.6.2 - Transportation Facilities Program
Section 2.2.6.3 - Subdivision Street Pavement Management Program
Section 2.2.7 - Sustainability : This section describes the individual programs that DelDOT uses to plan and prioritize its sustainability program.
Section 2.2.8 - Transit Systems (Delaware Transit Corporation)
Chapter 3 – Project Initiation
This chapter documents the numerous tasks that a section must perform as part of the project initiation process once assigned a project.
Section 3.1 - Establishment of the Design Team This section defines the role of the DelDOT Project Manager and the technical design staff assigned to develop a project. The section also provides considerations to be evaluated when assembling the design team.
Section 3.1.1 - Support Sections : This section defines DelDOT’s support sections and describes their role in the project development process.
Section 3.2 - Project Baselining : This section introduces the concept of project baselining and introduces its subsections.
Section 3.2.1 - Initial Project Baselining : This section establishes the interrelated elements of the initial project baselining effort.
Section 3.2.2 - Project Re-Baselining : This section emphasizes the importance of re-baselining projects and introduces its subsections.
Section 3.2.2.1 - Re-Baselining at Milestone Submissions : This section describes DelDOT’s policy of re-baselining projects within Unifier at each milestone submission.
Section 3.2.2.2 - Spend Updates : This section describes DelDOT’s policy of evaluating the actual rate of project expenditures compared to the expected expenditure rate in order to evaluate the accuracy of a project’s spending plan.
Section 3.3 - Project Number Request : This section describes the process to obtain a project number through DelDOT’s Unifier software.
Section 3.4 - Professional Services : This section introduces the concept of professional services.
Section 3.4.1 - Professional Services Procurement : This section introduces DelDOT’s Professional Services Procurement Manual and divides the project development professional services DelDOT procures into two categories.
Section 3.4.1.1 - Design Related Professional Services : This section introduces the professional service indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts DelDOT utilizes for the typical project development services the Department requires. The section also describes the process DelDOT uses to setup tasks under an IDIQ professional service agreement.
Section 3.4.1.2 - Design Support Related Professional Services : This section discusses the design support related professional services DelDOT utilizes (i.e., soil borings, utility designation, test holes etc.). The section also describes considerations for using a design related professional services agreement for performance of this work.
Section 3.4.2 - Professional Services Management : Professional Services Management: This section summarizes the Project Manager’s responsibilities for managing professional service tasks.
Section 3.4.2.1 - Project Tracking : This section presents project tracking techniques that can be used by the Project Manager to forecast future project milestone submittal dates and associated costs. Techniques presented included performing regularly scheduled task progress meetings and invoice tracking. The section also describes the approval process for extra work.
Section 3.4.2.2 - Invoicing : This section outlines DelDOT’s procedures for verifying the accuracy of invoices within specified timeframes, as well as the processes involved in circulating and approving professional service invoices.
Section 3.4.2.2.1 - Fiscal Year End : This section notifies the Project Manager and DelDOT’s contracted professional service vendors to the end of the State fiscal year finance system shut down.
Section 3.4.2.3 - Quality Assurance : This section summarizes the Project Manager’s responsibility to perform quality assurance on project deliverables, to review and evaluate the services of the vendor annually, and to document the vendor’s performance at the end of the contract.
Section 3.4.2.4 - Closeout : This section establishes the process to closeout tasks upon completion or when DelDOT has decided to terminate the service before its completion.
Section 3.5 - Establishment of Project Directory : This section establishes the importance of using consistent project directories and describes DelDOT’s typical project development related directories.
Section 3.6 - Project Scoping : This section describes the best practices for performing project scoping and arriving at a preferred alternative for further design. The section also introduces the concept of scope management which ensures the project remains consistent with its original objectives.
Section 3.6.1 - Define the Project Objective : This section encourages the development of explicit and clear project objectives that indicate why a project is being undertaken and what the project is intended to achieve. The section also introduces the concept of “purpose and need” statements to assist in refining a project’s scope and subsequent objectives.
Section 3.6.2 – Develop the Scoping Process : This section encourages the design team to tailor the scoping process to suit an individual project’s needs.
Section 3.6.2.1 – NEPA Class Requirements : This section describes how the NEPA class of a proposed action will affect the project scoping phase.
Section 3.6.2.2 – Scoping Meetings : This section describes strategies and considerations for conducting meetings with project stakeholders at strategic points in the scoping phase.
Section 3.6.2.3 – Public Involvement : This section describes how public involvement can be used to generate public consensus by providing a forum for users to express their needs, ideas, concerns, and perspectives relating to the transportation system while giving DelDOT the opportunity to educate the public about transportation issues, services, and projects.
Section 3.6.3 – Establish Preliminary Design Controls and Criteria : This section describes the process for determining the transportation user groups to accommodate and for selecting associated design controls and criteria to ensure the development of suitable alternatives.
Section 3.6.4 – Establish Project Constraints : This section details several common project constraints and limitations that must be vetted within the project scoping phase.
Section 3.6.4.1 – Transportation Operation
Section 3.6.4.2 – Environmental
Section 3.6.5 – Alternatives Development : This section describes the process used to develop conceptual alternatives that meet the project’s objectives while considering the project’s constraints and associated design controls and criteria.
Section 3.6.5.1 – Alternative Types : This section describes the array of solutions that can be applied to rectify identified transportation deficiencies and meet the project’s objectives.
Section 3.6.6 – Alternativities Assessment : This section describes the process used to evaluate the feasible alternatives developed.
Section 3.6.7 – Process Documentation : This section provides recommendations on how to summarize the early project level decisions so they can be effectively referenced later in the project development process.
Section 3.6.8 – Additional Scoping Phase Considerations : This section describes the parameters and considerations to be evaluated once a preferred alternative has been selected.
Section 3.7 – Existing Site Investigation : This section describes the existing site investigation and data collection techniques available and their associated request process.
Section 3.7.1 – GIS Datasets : This section describes the uses for and associated limitations of the GIS datasets most frequently utilized during the project development process.
Section 3.7.1.1 – DelDOT Gateway
Section 3.7.1.2 – NPDES Viewer
Section 3.7.1.3 – DNREC Stormwater Assessment Study GIS
Section 3.7.2 – Topographic Field Survey : This section describes the process for requesting topographic field surveys performed through DelDOT’s Survey section and describes considerations and standards related to topographic field surveys.
Section 3.7.2.1 – Survey Standards
Section 3.7.2.2 – Other Surveying Methods
Section 3.7.2.3 – Pedestrian Connection Survey Considerations
Section 3.7.3 – Traffic Data and Functional Classification Designation
Section 3.7.4 – Property Rights Research
Section 3.7.6 – Utility Designation
Section 3.7.7 – Pavement Corings
Section 3.7.8 – Traffic Counts
Section 3.7.9 – Pipe Video Inspection
Section 3.7.10 – Soil Borings : This section outlines applications that require soil borings and introduces its subsections.
Section 3.7.10.1 – Borings Performed Through On-Call Drilling Agreements : This section describes the process for requesting soil borings through DelDOT’s on-call drilling agreements.
Section 3.7.10.2 – Borings Performed Under Other Professional Service Agreements : This section outlines the process to follow when soil borings are to be performed under a professional services agreement other than DelDOT’s on-call drilling services agreement.
Section 3.1.1 - Support Groups : This section defines DelDOT’s Support Groups and establishes their role in the project development process.
Section 3.2 - Project Baselining : This section introduces the concept of project baselining and introduces its subsections.
Section 3.2.1 - Initial Project Baselining : This section establishes the interrelated elements of the initial project baselining effort and introduces its subsections which defines each element and its associated considerations in more detail.
Section 3.2.2 - Project Re-Baselining : This section emphasizes the importance of re-baselining projects and introduces its subsections which describe two specific re-baselining activities.
Section 3.2.2.1 - Re-Baselining at Milestone Submissions : This section describes DelDOT’s policy of re-baselining projects within Unifier at each milestone submission.
Section 3.2.2.2 - Spend Updates : This section describes DelDOT’s policy of evaluating the actual rate of project expenditures compared to the expected expenditure rate in order to evaluate the accuracy of a project’s spending plan.
Section 3.3 - Project Number Request : This section describes the process to obtain a project number through DelDOT’s Unifier software.
Section 3.4 - Professional Services : This section introduces the concept of professional services and introduces its subsections.
Section 3.4.1 - Professional Services Procurement : This section introduces DelDOT’s Professional Services Procurement manual and divides the project development professional services DelDOT procures into two categories which are discussed further within its subsections.
Section 3.4.1.1 - Design Related Professional Services : This section introduces the professional service indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts DelDOT utilizes for the typical project development services the Department requires. The section also describes the process DelDOT uses to setup tasks under an IDIQ professional service agreement.
Section 3.4.1.2 - Design Support Related Professional Services : This section discusses the design support related professional services DelDOT utilizes (i.e., soil borings, utility designation, test holes etc.). The section also describes the process DelDOT uses to setup tasks under an IDIQ professional service agreement.
Section 3.4.2 - Professional Services Management : This section’s subsections summarize the Project Manager’s responsibilities for managing professional service tasks.
Section 3.4.2.1 - Project Tracking : This section presents project tracking techniques that can be used by the Project Manager to forecast future project milestone submittal dates and associated costs. Techniques presented included performing regularly scheduled task progress meetings and invoice tracking. The section also describes the approval process for extra work.
Section 3.4.2.2 - Invoicing : This section describes the time window and processes that DelDOT uses to verify invoice accuracy and then circulate and approve professional service invoices.
Section 3.4.2.2.1 - Fiscal Year End : This section notifies the Project Manager and DelDOT’s contracted professional service vendors to the end of the State fiscal year finance system shut down.
Section 3.4.2.3 - Quality Assurance : This section summarizes the Project Manager’s responsibility to perform quality assurance on project deliverables, to review and evaluate the services of the vendor annually, and to document the vendor’s performance at the end of the contract.
Section 3.4.2.4 - Closeout : This section establishes the process to closeout tasks upon completion or when DelDOT has decided to terminate the service before its completion.
Section 3.5 - Establishment of Project Directory : This section establishes the importance of using consistent project directories and introduces its subsections which describe DelDOT’s typical project development related directories.
Section 3.6 - Project Scoping : This section describes the best practices for performing project scoping and arriving at a preferred alternative for further design. The section also introduces the concept of scope management which ensures the project remains consistent with its original objectives.
Section 3.6.1 - Define the Project Objective : This section encourages the development of explicit and clear project objectives that indicate why a project is being undertaken and what the project is intended to achieve. The section also introduces the concept of “purpose and need” statements to assist in refining a project’s scope and subsequent objectives.
Section 3.6.2 – Develop the Scoping Process : This section encourages the design team to tailor the scoping process to suit an individual project’s needs. The section’s subsections outline scoping phase considerations and describe scoping phase tools.
Section 3.6.2.1 – NEPA Class Requirements : This section describes how the NEPA class of a proposed action will affect the project scoping phase.
Section 3.6.2.2 – Scoping Meetings : This section describes strategies and considerations for conducting meetings with project stakeholders at strategic points in the scoping phase.
Section 3.6.2.3 – Public Involvement : This section describes how public involvement can be used to generate public consensus by providing a forum for users to express their needs, ideas, concerns, and perspectives relating to the transportation system while giving DelDOT the opportunity to educate the public about transportation issues, services, and projects.
Section 3.6.3 – Establish Preliminary Design Controls and Criteria : This section describes the process for determining the transportation user groups to accommodate and for selecting associated design controls and criteria to ensure the development of suitable alternatives.
Section 3.6.4 – Establish Project Constraints : This section introduces its subsections which detail several common project constraints and limitations that must be vetted within the project scoping phase.
Section 3.6.4.1 – Transportation Operation
Section 3.6.4.2 – Environmental
Section 3.6.5 – Alternatives Development : This section describes the process used to develop conceptual alternatives that meet the project’s objectives while considering the project’s constraints and associated design controls and criteria.
Section 3.6.5.1 – Alternative Types : This section describes the array of solutions that can be applied to rectify identified transportation deficiencies and meet the project’s objectives.
Section 3.6.6 – Alternativities Assessment : This section describes the process used to evaluate the feasible alternatives developed.
Section 3.6.7 – Process Documentation : This section provides recommendations on how to summarize the early project level decisions so they can be effectively referenced later in the project development process.
Section 3.6.8 – Evaluate Ancillary Considerations : This section introduces its subsections which describe the parameters and considerations to be evaluated once a preferred alternative has been selected.
Section 3.7 – Existing Site Investigation : This section introduces its subsections which describe the existing site investigation and data collection techniques available and their associated request process.
Section 3.7.1 – GIS Databases : This section introduces its subsections which describe the uses for and associated limitations of the GIS databases most frequently utilized during the project development process.
Section 3.7.1.1 – DelDOT Gateway
Section 3.7.1.2 – NPDES Viewer
Section 3.7.1.3 – DNREC Stormwater Assessment Study GIS
Section 3.7.2 – Topographic Field Survey : This section describes the process for requesting topographic field surveys performed through DelDOT’s Survey section and introduces its subsections which describe considerations and standards related to topographic field surveys.
Section 3.7.2.1 – Survey Standards
Section 3.7.2.2 – Other Surveying Methods
Section 3.7.2.3 – Pedestrian Connection Survey Considerations
Section 3.7.3 – Traffic Data and Functional Classification Designation
Section 3.7.4 – Property Rights Research
Section 3.7.6 – Utility Designation
Section 3.7.7 – Pavement Corings
Section 3.7.8 – Traffic Counts
Section 3.7.9 – Pipe Video Inspection
Section 3.7.10 – Soil Borings : This section outlines applications that require soil borings and introduces its subsections.
Section 3.7.10.1 – Borings Performed Through On-Call Drilling Agreements : This section describes the process for requesting soil borings through DelDOT’s on-call drilling agreements.
Section 3.7.10.2 – Borings Performed Under Other Professional Service Agreements : This section outlines the process to follow when soil borings are to be performed under a professional services agreement other than DelDOT’s on-call drilling services agreement.
Section 5.1 – Public Engagement: This section lists outcomes that can be expected when public engagement is performed properly. The section also emphasizes the importance of developing a public involvement plan that is tailored to an individual project.
Section 5.1.1 – Project Initiation Letter: The section describes the significance of, and considerations associated with DelDOT’s standard Public Involvement Initial Outreach letter.
Section 5.1.2 – Public Project Stakeholder Considerations: This section defines public project stakeholders and provides a list of typical public project stakeholders.
Section 5.1.2.1 – Legislative Coordination: This section describes the importance of, and considerations associated with legislative coordination. The section introduces its subsections which describe the specific processes that DelDOT utilizes to keep area legislators informed of project developments.
Section 5.1.2.1.1 – Legislative Briefings
Section 5.1.2.1.2 – Quarterly Legislative Reports
Section 5.1.2.1.3 – Award Notifications
Section 5.1.2.2 – Emergency Responders: This section describes considerations and procedures for coordinating with emergency responders as part of the project development process.
Section 5.1.2.3 – Advisory Committees: This section introduces the premise and benefits of establishing advisory committees to obtain feedback and potentially recommendations from a representative cross-section of stakeholders as part of the project development process.
Section 5.1.2.4 – Schools: This section describes the importance of, and considerations associated with coordinating with area schools during the project development process.
Section 5.1.2.5 – Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Considerations: This section summarizes considerations and procedures for maintaining compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) through the public engagement process. The ADA requires that state and local governments provide individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all government programs, services, and activities.
Section 5.1.2.6 – Public Involvement for Traditionally Underserved Communities: This section describes the requirements for and, importance of engaging with traditionally underserved communities during the project development process. The section identifies mechanisms to investigate demographic data to assess the presence of traditionally underserved communities within the project’s limits.
Section 5.1.3 – Public Engagement Methods: This section and its subsections introduce the typical methods that DelDOT utilizes to engage the public. The section provides guidance on engagement method(s) selection based on the purpose and subsequent goals of the public engagement. The section also outlines general guidance, best practices, and associated considerations for engaging with the public.
Section 5.1.3.1 – Project Websites: This section introduces how project websites can be used to communicate information about a project to the public. The section includes guidance on when the project website should be developed and on the information that the project website should provide.
Section 5.1.3.2 – Property Owner Meetings: This section presents how property owner meetings can be used within the project development process to engage with stakeholders and to obtain direct feedback and insight on the property owners’ concerns and wishes. The section establishes topics that can be discussed at these meetings, their ideal timing relative to other public engagement methods, as well as the staff members from DelDOT that should be included.
Section 5.1.3.3 – Public Workshops: This section defines public workshops and how they are used within the public engagement process to provide information and to solicit feedback. The section lists the typical information that is presented at DelDOT public workshops.
Section 5.1.3.3.1 – Federal Requirements: This section summarizes the federal requirements for providing a public workshop within the project development process. The section further defines the requirements for providing a public workshop based on NEPA class of action.
Section 5.1.3.3.2 – Format and Timing: The section provides guidance on selecting a public workshop format as well as the ideal timing for holding the public workshop within the project development process based on the purpose and associated goals of the public workshop.
Section 5.1.3.3.2.1 – Virtual Public Workshop: This section describes considerations for, and best practices associated with conducting virtual public workshops.
Section 5.1.3.3.2.2 – Hybrid Public Workshop: This section describes considerations for, and best practices associated with conducting a public workshop with an in-person and virtual component.
Section 5.1.3.3.2.3 – In-Person Public Workshop: This section describes considerations for, and best practices associated with conducting an in-person public workshop.
Section 5.1.3.3.2.4 – In-Person Public Hearing: This section outlines the federal requirements for holding an in-person public hearing as well as their associated best practices.
Section 5.1.3.3.3 – Visualizations: This section describes best practices for creating clear and informative visualizations that will strengthen stakeholder participation, thereby helping obtain desired public engagement results.
Section 5.1.3.3.4 – Key Stakeholder Notification: This section outlines DelDOT’s preference and procedures for notifying key stakeholders in advance of a public workshop so that they are informed and in a better position to answer the questions they may receive.
Section 5.1.3.3.5 – Public Notification: This section establishes DelDOT’s advanced notification requirements, the methods that can be used to notify the public of an upcoming public workshop, as well as the information that is to be included in the notification.
Section 5.1.3.3.6 – Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): This section identifies the requirements associated with conducting public meetings in accordance with the Delaware Code.
Section 5.1.3.3.7 – DelDOT Attendance: This section describes considerations for including staff from across DelDOT at public workshops to maximize the benefit of the public engagement.
Section 5.1.3.3.8 – Public Information Meetings: This section describes considerations for holding a public information meeting where the goal of the meeting is to inform the public rather than solicit feedback.
Section 5.1.4 – Night Work Surveys: This section outlines DelDOT’s practices for distributing night work surveys for cases where DelDOT reasonably expects the use of night work.
Section 5.1.5 – Public Engagement During Construction: This section describes the tasks that the design team will be responsible for performing during the construction phase of a project to ensure that the public stays informed of DelDOT’s activities.
Section 5.2 – Other Public Traveled Way Owners: This section establishes that other public entities own and maintain roads within the State and asserts the importance of determining the entities that possess existing rights and maintenance responsibilities within a project’s limits. The section further establishes DelDOT’s typical role and responsibilities on public transportation projects performed throughout the State.
Section 5.2.1 – Agreement Types: This section identifies and describes several of the common agreement types that DelDOT utilizes as well as their relationship to the project development process.
Section 5.2.2 – Maintenance Responsibility and Existing Agreement Assessment: This section outlines a methodology to assess DelDOT’s jurisdiction and associated maintenance responsibilities within a project’s limits.
Section 5.2.3 – Agreement Development Process: This section identifies best practices for developing agreements when required within the project development process. The section’s subsections describe processes and associated considerations for several of the more common agreements that DelDOT enters into as part of the project development process.
Section 5.2.3.1 – Town Agreements
Section 5.2.3.2 – Traffic Signal Agreements
Section 5.3 – Environmental: This section introduces the processes and procedures that DelDOT employs to ensure that the State’s transportation needs are met in a way that minimizes impacts to the surrounding environment. The section introduces DelDOT’s Environmental Stewardship section (ESO) as well as outlines various deliverables that are created through the environmental coordination process.
Section 5.3.1 – Planning and Environmental Linkage (PEL): This section introduces Planning and Environmental Linkage (PEL) strategies that can be employed to inform transportation decision-making in a way that considers environmental, community, and economic goals early in the transportation planning process, and then uses that information, analysis, and products developed to inform the environmental review process. The section also presents the concept of PEL studies which can be used to document the project level planning and environmental analysis that has been conducted prior to the formal start of the NEPA process.
Section 5.3.2 – National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Process: This section outlines the general requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and identifies implementation responsibilities both at the state and federal level for maintaining compliance with the act. The section also identifies several key elements of the NEPA process and provides general guidance for developing NEPA documents.
Section 5.3.2.1 – Classes of Actions: This section presents the classes of actions that are defined by the regulations implementing NEPA.
Section 5.3.2.1.1 – Categorical Exclusions (CEs): This section defines the actions which are considered to be categorical excluded under NEPA. The section also introduces the programmatic agreement maintained between DelDOT and the FHWA regarding the processing of actions classified as categorical exclusions for Federal-aid Highway Program projects and defines the paths for obtaining approval under the programmatic agreement.
Section 5.3.2.1.2 – Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): This section defines the actions which are considered to have a significant environmental impact, thereby requiring the development of an environmental impact statement. The section also identifies the procedures and activities that are to be performed under this class of action to obtain an approved environmental document.
Section 5.3.2.1.3 – Environmental Assessment (EA): This section defines the actions which require the performance of an Environmental Assessment. The section also provides a general overview of the Environmental Assessment process.
Section 5.3.2.2 – Protected Resources: This section and its subsections identify environmental protections that have been put into place at either the federal or state level. The section identifies and defines impacts as either direct effects, indirect effects, or cumulative effects. The section also describes the sequencing order for mitigating potential impacts in accordance with federal regulations.
Section 5.3.2.2.1 – Human and Built Environment: This section defines human and built environment resources and introduces its subsections which define the state and federal level protections and associated considerations for these environmental resources. The section also describes procedures to be followed if unmarked human burial and human skeletal remains are found during either design or construction.
Section 5.3.2.2.1.1 – Environmental Justice
Section 5.3.2.2.1.2 – Historic Preservation
Section 5.3.2.2.1.3 – Publicly Owned Parkland and Other Publicly Owned Recreational Areas
Section 5.3.2.2.1.4 – Air Quality
Section 5.3.2.2.1.5 – Noise
Section 5.3.2.2.1.6 – Hazardous Material
Section 5.3.2.2.1.7 – Land Use
Section 5.3.2.2.1.8 – Right-of-Way
Section 5.3.2.2.1.9 – Other Social Impacts
Section 5.3.2.2.2 – Natural Environment: This section defines natural environment resources and introduces its subsections which define the state and federal level protections and associated considerations for these environmental resources.
Section 5.3.2.2.2.1 – Water Quality
Section 5.3.2.2.2.2 – Fish and Wildlife
Section 5.3.2.2.2.3 – Wetlands
Section 5.3.2.2.2.4 – Coastal Locations
Section 5.3.2.2.2.5 – Floodplains
Section 5.3.2.2.2.6 – Farmland
Section 5.3.2.2.2.7 – Forestland and Trees
Section 5.3.2.3 – Re-Evaluation: This section establishes that FHWA may review DelDOT’s environmental document prior to granting any new approval related to an action.
Section 5.3.3 – Project Permitting: This section describes the need for obtaining permits and defines DelDOT’s process for coordinating with regulatory agencies as needed to obtain permits. The section also introduces its subsections which define considerations associated with the individual permits that DelDOT most typically obtains as part of the project development process.
Section 5.3.3.1 – United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
Section 5.3.3.1.1 – Mitigation Requirements
Section 5.3.3.2 – United States Coast Guard (USCG)
Section 5.3.3.3 – DNREC Wetlands and Subaqueous Lands (WLSL)
Section 5.3.3.4 – New Castle County