Overview




The Efficient Transportation Decision Making (ETDM) Process modifies how the State of Florida accomplishes transportation planning and project development for major transportation improvement projects within current statutes and regulations. The ETDM Process is comprised of two screening events or phases known as the Planning Screen and Programming Screen. These two phases engage agencies and the affected community in the early stages of the transportation planning process to allow for timely input, communication and coordination. Information and recommendations gathered from the agencies and public during the screening events provide the basis for technical studies and preliminary engineering designs performed for those projects moving forward into the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) phase (hereafter referred to as Project Development phase).


Planning Screen - occurs in conjunction with the development or update of a Metropolitan Planning Organization's (MPO) Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). The general purpose is to identify fatal flaws or controversies that will prevent the project from moving forward. Based on commentary received from review agencies/public, transportation planners and decision makers are provided the opportunity to adjust project concepts to avoid or minimize adverse effects, consider mitigation alternatives and refine project cost estimates.
Programming Screen - occurs after the Planning Screen and before projects are funded in the FDOT Five-Year Work Program. The overall intent of this phase is to satisfy NEPA and facilitate compliance with other applicable environmental laws and regulations by focusing commentary received from review agencies/public on specific project effects, targeted public outreach activities to further understand the magnitude of potential effects, and technical studies/mitigation strategies to address potential project impacts. This input is then used by FDOT to comprise the NEPA scope of work - the environmental technical work needed to satisfy a particular federal/state agency's statutory responsibility.
Project Development - builds upon previous evaluations of the Planning and Programming Screens by filling in information gaps, focusing on issues of concern identified during the ETDM Process and completing the appropriate level of environmental documentation based on the determined Class of Action.


To ensure effects on natural/cultural/community resources, land use decisions, and other agency goals and initiatives are considered during the transportation decision-making process, each of the seven geographic FDOT Districts interacts with their respective Environmental Technical Advisory Team (ETAT). Each ETAT consists of representatives from planning, regulatory and resource agencies, as well as from the two federally recognized Native American Tribes. Each ETAT representative is responsible for coordinating and performing all actions to satisfy the responsibilities of his/her agency or tribe with respect to the planning and development of transportation projects. The role of the ETAT changes from advisory during the Planning and Programming Screen phases to coordination during the Project Development and environmental permitting phases.

Agency participation and public involvement remain continuous throughout the life-cycle of a transportation project through the use of the Environmental Screening Tool (EST). The EST is an interactive database and mapping application (accessible through the Internet) that integrates project data and resource information from multiple sources into a single, standard format. The application allows users to:

  • Input and update information about transportation projects and community characteristics;


  • Perform standardized analyses of the potential project effects on natural, cultural, and community resources;


  • Report comments about potential project effects; and


  • Provide information to the public.

The project record is maintained on the EST database throughout the life-cycle of the project.

Overall, Florida's ETDM Process uses a collaborative approach to identify transportation solutions that are responsive to environmental and cultural preservation goals and community livability objectives. Early coordination among the FDOT, local governments, and environmental resource agencies improves the mutual awareness and understanding of mobility needs and environmental preservation. Other benefits from the implementation of the ETDM Process include time and cost savings during the planning and development of transportation projects.