DART'S ASAP EIS

by Douglas A. Allen, Systems Planning Mgr.; Dallas Rapid Transit Authority, Dallas, TX,
William Kyle Keahey, Sr. Envir. Planner; Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority, Dallas, TX,


Serial Information: Civil Engineering—ASCE, 1993, Vol. 63, Issue 8, Pg. 58-61


Document Type: Feature article

Abstract:

An environmental impact statement that takes several years to complete can demoralize the staffers behind a transportation project and reduce public support for the effort. In a hurry to get their initial transit system up and running, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority (DART) applied to the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) to expedite both the alternatives analysis/draft environmental impact statement and the preliminary engineering/final environmental impact statement under FTA's Overmatch Program. The program helps speed systems with a large percentage of local funding through the environmental impact statement process by giving them priority over other systems under review. But DART found that truly expediting the process required more than FTA's help. It required extensive system planning work and a commitment on the part of the system's staff to do the same amount of work in a shorter time. Ultimately, due to both, DART was able to use the Overmatch Program to complete both versions of the environmental impact statement in one-third the time similar projects have taken otherwise.

Subject Headings: Rapid transit systems | Project management | Public transportation | Public opinion and participation | Financing | Federal government

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