Details:

Creators:
Perry, Ernest
Corporate Contributors:
Missouri. Department of Transportation ; University of Missouri--Columbia
Missouri. Department of Transportation ; University of Missouri--Columbia Less -
Subject/TRT Terms:
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Case Studies Community Impact Assessment Decision-making Decision Making Environmental Justice Environmental Risk Assessment NEPA Policy Making Public Participation Social Impact Assessment Transportation Policy
Publication/ Report Number:
RDT04-020
Resource Type:
Dissertation
Geographical Coverage:
Missouri
Edition:
12/02 through 12/03
Corporate Publisher:
Missouri. Department of Transportation
Abstract:
This research examines the Social Impact Assessment Process at the Missouri Department of Transportation as directed by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The analysis includes an examination of the influences of the more recent directives provided by Community Impact Assessment and Environmental Justice within the Social Impact Assessment and NEPA processes. Four case studies are used to assess the influence of human-dimension impacts in transportation development. The case studies include the organizational setting and development of an environmental emphasis in the Missouri Department of Transportation, the process of environmental clearance that includes human-dimension impacts, the influence of Environmental Justice and Community Impact Assessment, and the industry guidance, trends and policies created to address Environmental Justice.

Findings of this research indicate that the Social Impact Assessment process is under-utilized in transportation development but holds great potential for opening the environmental and transportation decision-making process to greater influence on the part of citizens. Constraints to increased effectiveness of the Social Impact Assessment Process include the organizational setting in Departments of Transportation, the original NEPA guidance, the lack of personnel with social science backgrounds at Departments of Transportation, the budgetary constraints on staffing facing these organizations, and the lack of external agency influence over the Social Impact Assessment Process.

The Social Impact Assessment process is likely to increase in relevancy for Departments of Transportation based on the Federal Highway Administration’s emphasis on human-dimension impacts and potential legal challenges regarding Community Impacts and Environmental Justice. Increased consideration of the human-dimension issues surrounding the transportation development process can benefit citizens and communities by ensuring transportation facilities enhance rather than degrade the social and economic setting of neighborhoods and communities. Departments of Transportation are also likely to benefit from greater consideration of human-dimension impacts through increased citizen consent for projects and decreased environmental clearance delays.


Format:
PDF
Collection(s):
US Transportation Collection
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:c9c3b526a497c21484b6f239028b4855df9dbd7ff47e8dc3939c5e8271b01612
Download URL:
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/16142/dot_16142_DS1.pdf
File Type:

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