MISSOURI'S ENVIRONMENTAL SUCCESS STORY

In the early 1990s, Branson, Missouri, went almost overnight from a population of 3,706 to hosting more than 5 million tourists annually as a music-lover's haven. Missouri's governor declared an "economic emergency" in June 1992, asking the Missouri Department of Transportation to plan and gain design approval on a new highway network in 6 months. This was heretofore unheard of in the transportation industry. A timetable for the Ozark Mountain Highroad project was laid out that outlined the time constraints, each agency's responsibilities, and pertinent information on the National Environmental Policy Act. As the major steps were outlined, needed activities and specific documentation became apparent. Agencies made remarkable efforts to cooperate, and key information was made available to all participating agencies through the use of project consultant liaisons. Along with the commitment to a working atmosphere of total partnership, the Highroad design group also committed itself to going beyond the accepted safety and connectivity issues of road design. As the Environmental Impact Statement drafts were updated, quick turnarounds were adhered to. The entire environmental review, including recommendations for mitigation, design features to be incorporated, and alternates, was approved in a remarkable 7-month timeframe. Four of 18 separate contracts are now complete, and the cost of developing the location, environmental statement, and right-of-way plans was approximately $5 million--a bargain for a trendsetting approach to environmental planning. In the end, the Ozark Mountain Highroad was awarded the 1995 Environmental Excellence Award for its new model of highway planning--a recognition of remarkable teamwork.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01474820
• Corporate Authors:

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Ludlam, G
  • ROBERTSON, N
• Publication Date: 1999

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 41-44
• Serial:
  • AASHTO Quarterly Magazine
  • Volume: 78
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
  • ISSN: 0147-4820

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Awards; Best practices; Cooperation; Environmental design; Environmental impact statements; Environmental protection; Government agencies; Highway design; Highway engineering; Highway planning; Information dissemination; Interagency relations; Right of way (Land); State departments of transportation; Time duration
• Identifier Terms: National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
• Geographic Terms: Branson (Missouri); Ozark Mountains
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00788826
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 5 2000 12:00AM