The North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration - North Carolina Division has undertaken a joint work plan for timely delivery of the transportation program with environmental excellence. The work plan has nine goals with associated teams and action plans. The work plan was launched in spring 2004. Periodic status reports will occur throughout the duration of the joint work plan.

Action Plans and Reports

Goal 1: Develop and implement an action plan that demonstrates NCDOT, FHWA and resource agency commitment to deliver NC's transportation program in a timely manner with environmental excellence

Goal 2: Reduce the time required to reach each concurrence point with in the Merger 01 Process

Goal 3: Define and develop a baseline assessment of the project delivery process

Goal 4: Decrease the time it takes in the process for ensuring compliance with the federal Endangered Species Act and the NC Endangered Species Act for threatened and/or endangered mussel species

Goal 5: Develop a methodology to determine the type of document for each project based on anticipated impacts and to improve the quality of environmental documents by ensuring that relevant data is presented in documents while other data, including background information for applicable laws and regulations, is referenced

Goal 6: Identify opportunities to educate the NCDOT and resource agencies on the role of safety in the transportation decision-making process

Goal 7: Prevent conformity lapses

Goal 8: Integrate systems planning and project development processes

Goal 9: Improve efficiency of compliance with Section 106 process in collaboration with DCR