What is a Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Study?


A PD&E study is a planning and engineering process that was developed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in order to determine social, economic and environmental impacts associated with a proposed transportation improvement project.  This process, mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), requires the combined efforts of professional engineers, planners and scientists who collect and analyze project-related information to develop the best solution for a community’s transportation needs.  The process used in the development of the project is made up of several components. 

These include:

  Data collection
  Development of alternatives
  Analysis of viable alternatives (including the no-project alternative)
  Selection of recommended alternatives
  Public and agency involvement

Data Collection
Data collection involves gathering the information that is needed to develop and evaluate the various improvement alternatives, including:

  Traffic counts
  Crash records
  Existing roadway conditions
  Identification of wetlands
  Threatened/Endangered species habitat
  Existing land use and property information 
  Planned developments
  Existing drainage systems and drainage patterns
  Contamination sites
  Archeological/Historical sites

Development of Alternatives
Several improvement alternatives will be developed that will meet future travel demand and attempt to minimize impacts to the community and the natural environment.  These alternatives will be developed with input from the public, local government and environmental agencies obtained throughout the study process.  The no-project alternative, or the alternative to make no improvements, will remain a viable alternative throughout the study.

Analysis of Alternatives
The alternatives developed will be compared based on community and environmental impacts, costs for design and construction, engineering inspection, right-of-way acquisition, construction and environmental mitigation.  Public comment and sentiment are also considered during this analysis.  Several environmental studies are conducted and used in this analysis.  These include:

Air Quality –
assesses existing conditions and determines ways to conform with the Clean Air Act

Noise –
determines if the project will increase noise levels in noise sensitive areas

Wetlands –
finds the best way to avoid or mitigate long-term and short-term impacts to wetlands

Water Quality –
implements measures to prevent, reduce or eliminate pollution of ground and surface waters

Wildlife and Habitat Impacts –
efforts are made to protect and ensure the continued existence of threatened and/or endangered species and their habitat

Contamination –
identify, evaluate and recommend actions concerning potential contamination problems within and/or adjacent to the project

Floodplains –
documents efforts to minimize or avoid encroachment within the 100-year floodplain through drainage system design

Archeological and Historic Sites –
documentation is required to identify and minimize impacts to historic and archaeologically significant sites

Selection of Recommended Alternatives
Once the analysis of all the viable alternatives, including the no-project alternative, is complete and the public has had the opportunity to comment on these alternatives, a recommendation will be made.  This recommended alternative, along with the supporting project documentation and summary of public input, will be presented to the FHWA for Location and Design Concept Acceptance.

Public Involvement Program
A complete Public Involvement Program is conducted throughout the study.  This program is designed to make the public aware of the project and to solicit comments and input from the public during the development and evaluation of the alternatives and the selection of the recommended alternative.