Indirect and cumulative impact assessments are considered among the most complex, if not perplexing, decision-making processes related to surface transportation development. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires agencies to conduct assessments of all reasonably forseeable direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of projects that use federal funding. However, finding a common definition of reasonable assessment among the core agencies remains a signficant challenge. In the last decade, the experiences of transportation agencies and stakeholders have generated valuable lessons learned, particularly in the scoping phase of the assessment process. This broadcast explored some of the most useful strategies employed to date for conducting indirect and cumulative assessments that lead to better NEPA decisions. The broadcast featured case studies from the Lower Manhattan Redevelopment Project, Maryland's I-270/US-15 Multimodal Corridor Study, and North Carolina's Monroe Bypass Project.

"Research sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration."