Pilot Testing of the TCAPP Decision Guide and Related Capacity Products: Hoopstick Creek, South Carolina

Abstract

This report evaluates and proposes enhancements to the Transportation for Communities–Advancing Projects through Partnerships (TCAPP) collaborative planning tool. The report explores the tool’s value in providing guidance to facilitate project partners to work collaboratively towards environmental permitting decisions for South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) projects. The project team, led by the SCDOT, used the tool to evaluate a proposed bridge replacement over Hoopstick Creek on Johns Island, South Carolina. The project team recognizes that the selected pilot project may be perceived as routine for most transportation agencies. These types of projects account for the greatest quantity of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews and permit applications within the SCDOT. A pilot test of TCAPP on this project is useful because routine projects typically require a disproportionate amount of time in the environmental process compared with large or complex projects. The pilot project focused on the implementation of six “decision point files” of the TCAPP decision tool, entirely from the environmental permitting/NEPA (ENV) section. The findings from the pilot project indicated that applying TCAPP resulted in an increased understanding among the agency partners and SCDOT regarding their roles and expectations for permitting approvals. The pilot project created an opportunity for dialogue among the SCDOT and partner agencies that not only improved the level of environmental analysis for Hoopstick Creek Bridge Replacement but provided insights for process improvements as well. The SCDOT gained an increased understanding of the information required and the level of detail to be submitted for permits, a view of how the decision makers use the information to address concerns, and how decision makers process a complete application. Agency partners gained a new perspective of the processes and constraints that the SCDOT faces when evaluating projects. One of the lasting contributions of TCAPP to the team and agencies is an understanding that communication is key for all projects, all the time.