Purpose: Why was this guide prepared?

This guide was written as a quick primer for transportation professionals and analysts who assess the impacts of proposed transportation actions on communities. It outlines the community impact assessment process, highlights critical areas that must be examined, identifies basic tools and information sources, and stimulates the thought-process related to individual projects.

In the past, the consequences of transportation investments on communities have often been ignored or introduced near the end of a planning process, reducing them to reactive considerations at best. The goals of this primer are to increase awareness of the effects of transportation actions on the human environment and emphasize that community impacts deserve serious attention in project planning and development-attention comparable to that given the natural environment. Finally, this guide is intended to provide some tips for facilitating public involvement in the decisionmaking process.

Acknowledgements

This guidebook was prepared by the following State and local transportation professionals:

Mr. William Brock North Carolina DOT	Mr. Greg King California DOT
Mr. Buddy Cunill Florida DOT	Ms. Judith Lindsey-Foster Maine DOT
Mr. Steve Dockter Columbus, Georgia Department of Community & Economic Development	Mr. Donald Sparklin Maryland State Highway Administration
Mr. John Isom Arkansas State Highway & Transportation Department	Ms. Barbara Stevens Illinois DOT

September 1996

In consultation with the Federal Highway Administration, Office of Environment and Planning, with assistance from Apogee Research, Inc. and Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade Douglas, Inc.

Introduction

Defining the Project

Developing a Community Profile

Collecting Data

Analyzing Community Impacts

Selecting Analysis Tools

Identifying Solutions

Using Public Involvement

Documenting Findings

Resources