PD&E Definitions

What is a PD&E Study?

The Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study is an extensive study conducted 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), is a combined effort by professionals who analyze the project related information to develop the best alternative 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

  • Selection of Recommended Alternative

  • Public 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 geometry

  • Existing land use and property information

  • Planned development

  • Existing drainage systems and drainage patterns

  • Identification of wetlands

  • Threatened/endangered species habitat

  • Contamination sites

  • Archaeological/historic sites

  • Public recreational lands and wildlife or waterfowl refuges

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 collected from the public and local government and environmental agencies throughout the study process. The No Build Alternative, or the alternative that makes no improvements other than routine maintenance, will remain a viable alternative throughout the Study.

Analysis of Alternatives

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

  1. Air Quality - Assessing existing conditions and determining ways to conform with the Clean Air Act.

  2. Noise - Determining if the project will increase traffic noise levels and, if so, identifying economically feasible ways to minimize effects.

  3. Wetlands - Finding the best way to avoid or mitigate long-term and short-term impacts to wetlands.

  4. Water Quality - Implementing measures to prevent, reduce or eliminate pollution of ground and surface waters.

  5. Wildlife and Habitat Impacts - Protecting and ensuring the continued existence of threatened and/or endangered species and their habitat.

  6. Contamination - Identifying, evaluating and recommending actions concerning contamination problems within and/or adjacent to the project.

  7. Floodplains - Documenting the efforts to minimize or avoid encroachment within the floodplains through drainage system design.

  8. Archaeological and Historic Sites – Documenting and protecting historic and archaeologically significant places.

Selection of Recommended Alternative

Once the analysis of 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. The recommended alternative, along with the supporting project documentation and summary of public input, will be presented to the Federal Highway Administration for Location and Design Concept Acceptance.