Permit Streamlining

The Accelerated Bridge Program Team has established a comprehensive strategy to streamline environmental permitting processes related to the Accelerated Bridge Program. By working cooperatively with permitting agencies and training staff and contractors, these efforts will ensure timely completion of projects.

Early Coordination

At the core of the Accelerated Bridge Program permitting strategy will be coordination with all parties early in design, beginning at project scoping and continuing through final design and construction. Early coordination will ensure that environmental issues are identified and addressed early in design.

Early Coordination Meetings With Environmental Agencies

The Accelerated Bridge Program team has begun holding early coordination meetings with Federal and State environmental agencies on a quarterly basis.

MassDOT's environmental division is working with Information Technology to create a web based review site so environmental agencies can review and comment on proposed projects. This system will be helpful in allowing environmental agencies to screen environmentally sensitive projects requiring more extensive reviews.

First of a Series of Public/Private Partnership Workshops Held

The Accelerated Bridge Program team, working cooperatively with federal and state environmental agencies, conducted a bridge permitting workshop for consultant teams to discuss permitting requirements, identify ways to streamline project reviews and ensure the protection of the environment.

Interagency Training

The Accelerated Bridge Program team, working cooperatively with federal and state environmental agencies, will conduct a bridge permitting workshop for consultant teams to discuss permitting requirements, identify ways to streamline project reviews and ensure the protection of the environment.

Further sessions will be scheduled for contractors to emphasize the need to ensure permit conditions are implemented appropriately.

Programmatic Permits and Agreements

The Accelerated Bridge Program team is working with environmental agencies on a number of programmatic permits and agreements. Programmatic permits will allow for significantly streamlined reviews if a series of performance standards are met.