Nebraska coordinates with Federal Highway Administration to speed projects, save costs

Officials from the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently negotiated a new accord between the two organizations that will speed projects as well as save costs.

Specifically, the pact advances bridge as well as road projects while saving millions of dollars, which can now be shared with local Nebraska agencies.

The new accord, which took more than a year of negotiations between the FHWA and NDOR, is  a “programmatic agreement.” The negotiations revolved around clarifying details, such as environmental reviews of federal-aid highway projects, and defining categorical exclusions.

The coordination especially clarifies “state of good repair projects,” which include reconstruction work as well as surface overlays. These clarifications include the frequency necessary for state officials to travel for approvals from the FHWA. Local officials have estimated that the agreement will save project time as well as costs.

"We believe that not having to go to and from (FHWA at every step), less checking in and having mutually agreed-upon processes will save NDOR much time and human resources, and we will realize a cost savings before long," Kyle Schneweis, NDOR director, said. "We are just getting started but we are hoping to save months of time."