ARTBA, which has been campaigning for years for environmental streamlining, is pleased with the bill. Nick Goldstein, Vice President of Environmental & Regulatory Affairs and Assistant General Counsel, of ARTBA explains:

“The conference report includes two of ARTBA’s long-held priorities in reforming the review and approval process: greater “lead agency authority” for the USDOT, and the integration of the planning and NEPA processes. USDOT (or a modal agency of its choice), as lead agency, now has the option to call a meeting of participating agencies and set a schedule for the review process.