Improving the Efficiency and Consistency of Section 106 Compliance for State DOTs: Strategies for Project-Level Programmatic Agreements (2021)

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NCHRP Questionnaire on Project-Level Programmatic Agreements (PAs) Thank you for agreeing to be part of NCHRP Project 25-62: Improving the Efficiency and Consistency of Section 106 Compliance for State DOTs: Strategies for Project-Level Programmatic Agreements (PAs). For more information on this study, click below: https://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=4792 . This questionnaire will help the project team determine best practices and other issues related to the use of project-level PAs under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. PAs generally fall into two types: project-level PAs, and program PAs. Project-level PAs are an alternative to completing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to meet expedited project delivery schedules and manage agency resources effectively. The full range of how state DOTs use project-level PAs is not well documented and practitioners often rely on anecdotal information about developing and implementing these agreements. This project will seek to understand why and how DOTs are successfully using project-level PAs, as well as why they may not be using these agreements. We want examples of good PAs, and those that were less successful so we can understand what works, and what doesn’t work, in these agreement documents. The questionnaire should take approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Questions 1. Name: 2. Title, Agency: 3. State: 4. Phone/Email: 5. We realize your time is valuable. If there are details more easily shared through a phone interview, or you prefer we call you to complete the questionnaire, please check “yes” below and we will set up a time to interview you. If you want to complete the questionnaire yourself, please check “no.” ☐ Yes ☐ No 6. Project-level PAs are commonly used when, prior to approving the undertaking, the federal agency cannot fully determine how a particular undertaking may affect historic properties or the location of historic properties and their significance and character. Has your agency developed and/or been a signatory (an invited signatory or a concurring party) to a project-level PA for Section 106 compliance? ☐ Yes ☐ No 46

18. Did you experience any of the following after execution of the project-level PA? Please check all that apply. ☐ Unfulfilled agency commitments ☐ Delays in fulfilling the agreement ☐ Time constraints (PA expired before completing mitigation commitments) ☐ Stipulations assigned to contractors or other entities ☐ Other (please describe in more detail below) 19. If you checked “Other” regarding the execution of the PA above, please describe and indicate the specific PA you are referencing. 20. Can you provide any perspectives on what worked well during the process of developing and implementing a specific project-level PA or multiple PAs, such as unique or creative approaches or consultation strategies that were taken? Please describe below. 21. Can you provide any perspectives on challenges not already discussed? Please describe below. 22. If we need clarification or have questions about your responses, may we call you to follow up? ☐ Yes ☐ No 47