During the environmental documentation phase of transportation project development, WSDOT studies the effect of projects on land use.  We look at right of way needs and potential changes in development patterns that may result from change in the transportation system.

The information on this page is designed for a technical audience.

Policy Guidance

• Chapter 450  of the Environmental Procedures Manual
• Local Agencies should also consult Chapter 24 of the Local Agency Guidelines (LAG) Manual.

  Process Guidance

• CE/DCE -- fill out the ERS/ECS form. The form is available to WSDOT employees only and can be accessed from the WSDOT Intranet Environment page.
• Define Land Use  study area   (pdf 20 kb) -- TSK 450-a
• Analyzing Land Use Effects   (pdf 23 kb)  -- TSK 450-b
• NRCS Farmland Assessment Procedure   (pdf 22 kb) -- PRO 450-a and link to NRCS web page  (scroll to bottom of page for forms)
• Recreational Land Conversion  procedure  (pdf 85 kb) including Section 6(f) conversions.
• Land Use Discipline Report checklist  (pdf 20 kb)
• Wild and Scenic Rivers   Contact Greta Movassaghi , with the USFS Mt. Baker Ranger District (360 854-2630) for information about the Skagit River.  Contact Sue Baker , with the USFS, Mt. Adams Ranger District (541 308-1700) for information about the White Salmon River and the Klickitat River.

Data Sources

• WSDOT GIS Workbench (available to WSDOT staff)
• MSRC Web Site  (for Local Agency comp plans and SMPs)
• Ecology CZM Web Site
• Discipline Specialists   (pdf 59 kb) -- contact a subject matter expert
• Wild and Scenic Rivers
• NRI Consultation Instructions

Technical Resources

• The Use of Expert Panels In Analyzing Transportation and Land Use Alternatives (NCHRP Project 8-36, Task 04, Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc) The report provides guidance on when and how to conduct expert panels for analysis applications. Including a 6-Step process for panel design
• Land Use Impacts of Transportation: A Guidebook  (NCHRP, 1998): General discussion of the link between land use and transportation followed by a summary of analytical tools for land use analysis and discussion of their advantages and disadvantages.
• Interim Guidance on the Application of Travel and Land Use Forecasting in NEPA (FHWA, 2010). This is voluntary guidance that discusses the links between land use and transportation demand models and recommends best practices.
• A Guidebook for Evaluating the Indirect Land Use and Growth Impacts of Highway Improvements (FHWA, ODOT, PSU, ECONorthwest, 2001)
• Forecasting Indirect Land Use Effects of Transportation Projects (AASHTO 2007)  The report describes 6 approaches for conducting indirect land use effects analysis and is intended to be used in conjunction with the previous reference.