The Infrastructure Technology Resources Consortium Seminar Series occurs every 2nd Friday through December:
- Sept 11, 2020
- Oct 9, 2020
- Nov 13, 2020
- Dec 11, 2020
September Topic: Advancing Sustainability Through INVEST
September Speaker: Constance M. Hill Galloway, Ph.D., of the Federal Highway Administration
Abstract: The Infrastructure Voluntary Evaluation Sustainability Tool (INVEST), developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is a web-based self-evaluation tool comprised of voluntary sustainability best practices, called criteria, which cover the full lifecycle of transportation services, including system planning, project planning, design, and construction, and continuing through operations and maintenance. FHWA developed INVEST for voluntary use by transportation agencies to assess and enhance the sustainability of their plans, projects, and programs. INVEST has significantly evolved from its early beta-and pilot-tested stages to a valuable resource that is increasingly being used by transportation professionals across the country. With the tool currently in its fourth iteration, INVEST Version 1.3, FHWA has collected examples of unique and unexpected state, regional, and local applications of INVEST. FHWA will release a major update to INVEST, Version 2.0, later in 2020 that will include new transit criteria and scorecards as major enhancements, changes to existing criteria to make them more applicable and relevant to transit, a new mobile-friendly interface, and other website improvements. Along with more detailed information about INVEST 2.0, this presentation will highlight some of the unique state, regional, and local applications of INVEST, describe how the tool has helped improve and enhance sustainability within the transportation sector, and offer ways in which transportation professionals can get the most out of utilizing INVEST.
Bio: Constance M. Galloway (Connie) is an Environmental Protection Specialist on the Sustainable Transportation and Resilience Team in the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Natural Environment in Washington, DC. Connie works on policy matters, research, and program initiatives related to sustainability, including the development of the sustainability rating tool, INVEST. She has over 20 years of experience with the FHWA, where she also provides policy and technical assistance to State DOTs, local planning organizations, and others on brownfields, hazardous waste sites, and other issues related to hazardous waste contamination and transportation. Connie holds a Ph.D. in Urban and Environmental Studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY, a Master of Science in Geology, also from RPI, and a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA.
