Road Ecology Center

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is firmly committed to a proactive environmental ethic in providing a safe, efficient, balanced and environmentally sound transportation system in the State of New York. In building and maintaining a statewide transportation network, NYSDOT must balance many competing needs while ensuring the people of the state a safe and efficient system. New York State Department of Transportation has taken steps to fully integrate environmental concerns into their normal work, from planning and scoping right through design, construction, operation and maintenance by instituting its environmental stewardship program, the Environmental Initiative. This Initiative includes conducting maintenance, equipment management and construction activities appropriately to prevent and/or minimize adverse impacts upon the environment and to enhance the environment when we can. This paper describes how the operational capabilities of a Department of Transportation can be brought to bear on the environmental stewardship responsibilities shared by all governmental organizations.