Our Approach
The Baltimore City Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed the replacement of two structurally deficient bridges over CSX Railroad in southwest Baltimore City. The project includes the reconstruction of Bridge BC 5103, a three-span steel girder bridge carrying seven lanes of traffic and Ramp Bridge BC 5221, which carries two lanes. Straughan supported the NEPA and environmental permitting process for the project by conducting tree surveys, preparing documentation for wetland and waterway permitting, and facilitating coordination with the Maryland Critical Area Commission.
The project was processed as a Programmatic Categorical Exclusion (PCE) and satisfied the requirements of both NEPA and the Maryland Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). Coordination with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) ensured that all environmental documentation met federal standards and future federal funding. Straughan drew upon extensive experience working with both SHA and the City of Baltimore to efficiently navigate the NEPA process, anticipate challenges, streamline approvals, and deliver a compliant, well-supported PCE that met both federal and state requirements.
