INVEST 101 - Introduction to INVEST
Sustainable Transportation Curriculum for Universities
Slide 1
INVEST 101: Introduction to INVEST
Slide 2
Rating Systems for Infrastructure
Prominent sustainability infrastructure rating systems:
- BE2ST-in-Highways
- Envision
- GreenLITES
- Greenroads
- I-LAST
- INVEST
These systems employ different methods of determining sustainability, emphasizing different sustainable factors.
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INVEST — Infrastructure Voluntary Evaluation Sustainability Tool
- INVEST is a web-based self-evaluation tool
- It includes voluntary sustainability best practices called criteria
- Developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
- Links
Slide 4
INVEST — Infrastructure Voluntary Evaluation Sustainability Tool (Continued)
Slide 5
Why Measure Sustainability?
Track and assess progress
Encourage broad participation of stakeholders
Evaluate sustainability of trade-offs
Meet or anticipate new requirements
Find and address programmatic barriers
Communicate benefits and goals
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Benefits
Improve sustainability of specific transportation projects
Keep projects on track to meet sustainability goals
Provide contractors with incentives for implementing sustainability
Source: /1590/benefits.html
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INVEST has modules to evaluate the sustainability of transportation projects throughout the project life cycle.
It helps prioritize and communicate balanced choices between different goals of transportation plans, programs, and projects.

Slide 8
INVEST Criteria


Slide 9
Criterion Scoring Example
Detailed background and scoring requirements are provided for each applicable criterion. Users then select responses to questions based on this guidance to determine the scores. Collaboration among stakeholders is vital to the scoring process.

Slide 10
Criterion Scoring Example (Continued)
Detailed background and scoring requirements are provided for each applicable criterion. Users then select responses to questions based on this guidance to determine the scores. Collaboration among stakeholders is vital to the scoring process.
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INVEST Scoring
- Depending on the project or program being evaluated, a set of criteria are applicable
- Projects may receive a Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum rating for achieving 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60% or more, respectively, of the total achievable score for the relevant module
- Scoring can be done online on the INVEST website or offline by downloading fillable worksheets
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INVEST Scoring Example
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CASE STUDY — Planning
- MetroPlan Orlando, the MPO for central Florida, applied INVEST to help address health and sustainability in regional planning
- Evaluation of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan was conducted using INVEST's Systems Planning for Regions Module
- Received a Gold rating (129 out of 255 possible points)
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Case Study — Planning (continued)
Key Outcomes
Identification of areas of success and for improvement
Helped develop a multi-year health and sustainability approach
New relationships and enhanced relationships with non-traditional transportation partners
Increased support from elected and senior officials
Development of white papers
Identification of research topics
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CASE STUDY — Project Development and Construction
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Ohio DOT included sustainability (measured by INVEST) as one of the criteria for scoring contractor proposals for a design-build contract for the second phase of the George V. Voinovich Bridge
- Winning bid committed to INVEST Platinum rating (95 INVEST points out of a total possible of 126)
Source: /779/94/ohio-dot-george-v-voinovich-bridgecleveland-innerbelt-corridor.html
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CASE STUDY — Project Development and Construction (continued)
- Collaborative workshop (eco-charette) was used to identify areas for improvement
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Selected outcomes
- Reuse of materials
- Earthwork balance to eliminate excess fill
- Diversion of most of the construction waste
Source: /779/94/ohio-dot-george-v-voinovich-bridgecleveland-innerbelt-corridor.html
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CASE STUDY — Operations and Maintenance
- ADOT conducted an evaluation of internal operations and infrastructure operations and maintenance areas using INVEST
- ADOT achieved a platinum rating, based on the self-evaluation
Source: /779/78/arizona-dot-using-invest-to-benefit-planning-programming-and-maintenance-in-arizona.html
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CASE STUDY — Operations and Maintenance (Continued)
High-Scoring Areas
- Vehicle fuel efficiency and use
- Pavement management system
- Transportation management and operations
- Work zone traffic control
Areas for Improvement
- Sustainability plan
- Electrical energy efficiency and use
- Tracking environmental commitments
- Bridge management system
- Road weather management program
Source: /779/78/arizona-dot-using-invest-to-benefit-planning-programming-and-maintenance-in-arizona.html
Slide 19 [end]
INVEST 101: Introduction to INVEST