In response to a Consent Decree from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) turned to VHB to develop a compliance program for statewide water quality monitoring and crediting. VHB worked with RIDOT, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), and the EPA to develop a consistent approach to developing Stormwater Control Plans for impaired water bodies, which included drafting an approach document and report template.
VHB assisted RIDOT in managing the submission of numerous Stormwater Control Plans and tracking the construction of hundreds of stormwater controls. As a trusted advisor to RIDOT’s Office of Stormwater Management, VHB helped establish a stormwater program that efficiently plans, tracks, and reports compliance with permit and consent decree requirements. We developed a complex spatial database to collect drainage assets, watershed assessment data, and inspection information, using our extensive knowledge of ArcGIS Online tools and RIDOT’s stormwater projects to facilitate team collaboration, compliance tracking, and understanding of program progress.
In support of the stormwater program, VHB helped RIDOT secure a $26 million U.S. Department of Transportation Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) grant. Additionally, VHB developed innovative approaches for quantifying the resiliency benefits of the stormwater improvement project in the grant application, presenting strong evidence that the improvements would not only improve water quality but also increase resiliency across the watershed. The PROTECT grant will provide RIDOT with funding to deploy 97 nature-based stormwater treatment units across Rhode Island and leverages innovative partnerships with municipal, private, and non-governmental organization partners.
