Overview
Learn how the REF works as a centralized resource for strengthening environmental stewardship in transportation planning combining a regional view of ecological, social, and regulated-substance resources that can be seen and analyzed using an Interactive Map.
Overview
This section contains an executive summary of the REF, including an overview of the planning-region, and access to the REF Interactive Map.
What is REF?
The Regional Environmental Framework (REF) is a centralized resource intended to strengthen environmental stewardship in the transportation planning process. The REF helps local planners, agencies, and engineers make informed decisions about transportation projects by providing data and analysis regarding ecological, cultural, and regulated-waste resources across Champaign County. As a preliminary screening tool, the REF allows users to identify compliance-triggering and ecologically vulnerable resources within a project location and incorporate them early into project planning, laying the groundwork for potential National Environmental Policy Act and Illinois Dept.
Regional Overview
The REF considers a regional view of ecological, social, and regulated-substance resources encompassing the entirety of Champaign County. Champaign County is located in the heart of east-central Illinois, surrounded by Piatt, Ford, Vermilion, and Douglas Counties. It is the fifth largest county in the State of Illinois, with approximately 638,528 acres, or 998 square miles. Champaign and Urbana, the primary cities of Champaign County, are approximately 136 miles south of Chicago, 120 miles west of Indianapolis, Indiana and 165 miles north-northeast of St.
Interactive Map
This Interactive Map is to be used as a preliminary screening tool for identifying review-triggering resources and potentially ecologically vulnerable areas within Champaign County. The map contains individual resource layers, as well as a Composite Score of Ecological Vulnerability. Consult the User Guide for detailed process for using the Map. Map showing the ecological, social, cultural and regulated substances in the region intended to strengthen environmental stewardship in the transportation planning process.