By Samina Bharmal and Peter Whitfield ( November 15, 2018, 12:53 PM EST) -- On Oct. 29, 2018, the U.S. Department of Transportation and certain of its subagencies issued a rule[1] that could create a faster, less duplicative environmental review process for transportation infrastructure projects. Under the rule, the Federal Highway Administration, or FHWA, the Federal Railroad Administration, or FRA, and the Federal Transit Administration, or FTA, will share a single set of Section 4(f) and National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, regulations, with minor differences. The agencies explain that the changes "will provide a more consistent and predictable process for potential project sponsors, especially those that engage in environmental reviews for more than one mode of surface transportation."...