The 20-year transportation plan includes roadway, transit, safety, and environmental and economic vitality elements to help meet the region's transportation goals of improving our safety and cross-town mobility, while reducing traffic congestion.

To facilitate discussion about which species might be considered for protection, a series of in-depth interviews were conducted with members of the local science community who have expertise in the areas of birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals, plants and plant communities, and reptiles and amphibians.