The development of transportation infrastructure requires a long planning, funding, and implementation cycle that often takes more than a decade for a particular project. Environmental mitigation is usually planned and implemented late in this process and on a project-by-project basis. Habitat conservation plans (HCPs), which provide an alternative model, are becoming increasingly popular. HCPs consist of an early assessment of regional mitigation needs and advanced planning for habitat- or landscape-level impacts from multiple infrastructure projects. This approach has potential benefits, which include reduced project delays, lower mitigation and transaction costs, and improved conditions for the affected species. This paper reviews the current status of HCPs and examines their use and place in the infrastructure planning process, as described by HCP developers in a national survey. The review and survey show that this model is growing in popularity and holds promise for further development as an approach to both habitat preservation and infrastructure development.