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28 <br />During the preliminary engineering phase of project development, local project sponsors <br />refine the design of the proposal, taking into consideration all reasonable design alternatives. <br />Preliminary engineering results in estimates of project costs, benefits, and impacts at a level <br />of detail necessary to complete the federal environmental process. <br />Preliminary engineering for a New Starts project is considered complete when the FTA has <br />issued a Record of Decision (ROD) as required by the National Environmental Policy Act <br />(NEPA). Projects which complete preliminary engineering and whose sponsors are <br />determined by the FTA to have the technical capability to advance further in the project <br />development process must request FTA approval to enter final design and submit updated <br />New Starts information for evaluation. <br />Final design is the last phase of project development, and includes right -of -way acquisition, <br />utility relocation, and the preparation of final construction plans, detailed specifications, <br />construction cost estimates, and bid documents. <br />The FTA typically considers a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) for a New Starts project <br />during the final design phase of the New Starts project development process. A State FFGA <br />will also be requested by the local project sponsor to supplement federal and local funding <br />sources. <br />With all funding secured, construction on the project will begin. <br />IX. ALTERNATIVE PLAN <br />If it is determined that Federal or State funding for the proposed projects are not <br />available, an alternative plan must be developed. Upon this determination, Triangle <br />Transit will work in collaboration with the citizens, elected officials, and stakeholders from <br />Orange County, Chapel Hill Transit, DCHC MPO and Durham County to identify next steps <br />toward the development of a revised plan. <br />X. CLOSING SUMMARY <br />The Bus and Rail Investment Plan in Orange County is the result of years of collaborative work <br />among Orange County elected officials and civic leaders, regional stakeholders, municipal and <br />county staff and Triangle Transit. The plan consists of a balance of bus improvements and rail <br />investment to help accommodate the population and employment growth that the region is <br />expected to experience in the next 25 years. <br />The proposed plan addresses the ongoing need to provide more options to transit riders with <br />improved and expanded bus and rail connections. Once implemented, the residents of <br />Orange County will be able to have greater access to jobs, shopping, and activity centers such <br />as downtown Chapel Hill and Carrboro, the University, or UNC Hospital. <br />Additionally, the plan will provide core infrastructure investment that will help support the <br />goals and objectives of local land use plans in Orange County and its municipalities. In <br />5/23/2012 - Page 128 <br />