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30 <br /> and local financial commitment and request FTA's approval to enter into the preliminary <br /> engineering(PE)phase of project development. <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 of <br /> detail necessaryto 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 enterfinal 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 available, <br /> an alternative plan must be developed. Upon this determination,Triangle Transit will <br /> work in collaboration with the citizens,elected officials,and stakeholders from Orange <br /> County,Chapel Hill Transit,DCHC MPO and Durham County to identify next steps toward <br /> 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 /> ":b/:3�/�G���-Page � 28 <br />