Agenda - 10-22-1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING PROCESS The planning process utilized by this study involves an interdisciplinary team to research and coordinate the environmental analyses and corridor location studies for the project. The intent of this process is to investigate all reasonable transportation alternatives. and evaluate the merits of each while maximizing citizen involvement. The planning process has been divided into six phases as indicated in the chart on the right. The current phase of the study includes an introduction of the study to the public, compiling an inventory of planning issues and community concerns, gathering necessary project related information, and determining the transportation needs in the study area. Between now and the end of October, project activities in this phase of the process will be conducted. Later this fall, preliminary corridors will be developed based on the data collected, issues identified, and the expressed community concerns. Initial field investigations will aid in refining and evaluating the preliminary corridors. The results of this study will be presented at the next citizens informational workshop. Based on the evaluation of corridors and public input, the final corridors for detailed study will be selected. Beginning late this year, engineering functional design, detailed field studies, and environmental determinations will be completed for each of the final corridors. The results of this evaluation will be presented at the third citizens informational workshop during the late spring of next year. Technical reports will be prepared during the summer in many of the areas of environmental evaluation. Once all studies are completed, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be produced. This report will summarize and compare the results of the engineering and environmental evaluations. The statement is scheduled for publication in early 1993. After a complete review of the report, a. Pre- Hearing Open House will be held to discuss the results, and soon afterward, a Corridor Location Public Hearing will be held. °a4 After the Corridor Public Hearing, final selection of a Preferred Alternative will be made by the Department with input from local, state, and federal agencies, local officials, and the public. All comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and the Public Hearing transcript will be reviewed during the decision process. During the final phase of the project, the Final Environmental Impact Statement will be written for the Preferred Alternative. Final comments on the project will be solicited and a Record of Decision will be completed. This would complete the planning process for the project. Should a build alternate be selected for implementation, the design process would follow the planning process. During design, additional opportunities for public involvement would occur.