Agenda - 03-24-1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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E1 /AL UA TION OF AL TERNA TI VES This NCDOT plaamiag and environmental study will identify and evaluate several transportation alternatives. Evaluation factors will include engineering, social, environmental, and economic impacts of the proposed action. The alternatives to be evaluated in the study include the Build Alternative, the "No- Build" or "Do- Nothing" Alternative, the improve Existing Facilities Alternative, the Mass Transit Alternative, and the Transportation Systems Management Alternative. The Build Alternative will evaluate the most reasonable roadway corridors within the study area. The "No- Build" Alternative will evaluate the local conditions should the new roadway not be constructed. Improvements to existing roadway facilities instead of constructing the new corridor will be evaluated in the Improve Existing Facilities Alternative. The Mass Transit Alternative will involve evaluation of transit improvements to meet future travel demand in the study area. And finally, the Transportation Systems Management Alternative will involve making minor improvements in the existing transportation system to achieve the maximum operational efficiency. ENGINEERING ENVIRONMENTAL The engineering portion of the study will focus on developing a series of safe and efficient build alternates based on the past, current, and future travel demands in the study window. These build alternates will be located within the final corridors being evaluated and will have various features depending on the traffic volumes and locations. Engineering evaluation factors include cost estimates, level of traffic service, roadway safety, constructability, and maintenance of existing traffic. . SOCIAL Social issues that will be addressed include potential impacts to existing neighborhoods, ANN%— community facilities, and recreational areas. An estimate of relocated residences, businesses, and non -profit organizations will be determined for each alternate. The effects of the project on the elderly, handicapped, transit -dependent, and minorities will also be addressed. Additionally, the study will identify and assess impacts on architecturally and archaeologically important cultural and historic resources, The major environ- mental impacts to be investigated in this study include Air Quality, Floodplains, Noise, Protected Plant and Animal Species, A 9 uatic and Terrestrial 60 Ecology, Water Resources, Wetlands, Farmlands, Soils, Hazardous Wastes, and the Visual Environment. The environmental study will be documented in Environmental Technical Reports as well as Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements. Detailed envirorunental evaluations of the alternates will be presented in these reports along with comments and correspondence received from local, state, and federal agencies as well as the public throughout the study process. ECONOMIC The economic impacts on the local or regional economy such as the effects of the project on growth, development, and employment will be examined. Impacts of the proposed action on established business districts and highway - related businesses are also included in the study. RUED FROM 571 0454 P. 9