What does alternatives development mean?

The alternatives development phase is a brainstorming time when ideas to address the project’s purpose and need are gathered from the community, ODOT and from the US 97 and US 20 Refinement Plan. The result is a wide range of ideas and design concepts. Each idea and concept was then studied and configured with other design concepts to build alternatives that could potentially be a solution for the project. These alternatives constituted a preliminary range of alternatives that are advanced to the alternatives screening phase.

What does alternatives screening mean?

During the alternatives screening phase, the alternatives (or transportation solutions) are compared against screening criteria that measure whether or not the alternatives satisfy the project’s purpose and need. Those alternatives that meet the project’s purpose and need are advanced as the reasonable range of alternatives for detailed study and comparison in the Draft EIS.

ODOT Recommends Advancing East DS1 Alternative and East DS2 Alternative

ODOT developed a number of down-scaled (lower cost) alternatives in response to public and stakeholder concerns about the size and cost of the project. These down-scaled alternatives are smaller-sized solutions with simpler design elements to reduce congestion, and improve traffic flow and safety in the study area. In response to valued public input about the overall project cost and the ability to fund project phases, ODOT also is considering revising the project’s purpose and need statement to incorporate cost-efficiency as a project requirement.

ODOT made a recommendation in February 2010 to forward two down-scaled alternatives (East DS1 Alternative and East DS2 Alternative), along with the required No Build Alternative, for detailed study and comparison in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

During February and March 2010, ODOT met with the project’s Citizen Advisory Committee, the Agency Coordination Committee which includes the project’s Participating Agencies, and the Steering Team to receive feedback on its recommendation. The committees generally agreed with ODOT’s recommendation. ODOT is recommending advancing East DS1 Alternative and East DS2 Alternative, along with the No Build Alternative, for detailed study and comparison in the Draft EIS.

ODOT and the project team are now conducting detailed environmental studies to identify the impacts and benefits of the East DS1, East DS2, and No Build alternatives. The results of all the studies will be summarized in a document called a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will be made available to the public. The Draft EIS is expected to be released in early 2011.

The community and environmental issues that will be studied in the Draft EIS include:

• air quality
• archaeology
• biological resources
• cultural/historic resources
• economics
• energy
• environmental justice populations
• geology
• hazardous materials
• hydraulics and stormwater
• land use
• noise
• planning
• parks and recreation
• social
• transportation
• visual quality
• water quality and
• wetlands

The Draft EIS will be the next formal opportunity for public comment on the project. Comments on the Draft EIS may be submitted via mail, email, and the project website. A public hearing will be held after the Draft EIS is published where the public can provide formal testimony and submit written comments. A Spanish-language interpreter will be available at the public hearing. ODOT will announce publication of the Draft EIS through the Federal Register, on this website, and through the media and project mailing list.

*The ODOT Regional Manager is responsible for final project recommendations which are subject to FHWA approval.