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Transportation for Communities - Advancing Projects Through Partnerships



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ENV-10
Approve Preferred Alternative/LEDPA

Description: Decision makers approve a preferred project alternative using input from stakeholders, planning partners, and detailed information about potential impacts. A check-point is included to ensure that the preferred alternative is consistent with the LRTP and TIP/STIP.

There is information developed in prior key decisions that informs this step.



  • Basics
  • Integration
  • Decision Making Questions
  • Case Study Examples
  • Technical Support
  • Special Topics

Purpose

To evaluate and select the preferred alternative/Least Environmental Damaging Practicable Alternative (LEDPA ).

Outcome

A Preferred Alternative/LEDPA for inclusion in final NEPA document.


Partner Roles

FHWA

Decision Maker

Approves the preferred alternative as meeting the purpose and need

MPO

Advisor

Observes final EIS approval for consideration of impact to the LRTP, fiscal constraint and air quality conformity

Resource Agency

Decision Maker

USACE approves a preferred alternative that is also the LEDPA, meeting preferences regarding avoidance, minimization, potential conservation and restoration investments and mitigation needs.

State DOT

Decision Maker

Ensures the approved preferred alternative/LEDPA is well documented and supported by all partners

Process

Integration Type

Integration Description
Land Use and Smart GrowthNone.None.
Air Quality ConformityNone.None.
Natural Environment and the IEFNone.None.
Capital ImprovementNone.None.
Safety and SecurityNone.None.
Human EnvironmentNone.None.
Economic DevelopmentNone.None.
Greenhouse GasNone.None.

Linkages to other Phases of Transportation Decision Making

Key Decision

What is Linked?

Purpose of Linkage

From Long Range Transportation Planning

LRP-10 - Adopt LRTP by MPO

Approved preferred alternative

To validate consistency with the adopted LRPT, fiscal constraint, and air quality conformity.

To Integrated Programming and Fiscal Constraint

PRO-3 - Approve Project List Drawn from Adopted Plan Scenario or Solution Set

Approved preferred alternative

To ensure consistency between the preferred alternative and the project concept in the project list

PRO-6 - Adopt TIP by MPO

Approved preferred alternative

To ensure consistency with the project concept, funding, and schedule in the adopted TIP

Policy Questions

Questions about purpose and roles

No specific questions.

Questions about stakeholders

No specific questions.

Questions about the transportation process supporting the decision

Has the preferred alternative been communicated to all private sector stakeholders?

Is the preferred alternative consistent with any P3 assumptions established in the purpose and need?

What changes have been made from the draft EIS and why?

What commitments and agreements were made to the partners to address remaining issues?

What is the basis of the selection of the preferred alternative?

Questions about other phases

Will the preferred alternative require a plan or program update?

Questions about non-transportation sectors/processes

No specific questions.

Questions to Gather Stakeholder Interests

Are there remaining issues or problems that you foresee with the preferred alternative?

How would you rank the alternatives and why?

What solutions do you see for any remaining issues?

Which alternative do you prefer and why?

Questions to Incorporate Stakeholder Interests

Are there public concerns with implementation of the project as a P3 and how are these being addressed?

How did the stakeholders rank the alternatives and why?

How were public comments considered in the selection of the preferred alternative?

What were the remaining issues that the stakeholders identified for each alternative?


Case Study Example(s):

Supporting Data for the Key Decision

InfoThe following is a list of data needed to support the key decision. Practitioners collect this information for decision makers to consider. You may add to this list using the comment box at the bottom of the page.

From other phases of transportation decision making

Long Range Planning

Validation that the preferred alternative is consistent with the LRTP.

Programming

Validation that the preferred alternative is consistent with the TIP

Corridor Planning

Validation that the preferred alternative is consistent with the corridor plan.

Environmental Review

No Specific Data

From other sectors and processes

Land Use and Smart Growth

No Specific Data

Air Quality Conformity

No Specific Data

Natural Environment and the IEF

No Specific Data

Capital Improvement

No Specific Data

Safety and Security

No Specific Data

Human Environment

No Specific Data

Economic Development

No Specific Data

Greenhouse Gas

No Specific Data

From the transportation technical process supporting this key decision

Comparison of the preferred alternative using the evaluation criteria, methods and performance measures.

Comparison to purpose and need and study area.

Identified actions required to support.

From stakeholder collaboration

Summary of feedback received in response to the DEIS, both from public stakeholders and partners, and justification for how that feedback was addressed.

From public private partnership

No Specific Data

Supporting Tools and Technology

Category

Detail

Analysis

Financial Planning Tools: Used to determine and review project costs, as a final check to make sure sufficient funding is available before proceeding to design phases.

Communication

GIS Tools: Used to map jurisdictional boundaries, to clarify the decision-making roles of different stakeholder agencies.
 

Visualization Tools: Used to display data in an easily digestible format, so stakeholders can make decisions in real time, "around the table."
 

Documentation Tools: Used to communicate draft and finalized environmental documents to the public. Examples include the Federal Register.

Gathering

Commenting Tools: Used to collect and consolidate public inputs on the approved project alternative, and track how comments were considered in the decision process.



Key Decision Relationship to Other Topics

Topic Description
Performance Measures
Using Performance Measures - The selected performance measures are used to evaluate alternatives documented in the Draft EIS and inform the selection of a preferred alternative for inclusion in the Final EIS.
Data Transfer - Selected measures are transferred from ENV-5. The measures used at ENV-7 and ENV-9 should be consistent.
Streamlining a Bottleneck Project
Approve Preferred Alternative - Selection of preferred alternative for implementation
Consistency Review - With LRP-8 to ensure that Preferred Alternative is consistent with the adopted Preferred Plan Scenario
Visioning and Transportation
Adopt Futures - Identify how the preferred alternative is supportive of the consensus future and the vision outcome.
Data Transfer - Relevant information on preferred alternative for the community vision to LRP 8 and PRO 4.
Public-Private Partnerships
Ensure Consistency - Determine if the preferred alternative is consistent with previous assumptions made in the long range plan and the TIP/STIP process.
Transfer Decision - Inform private sector stakeholders and the public as to the preferred alternative and the impact on P3 options.


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