Transportation for Communities - Advancing Projects Through Partnerships
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Transportation Phases
- Long Range Transportation Planning
- Integrated Programming and Fiscal Constraint
- Corridor Planning
- Environmental Review Merged with Permitting
Applications - Visioning and Transportation
Check out the Understanding the Decision Guide page
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.
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 | ||
|---|---|---|
MPO |
Advisor |
Observes final EIS approval for consideration of impact to the LRTP, fiscal constraint and air quality conformity |
FHWA |
Decision Maker |
Approves the preferred alternative as meeting the purpose and need |
State DOT |
Decision Maker |
Ensures the approved preferred alternative/LEDPA is well documented and supported by all partners |
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. |
Process |
Integration Type |
Integration Description |
|---|---|---|
| Land Use | None. | None. |
| Air Quality | None. | None. |
| Natural Environment | None. | None. |
| Capital Improvement | None. | None. |
| Safety and Security | None. | None. |
| Human Environment | None. | 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 |
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 |
|---|
| 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 |
|
|
|---|---|---|
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 |
No Specific Data | Air Quality |
No Specific Data |
Natural Environment |
No Specific Data |
Capital Improvement |
No Specific Data |
Safety and Security |
No Specific Data |
Human Environment |
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. | |
The 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.
Supporting Tools and Technology | |
|---|---|
Category |
Detail |
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. |
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. |
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Key Decision Relationship to Other Topics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Topic | Description | ||
| Visioning and Transportation |
|
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