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Evaluating Alternatives

Alternative Development
 

  • A No Build Alternative is required in NEPA environmental reviews and maintains the existing roadway network, without the proposed project. It serves as the baseline to which other alternatives are compared.
     

  • Both On-System and Off-System Alternatives were considered. 

    • On-System Alternatives consider existing highways and roadways for widening or improvements. 

    • Off-System Alternatives consider potential locations or alignments for new highways.

Evaluation Criteria 
 

Evaluation criteria measure the performance of alternatives to guide decisions about which option(s) should move forward. Alternatives will be screened using the following criteria:
 

  • Congestion Reduction: Reduces delays and improves traffic flows measured through improved Level of Service.
     

  • Regional Mobility: Benefits freight movement and emergency services.
     

  • Environmental and Community Impacts: Evaluates potential impacts to natural resources, cultural resources, and local communities.
     

  • Feasibility: Assesses construction costs, engineering constraints, and other factors. 

Potential Evaluation Outcomes 

Recommend Eliminating: Alternatives that do not meet Purpose & Need or have a fatal flaw (an impact or combination of impacts that prohibit a concept from being built) will be eliminated.

Recommend Advancing: These alternatives meet the Purpose & Need and will be studied further in the next project phases. Some alternatives were identified by ITD to proceed as separate projects.

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