Provide Feedback Now

Phase 3: Assess Benefits and Impacts (current)

Current Status of Project

Project engineers and environmental specialists are assessing environmental impacts that could result from the I-285 top end alternatives currently under consideration. As a result, many historic houses and districts, as well as parkland have been identified as Section 4(f) resources under the National Environmental Policy Act.   As a result, design engineers are working to reduce the footprints of the alternatives and to update project costs.

Overview

Phase 3 fully develops, evaluates, narrows down and refines the alternatives presented in Phase 2.  Phase 3 activities include:

• Fully defining each alternative and its operating plan and cost
• Developing concept designs
• Evaluating each alternative against the Project Need and Purpose
• Assessing the overall benefits to the transportation system
• Determining the economic, social, and environmental impacts to the human environment
• Exploring potential immediate action projects that may improve travel efficiency and safety in the interim

Defining the Original Eight Alternatives

After determining combinations of strategies (Phase 2) to form  basic alternatives, it was time to fully define the alternatives, develop criteria to compare them, and then present that information to all stakeholders. To do so, the project team completed  technical analyses, including engineering and environmental. The information in the chart (below right) provides an idea of the level of analysis required to evaluate the alternatives at this and the next stage.

Because of the complexity of evaluation and analysis, additional public engagement opportunities were created through an interactive mapping tool, Transit Planning Workshops, an  video and social media.

View the original eight alternatives... 

Click on a phase to learn more about it.

From Eight to Four Alternatives

In fall of 2009, the completed eight alternatives, their benefits and costs were shared with the public.  Public response and the full alternatives analysis were then presented to GDOT and GRTA for review.  For the full analysis, the project team analyzed and compiled technical data, finalized operating plans and associated costs, assessed overall benefits to the transportation system, developed complete concept designs, evaluated each alternative against the defined Project Need and Purpose, and determined economic, social, and environmental impacts to the human environment.

Based on this information, GDOT and GRTA recommended four alternatives to move forward. Now, additional analysis and refinement of the alternatives is in progress as the project team prepares the documents necessary for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) submission.  New alternative details will be available in spring 2011, and it is projected that the public will be invited to review the NEPA draft documents, or Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in late 2011 or early 2012.

View the current four alternatives under consideration...