Status and Schedule

Current Technical Activities

• 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 

The project team will also explore potential immediate action projects that may improve travel efficiency and safety in the interim. 

Current Public Involvement Activites

The public will be asked to provide input that will feed into concept development during this phase of the project. Public input on concept highway elements (such as the number and location of access points for managed lane system) and transit system concept elements (such as the transit system route, number and location of transit station locations, functions stations will serve, and size, shape, and appearance stations should have) will be sought via surveys, stakeholder interviews, Citizen Advisory Committee meetings, Technical Advisory Committee meetings, and other tools.

The Round 4 Public Information Open Houses provided an opportunity for the public to provide input on the addition of/removal of transit stations, alignments preferences, additional destinations for transit service was sought during these open houses.  The business community was invited to provide input on the same topics during an online survey completed in late 2008.  Finally, the Station Area Planning Workshops held in early December 2008 (Round 1) and March 2009 (Round 2) sought public input on elements of the transit system, such as the landmarks and attractions for transit users, station locations and access, size, shape and appearance of stations as well as potential land use challenges and opportunities.

The public will be provided with an opportunity to comment on the project concepts and benefits/impacts assessment information at the Round 5 public information open houses. These open houses are likely to occur in fall 2009.

Work Completed During Previous Phases

The following information provides a detailed overview of what has been accomplished by the project team.

Phase 1. Corridor Planning Phase

• Completed data gathering (i.e., traffic, mapping, environmental, roadway)
• Assessed travel needs and existing conditions
• Evaluated previously identified projects
• Examined the Existing Conditions Prepared Existing Conditions Report
• Prepared Need and Purpose Statement, which defines the needs that the project must meet in order to be considered successful. These needs influence the rest of the process, including the range of alternatives studied and, ultimately, the selected alternative.  

• Identified a long list of potential transportation strategies for the corridor based on planned and programmed project alternatives, public input and suggestions, input from federal, state and local agencies, as well as project team recommendations (For more information on the range of stragies evaluated, please visit the Corridor Strategies Page)
• Evaluated strategies to determine their potential to meet the project Need and Purpose
• Developed project alternatives (combinations of strategies) using strategies with the best potential to meet project needs. The alternatives for study have been identified as:
  • No Build
  • Transportation System Management
  • BRT and Operational Improvements
  • BRT, Operational Improvements, and Managed Lanes
  • Express Bus and Operational Improvements
  • Express Bus, Operational Improvements, and Managed Lanes
  • LRT and Operational Improvements
  • LRT, Operational Improvements, and Managed Lanes
• Prepared Strategy Screening and Alternatives Development Process and Initial Screening Results

• Evaluate costs, compare alternatives and select Preferred Alternative (anticipated Fall 2009)
• Draft and finalize the environmental document
• Acquire a Record of Decision