Essential Corridor Study Elements
Analysis of Existing Corridor
Purpose: To compile information on the current state of the facility/corridor.
Items discussed include:
- The existing facility type(s)/cross-section(s)
- The current travel demand along the facility. This includes the traffic volumes of passengers
vehicles and trucks, and depending on the level of analysis, bikes and/or pedestrians
- The degree and type of freight movement (if applicable)
- A level of service (LOS) and capacity analysis along the existing corridor
- A safety/crash analysis
- Manner by which the facility under study fits in with and connects to the rest of the transportation system
- Other existing non-highway modes of transportation
Outcome: A Transportation Profile, which presents specific information
on the existing state of the corridor under study along with a broad overview of the
connecting and surrounding multimodal transportation system. This documentation can
be freestanding or be embedded in the corridor study report.
Purpose and Need for Improvements
Purpose: To develop the purpose and need for improvements along the
corridor. Items discussed include:
- The specific goals of the study
- The selection of the facility as a Strategic Highway Corridor
- The need for improvements along the facility as they relate to the corridor's function
as a Strategic Highway Corridor
- The future travel demand along the corridor (autos, trucks, and/or freight movement)
- A level of service (LOS) and capacity analysis of the future travel demand
Items discussed in relation to the purpose and need for improvements should be a
statement of a transportation problem, not a specific solution. However, the
purpose and need for the improvements should be specific enough to generate
alternatives that may potentially yield real solutions to the problem at-hand.
Discussion of the purpose and need serves as a preface and supporting documentation
for recommended future improvements that enter the NEPA process. This
information can help shape corridor-level recommendations for future improvements
and influence individual projects' purpose and need statements.
Outcome: A description of the purpose and need for improvements
along the corridor, specific to the goals and intent of the corridor study.
This documentation, referred to as a Problem Statement, can be freestanding or
be embedded in the corridor study report.
Coordination with Partnering Agencies and other Key Stakeholders
Purpose: To develop a mutually agreed upon solution to the
identified transportation problem. Up front coordination and collaboration with
partnering agencies and jurisdictions is critical to the success of a corridor
study and any subsequent projects. The level of involvement of each partner is
determined by the goals and other elements in the corridor study. All stakeholders
should be involved from the beginning or inception of the study. Partnering agencies
and stakeholders may include, but are not limited to:
- Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
- Metropolitan Planning Organization(s) (MPOs)
- Rural Planning Organization(s) (RPOs)
- North Carolina Department of Commerce (DOC)
- North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR)
- North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
- North Carolina Division of Coastal Management (DCM)
- North Carolina Division of Water Quality (DWQ)
- North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
- North Carolina State Ports Authority
- North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC)
- United States Army Corps of Engineers (US ACE)
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service (US FWS)
- National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA)
- Local jurisdictions
- Other key stakeholders
Outcome: Mutually agreed upon solution for the transportation problem.
Public Outreach and Involvement
Purpose: To seek input and comments from the general public
regarding all aspects of the corridor study, including the different elements
under study and the manner in which it is being conducted. The level of
public outreach depends on elements integrated in the study. Public input
can be garnered in several ways:
- Informational meetings/presentations (small or large group)
- Workshops or charettes
- Hearings
- Stakeholder interviews
- Media outreach
- Website publication
Outcome: A general consensus and community buy-in on a
solution for the identified transportation problem will be sought.
Alternatives Development and Analysis
Purpose: To develop and analyze alternatives that meet the
goals, intent, and purpose and need of the corridor study. This task will be
performed in coordination and collaboration with the key stakeholders and the
general public. Depending on the purpose and need and the intent of the study,
the level of effort will vary. For example, if the primary focus of the study
is determining the appropriate access management techniques that should be
implemented along a corridor, alternatives may be developed solely for accomplishing
this goal. Likewise, if the corridor study is a Tiered EIS, alternatives developed
might be approximately 100 miles long and 2000 feet wide. Alternatives include a
No-Build alternative along with potentially several Build alternatives. In
addition, other modes of transportation may be examined as necessary, depending
on the intent of the corridor study, such as a Tiered EIS.
An analysis of each of the alternatives developed will occur to determine the best
solution(s) that meet(s) the purpose and need and goals of the study. The
analysis may include items such as:
- Mobility benefits
- Economic benefits
- Environmental impacts
- Indirect and cumulative impacts
- Cost effectiveness benefits
- Effects on other components in the transportation system
- Travel forecast (if applicable)
Outcome: Documentation of the alternatives developed, analyzed, and
recommended for implementation.
Implementation Plan/Action Plan
Purpose: To develop a plan to implement the recommended improvements.
This may include such items as:
- Incorporating study outcomes into transportation plans, programs, and other
planning documents/plans (such as local comprehensive plans)
- Prioritization or staging of improvements
- Funding mechanisms
- Federal, state, and local agreements
- Monitoring factors which may affect implementation
Outcome: An implementation/action plan.
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