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The Libby North Corridor Study
Slide 1
The Libby North Corridor Study
Linking the Transportation Planning and
NEPA
Processes
Presented by: Jean Riley, Transportation Planning Engineer,
MDT
Scott Jackson, Fish Wildlife Biologist,
USFWS
Lani Kai Eggertsen-Goff, Lead Planner, PB Americas
Slide 2
Corridor Study/ Plan Process
Overview for this presentation:
- How we got there — Montana’s approach
- Tools for Facilitation and Collaboration — Corridor Planning
- Opportunities/ Constraints — What worked/ What didn’t
- Merit for Future
Slide 3
Corridor Planning
This slide shows a graphic of corridor planning, from policy direction to project implementation.
- Provide for early and continuous involvement of environmental, regulatory, resource agencies, local governments, and public stakeholders.
Slide 4
Libby North Corridor Study: Highway 567 — Pipe Creek Road
This slide shows a map of Highway 567 in Montana.
Slide 5
Using 23
CFR
Appendix A Part 450
- Documentation Needs
- Level of Detail (compared to a full NEPA)
- Working with
FHWA
Division Office to comply with Appendix A
- Three Main Issues areas:
- Procedures
- Substantive
- Administrative
Slide 6
Procedural Questions
- Format
- Level of Detail
- Type and Extent of Involvement (Agency/ Public)
- Use of Decisions/ Analyses from Transportation Planning Process
- Extent of FHWA upfront assurances
- Considerations for Planning to NEPA
Slide 7
Substantive Issue Areas
- General Issues
- Purpose and Need
- Alternatives or Options
- Affected Environment
- Environmental Mitigation/ Avoidance
Slide 8
Administrative Concerns
- Federal Funds Usage
- Staffing and Organization Arrangements
- Agency Liaisons & Partnerships
- Utilization in Planning Process
- Training Opportunities
Slide 9
Pipe Creek Road
This slide shows a picture of Pipe Creek Road in Montana.
Slide 10
Corridor Study Background
- Highway 567 (Pipe Creek Road) formerly a logging road, now connects Libby and Yaak
- Roadway Reconstruction proposed in 2005
- Court Ruling of “no take” of Grizzly Bears
- Additional Threatened Species – Bull Trout, Canada Lynx, and gray wolves
- Began the Corridor Study process to look at possible options in a planning process versus reconstruction project (NEPA) process
Slide 11
Collaborative Approach
- Original Scope of Work
- Public meeting results “don’t change the character” of the roadway
- Two meetings with Agency and MDT staff
- Alternatives (Options) workshop
- Agency “buy-in” during and after the process
Slide 12
Proposed Roadway Visualization
This slide shows a visualization of what Pipe Creek Road after construction.
Slide 13
Study Outcome
- Identified appropriate Option and Phasing
- Final Public Meeting in November 2007
- Libby North Corridor Project is anticipated to have the Categorical Exclusion completed by Summer 2010
- Study printed, distributed and available on Internet (https://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/libby/)
Slide 14
Lessons Learned
- Shift from costly
EIS
to Cat Ex is possible
- Resource Agency staff appreciate planning approach
- Improved MDT & Agency relationships
- The Public spoke & told MDT “thank you for listening to us”
- Will allow MDT to use this Corridor Study process on other potential projects
Slide 15
Opportunities in Corridor Study Process
- Addressing portions of NEPA during study = Cost efficiencies
- Corridor Studies
- provide appropriate scale for environmental considerations
- Facilitates early resource agency consultation
- Allows early identification of issues, possible mitigations and avoidances
- Allows for no build to be determined due to constraints
Slide 16
Merit for the Future
- Opportunity to better coordinate & share data & plans amongst agencies
- May lead to more efficient use of resources from all levels
- More efficient, less impactive project delivery
- Can determine no build or phasing options early before programming a project
Slide 17
Constraints in Corridor Study Process
- Agency resources & workloads are not always conducive to early involvement
- Reliability of environmental mitigation elements if projects from a corridor study are not advanced in a timely fashion
- Reliability & completeness of data sources
Slide 18
Additional Information
Slide 19
Questions? Comments?
Thank you for the Opportunity to Present!
Please feel free to contact:
- Jean Riley, jriley@mt.gov 406-444-9456
- Montana Department of Transportation
- Transportation Planning Division
- 2960 Prospect Avenue
- Helena, MT 59601
- Lani Kai Eggertsen-Goff, goff@pbworld.com 801-288-3220
- Parsons Brinckerhoff
- 488 East Winchester Street
- Murray, UT 84107
- Scott Jackson, scott_jackson@fws.gov 406-449-5225 ext 201
- U.S., Fish Wildlife Service
- Montana Field Office
- 585 Shepard Way
- Helena, MT 59601
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