ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS/ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (AA/EA) DOCUMENT

The I-270/US 15 Multi-Modal project involves evaluating several combinations of transit and highway strategies to address congestion, improve safety, and increase mobility along the I-270/US 15 Corridor from the Shady Grove Metrorail Station (Montgomery County) to north of Biggs Ford Road (Frederick County). This project includes the Corridor Cities Transitway project from the Shady Grove Metrorail Station to COMSAT facility just south of Clarksburg.

The purpose of the AA/EA document is to evaluate the Express Toll Lane (ETL) alternatives, Alternatives 6A/B and 7A/B, to the same level of environmental review as the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) alternatives. This evaluation also updates information that has changed since the DEIS was issued in 2002 and further assess and rates the proposed transit alternatives. The AA/EA document serves as a companion to the DEIS.

The purpose of an AA document is to evaluate the costs and benefits of a range of transportation alternatives designed to address a specific transportation purpose and need for a specific transportation corridor. The information presented is intended to support decision-making on a preferred investment strategy to take into more detailed study and development. This document compares the relative costs and benefits of Alternative 6.2: Transit TSM (premium bus operating on local roads and I-270) with Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) paired with the highway improvements included in Alternatives 6A/B and 7A/B. LRT is represented by the "A" in each alternative (6A and 7A) and BRT is represented by the "B" (6B and 7B).

Summary results from the AA/EA document can be found in the following tables:

 

AA/EA DOCUMENT


 

APPENDICES


 

TECHNICAL REPORTS


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