A Highway Corridor Planning Process for NEPA Compliance Using Quantm Goose Creek Canyon Bypass Case Study A Unique Approach to Corridor Planning

Co-Authors – Dale Anderson, Karen Comings, Trevor Howard – Entranco, Inc. Len Bettess – Quantm, Inc. Jason Brinkman - ITD Acknowledgements

What are our presentation objectives? n Discuss challenges – Highway Corridor Planning for NEPA Compliance n n Present unique approach using Quantm and GIS n n Describe solutions n n Provide model for future NEPA work

What is purpose of Bypass? n n Construct safe, economical, and environmentally acceptable highway around Goose Creek Canyon. n n Why? – –Narrow 22-foot wide roadway – –Steep 7 percent grades – –Shaded areas - frequent icing – –Poor curvature, low driving speeds, – –Inadequate passing opportunities.

What is the Highway Environmental Process?

What are challenges of the Highway Environmental Process? Previously studied highway alternatives Previously studied highway alternatives Evaluate the existing highway upgrade comparably to new highway alternatives Evaluate the existing highway upgrade comparably to new highway alternatives Consider other highway alternatives with dollar and time limitations Consider other highway alternatives with dollar and time limitations

What are challenges of the Highway Environmental Process? Gain the trust and confidence of the citizens and resource agencies Gain the trust and confidence of the citizens and resource agencies Obtain concurrence on highway alternatives screening Obtain concurrence on highway alternatives screening n Agree on how much data is enough to make a screening decision

What is Quantm? n Provides a highway planning, computer-based optimization tool n Helps locate highway alternatives n Meets pre-determined engineering & environmental criteria n Staff training and support

Highway profile – cut and fills

Engineering criteria defined within the Quantm system

Quantities and Costs for Alternatives

How was Quantm Applied to the Goose Creek Project? n Develop GIS data base – Linear Features - Roads, Railroads, Utility Network (power lines and power transfer stations), Streams, Nordic and Snowmobile Trails – Special Zones - Wetlands, Lakes, northern Idaho ground squirrel habitat (surveys from the recovery team field work), bald eagle habitat, cultural areas, public land, 4(f) recreational property and historic property, private land, and land use – Additional Data - Geologic Zones

Baseline highway alternatives – no environmental constraints

Avoidance of environmental constraints

Changing roadway design – 2 to 3 lanes

Establishing highway corridors – Quantm generates array of alternatives

Establishing highway corridors – variable width corridor for detailed environmental inventory

How did our approach address challenges? Previously studied highway alternatives? Imported into Quantm – compared on equal basis for engineering and environmental Previously studied highway alternatives? Imported into Quantm – compared on equal basis for engineering and environmental Evaluate the existing highway upgrade? – Optimization for canyon route – not cost effective to meet design standards Evaluate the existing highway upgrade? – Optimization for canyon route – not cost effective to meet design standards Other alternatives with dollar and time limitations? Used existing GIS data, established design criteria, looked at new alignment within days Other alternatives with dollar and time limitations? Used existing GIS data, established design criteria, looked at new alignment within days

How did our approach address challenges? Gain the trust and confidence of the citizens and resource agencies? Timely results for skeptical stakeholders – objective – costs and environmental impacts Gain the trust and confidence of the citizens and resource agencies? Timely results for skeptical stakeholders – objective – costs and environmental impacts Obtain concurrence on screening? Collaborate with stakeholders through workshops – demonstrate Quantm attributes – work through alternatives together Obtain concurrence on screening? Collaborate with stakeholders through workshops – demonstrate Quantm attributes – work through alternatives together n How much data is enough to make a screening decision? Agree on data needs for screening and corridor inventories – maintain flexibility – provide clear documentation

Where should we go from here? n Established highway corridor planning / environmental / engineering process n Establish highway corridors n Selects alternatives n Complies with NEPA n Addresses challenges – objective, cost- effective – quicker n We believe – it is worth repeating in Idaho