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Last Updated: Thursday, January 5, 2012 11:54 AM

Links to Resources:

• Resources to help with Project Purpose and Need
• Resources to help with Development of Project Alternatives
• Resources about Section 4(f) - can affect project alternatives
• Resources about Section 404 of the Clean Water Act - can affect project alternatives
• References of general help or interest

Resources to help with Project Purpose and Need:

• Caltrans, Deputy Directive 83, Project Purpose and Need
• Caltrans, Purpose and Need Quality Team Report
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Memorandum, 9/18/90, “The Importance of Purpose and Need in Environmental Documents”
• FHWA/FTA Interim Guidance on Purpose and Need, 8/21/03
• FHWA/FTA Joint Guidance on Purpose and Need, 7/23/03
• FHWA regulations on logical termini (23 CFR 771 .I 1 1 (f))
• FHWA Memorandum, 11/5/93, “Guidance on the Development of Logical Project Termini”. In the conclusion to its guidance on logical termini, FHWA states, ”By following this guidance, proposed highway projects will be more defensible against litigation claims of project segmentation, and decision makers and the public will have a clearer picture of the transportation requirements in the project area and a better understanding of the project purpose and need.” (Emphasis added.)
• FHWA, “Re: NEPA.” This is FHWAs online “community of practice” supporting an open exchange of knowledge, information, experience, and ideas about the National Environmental Policy Act, related environmental issues, and transportation decisionmaking. It is an open forum that allows contribution of personal experience and opinion. Some of the content found in the discussions may not reflect the policy of the FHWA. You can ask questions; discuss issues; read guidance, references, and works in progress; and view the member directories. You can engage in a discussion already in progress or initiate a new one. One of the Groups on the site is “Purpose and Need and Alternatives Development.”
• North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), (963 KB) Statewide Planning Branch, "Purpose and Need Guidelines," 8/29/00. These guidelines are intended to help NCDOT's Transportation Planning staff to prepare planning-level purpose and need statements, using the kind of information that is available at the system planning stage.

Resources to help with Development of Project Alternatives:

• Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Guidelines for implementing NEPA, “Alternatives including the proposed action” (40 CFR §1502.14)
• CEQ, “NEPAs Forty Most Asked Questions” (see questions 1 through 6, which address range of alternatives; alternatives outside the capability of applicant or jurisdiction of agency,; no-action alternative,; agency’s preferred alternative; proposed action v. preferred alternative; and environmentally preferable alternative).
• California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, “Consideration and Discussion of Alternatives to the Proposed Project.” (14 CCR s15126.6)

Resources about Section 4(f) - can affect project alternatives:

• Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 303) - refers to “prudent and feasible alternatives”
• FHWA Section 4(f) Policy Paper
• FHWA - other guidance on Section 4(f) compliance

Resources about Section 404 of the Clean Water Act - can affect project alternatives:

• United States Environmental Protection Agency, Section 404(b)( 1 ) Guidelines
• Executive Order 1 1988, Floodplain management - refers to “practicable alternatives”
• Executive Order 1 1990, Protection of wetlands - refers to “practicable alternatives”

References of general help or interest:

• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guideline checklist (see Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines)
• Regional Transportation Plan Guidelines
• Regional Planning Handbook
• Caltrans, “Main Streets: Flexibility in Design and Operations Guide 2005”
• FHWA, “Flexibility in Highway Design”