In 2019, 15% design was completed. This phase refined the recommended Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) with the North/South design option.
The design refinements included:
- Detailed engineering analysis of the rail alignment and guideway design
- Minor modifications to station locations and designs
- Initial assessments of potential property and environmental impacts
- Studies of rail operations, and other details
These design refinements were the direct result of community input, comments at the public hearings and other stakeholder meetings, coordination with affected property owners, engineering criteria, and continued review of the existing land use and future development opportunities. These designs are still preliminary and are not ready for construction.
This phase was integral to the successful completion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and combined Record of Decision (ROD) from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
After the completion of 15% design, KOP Rail entered into Project Development. Learn how Project Development will advance KOP Rail.
The combined Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) was signed in January 2021. The FEIS, which began in March 2018, following the completion of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) process, further identifies environmental and community impacts and commits to specific mitigation and minimization actions to eliminate or reduce negative effects. The ROD is the official decision document of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for KOP Rail to continue into further engineering and construction of the project. After the FEIS/ROD phase, preliminary engineering will continue to approximately 30% of the design. You can read the KOP Rail FEIS/ROD.
Environmental Impact Statements are required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) when a federally funded project is determined to significantly affect the quality of the human environment.
PRINCIPLE
FEIS COMPONENTS
- Additional analysis of the effects of the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA)
- Responses to DEIS comments
- Commitments to specific mitigation and minimization actions to eliminate or reduce negative effects
- A description of changes that have been made to the project since the DEIS was published
- Evidence of compliance with related environmental statutes, Executive Orders, and regulations