The study team started with a 900 square-mile study area, which was refined to the 300 square-mile Corridor Opportunity Area that was presented at the fall 2010 public and agency scoping meetings. After receiving input from the public and various agencies, the team has reduced it even further.
To help the study team evaluate the possible route alternatives, the corridor has been divided into multiple corridor segments. This allows the team to understand the unique opportunities and challenges within each segment to determine whether the selected route alternative could be placed there. The team is collecting and studying technical information for each segment, including existing and future developments, drainage, soil structure, utilities, travel demand, population growth and the economic development of each community. In addition to the technical information and input from local agencies and communities about their preferences, the team is using the study Purpose and Need Statement as a guide to develop potential route alternatives.
