The study process for this project will meet state and federal requirements meant to integrate environmental values and public interaction into transportation improvements.
These requirements include the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS), among others.
Phase I Engineering for the North DuSable Lake Shore Drive Project is being funded by the Illinois Jobs Now Program. Any transportation project involving the potential use of Federal funds must follow a project development process consisting of three phases.
A Phase I or Preliminary Engineering Study defines transportation needs, identifies and evaluates alternatives and selects a preferred alternative. This process is accomplished through extensive stakeholder involvement and technical analysis.
After a preferred alternative is approved, Phase II Engineering (Contract Plans) and Right-of-Way Acquisition would begin. During this phase, detailed construction plans would be developed and any necessary land would be acquired for the project. Phase III is the physical construction of the project.
The Phase I Study for NDLSD is currently underway, and seeks to provide an in-depth investigation of improvement alternatives which considers social, economic, environmental, safety, serviceability, and cost factors to meet today’s needs. This will be accomplished by reaching several milestones leading up to a determination of the preferred alternative. The Phase I Engineering Study process is completed when the project receives design approval.
Achieving these milestones can only occur after a balance is struck between the needs of the many project stakeholders. These stakeholders can generally be grouped into the Three Components of Project Development, which include Stakeholder Involvement, Environmental Analysis & Permitting, and Project Design Studies. Each component has its own distinct objectives, requirements and processes.
The Phase I process is intended to identify the components of project development and develop an integrated and balanced approach to engagement. The goal of the North DuSable Lake Shore Drive Phase I Study is to concurrently navigate the processes associated with each component. This requires a comprehensive and cohesive study to be conducted in a transparent manner that satisfies highway and regulatory agency requirements. In order to facilitate this, the study will include a public outreach program based upon the principles of Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS).
