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ALTERNATg/ES ~S~O*:J~ED - ~EP <br /> <br />factors leading to the Modified Project (Northern Alternative) being recommended as the preferred <br />alternative with justification presented as to why other alternatives are deemed unreasonable. <br /> <br />Eva uation Factors <br /> <br />In the development of the WEP, there were an extensive number of akernatives and options <br />considered and evaluated. The TPR requires a determination of reasonableness be identified and <br />justified for affecting exception lands outside of the UGB. The factors identified in the T?R include <br />operational feasibility, cost and economic dislocation. Many corridors, alternatives, and options were <br />considered and rejected outright on a qualitative or comparative basis due to unfeasibility from an <br />engineering standpoint and/or negative impacts to the natural environment. A summary of these <br />alternatives is shown in Appendix C with a written description of design and operational features that <br />make them unreasonable~ <br /> <br />TranspoFmtion operational feasibility factors include application of Oregon's transportation plans~ <br />policies, and standards (design, level of service, safety, etc.). These factors include safe engineering <br />design, capacity to reasonably accommodate future travel demand, and constructab[lity. The WEP <br />would be designed and constructed to comply with ODOT standards for an urban, statewide, limited <br />access facility according to; Oregon Highway Plan (ODOT 1999), Metric Highway Design Manual <br />(ODOT 1993), .4 Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (AASHTO 1994), Roadside <br />Design Guide (AASHTO 1996), Standard Specifications for Highway Construction (ODOT 1996), <br />and Supplemental Standard Specifications for Highway Construction (ODOT t 996). A public <br />hearing process occurred prior to the adoption of the Oregon Highway Plan and the classification of <br />facilities. <br /> <br />Cost factors include costs for right of wa3, acquisition and relocation rights, sub-grade preparations, <br />drainage featores, surfacing, structures, and roadside amenities~ Precise values are normally <br />determined at the time of right of way acquisition and construction. Transportation financing in <br />Oregon has not kept pace with inflation during the 1990s. Therefore, costs are critical due to the <br />limited resources available. Safety, pavement conditions, and bridge sufficiency ratings are not <br />meeting minimum service levels and are declining according to presentations made by ODOT to the <br />Oregon Legislature of 1999. While costs alone cannot be the determining factor, relative savings <br />represents potential system improvements to existing facilities elsewhere on the transportation <br />network. <br /> <br />Other relevant factors include reasonableness of alternatives to carry out project goals and <br />objectives, plan consistency, and protection of natural resources. <br /> <br />Comparison of Alternatives <br />The focus of this section is to consider alternatives that affect non-exception lands, existing <br />exception lands, and exception lands with least impacts that meet transportation operational <br />requirements. This section reports facts about the three most promising alternatives, the southern <br />having two options, from a transportation operations perspective. Figure 1 displays the four most <br />promising alternatives listed below and as previously described in more detail as well as other <br />alternatives described in Appendix C. <br /> <br /> Approved FEIS Alternative, the alignment of which lies south of the railroad tracks west of <br /> Danebo Avenue. This alternative does not provide flyover from northbound Highway 99 to <br /> westbound WEP. Alignment has received approved use of agricultural lands through goal <br /> exceptions adopted in 1986. <br /> <br />EXHIBIT C,-2 - F~NO~NGS 14 <br /> <br /> <br />