NEW - Documents for Corridors Public Meetings November 2009
Documents for Public Kick-Off Meetings Spring 2009
- Walton County: January 20
- Bay County: January 22
Other Documents
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The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is proposing a new four-lane roadway, approximately 24 miles in length, referred to as the West Bay Parkway. The engineering firms of H.W. Lochner, Inc. and PBS&J have teamed together and are under contract with FDOT to conduct a Project Development & Environment (PD&E) study for the proposed West Bay Parkway (CR 388 Extension). During this study, potential locations for the new roadway will be identified and analyzed to document the impacts (both positive and negative) of the alternatives that are developed.
The overall project limits are from US 98 (SR 30) east of Peach Creek in Walton County to SR 77 in Bay County; however, the project will be divided into two segments (refer to the project map), with each segment having its own PD&E study. For more details on the segments of the project, please go to the "Project Overview" page of this website.
The benefits of the new facility include improving mobility and interconnectivity in the regional transportation network and enhancing traveler safety. Additionally, the improvements will provide better access to the new Panama City-Bay County International Airport, improve hurricane evacuation and emergency response capabilities, promote economic development in the region, and increase capacity and relieve existing and anticipated traffic congestion, particularly along the US 98 corridor.
One of the first steps in identifying potential locations for the new roadway is to develop alternative corridors (which vary in widths from 500 to 1,000 feet). Through the utilization of Land Suitability Mapping (LSM), the project team has identified nine alternative corridors for Segment 1 and eight alternative corridors for Segment 2. These alternative corridors are currently under review and are being analyzed. To learn more about the LSM process and how these corridors were developed, please click on the LSM Technical Memorandums on the side menu.
Since the actual right-of-way required for West Bay Parkway (a range of between 150 and 350 feet, depending on the type of roadway that is ultimately selected) will be much less than the corridor widths, potential locations for the roadway can be developed within the corridors during the next phase of the PD&E study.
The FDOT Efficient Transportation Decision Making (ETDM) Programming Screen review began for both PD&E studies (Segment 1 and Segment 2) during July 2009. This is a 45 to 60 day review period where federal, state, and local agencies, known as the Environmental Technical Advisory Team (ETAT), review and comment on the project’s purpose and need, its potential effect on natural and physical environmental resources, as well as socio-economic, historical and cultural resources.
The FDOT ETDM Programming Screen is completed through a web-based tool, and is available to the public at this link: ETDM Public Access. The project numbers are 11680 for Segment 1 and 11681 for Segment 2. In order to view the project information within the site you will have to select the "Project Number" link under the "Project Search" menu, and then type in one of the two project numbers listed above.
LSM
The Land Suitability Mapping (LSM) Analysis is a process which is used to help analyze and design corridors that are an optimal fit within the study area. Through the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, the Florida Department of Transportation is able to identify the locations of documented sensitive resources (examples include: historic and archaeological sites, recreational areas, wetlands) which may be in or around the study area. By overlaying this GIS data with a map of the study area, the project team is able to develop corridors that have less of an impact on these sensitive resources.
Project Development & Environment (PD&E)
A Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Study is the process that ensures early consideration is given to engineering design, project costs, and environmental and social impacts, along with input from the public in the development of a proposed transportation improvement project. When a transportation improvement is considered, the improvement options (called alternatives) are developed with input from the public, local government, and environmental and planning agencies. These alternatives are then analyzed to determine their involvement with the social, natural, and physical environment. The goal of the PD&E process is to select the best alternative that meets both the purpose and needs of the project as well as having the least impact on the environment.
Environmental Assessment (EA)?
An Environmental Assessment (EA) is a public document that provides evidence and analysis for determining the significance of impacts from a proposed action, in this case the construction of a new roadway. An EA is prepared when it is unclear whether the proposed action will have a significant effect on the social, economic, and/or natural environments.
If it is determined that the action will not have a significant impact on the environments mentioned above, then a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is prepared. If it is determined that the action will have significant impacts on the social, economic, and/or natural environments, then an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) would be prepared to document those impacts and any measures to minimize or offset the impacts.
Ultimately, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) would be responsible for approving the EA/ FONSI or the EIS.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a comprehensive public document that analyzes and documents the impacts of a proposed Federal action, in this case the construction of a new roadway. Within the EIS, measures to minimize or mitigate impacts are also identified. An EIS is prepared when it is determined that an action will have a significant impact on the social, economic, and/or natural environments.
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