Department of Transportation

Alternative Analysis Process

The initial screening process and workshop for the I-295/I-76/Route 42 Direct Connection resulted in the identification of six alternatives for consideration. Five "build" alternatives and the "no-build" alternative have been analyzed in seven Technical Environmental Studies (TES).

The TES have rigorously explored and objectively evaluated all of the alternatives. All alternatives with the exception of the no-build alternative are feasible and reasonable and meet the project's defined purpose and need. They provided state of the art analyses of seven disciplines so that the analysis of alternatives is multidisciplinary and comprehensive. The alternatives analysis process will integrate all considerations.

The alternative analysis process will be based on an informed qualitative decision-making approach that will involve summarizing the results of the TES by discipline, including engineering criteria, and identifying and screening those characteristics that are distinguishing factors among the alternatives.

The summary of consequences considers how the alternatives differ in regard to types and degrees of effects, called impact criteria.

The results of these evaluations are now ready for scrutiny.

The following process will be goal-oriented to come to a consensus among stakeholders. The goal is to confirm the selection of an New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT)/Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Preferred Alternative for the decision-maker.

A summary of the alternative analysis process is as follows:
  • An information packet that includes:
    • Analysis of alternatives approach
    • Executive summaries from TES
    • Summary of TES findings, impacts and benefits
    • Impact criteria
    • Alternative comparison matrix
    • Alternatives description
  • The project team will review the Summary of TES findings and benefits, the impact criteria and the alternative comparison matrix.
  • Stakeholder meetings will be held to discuss the TES findings, criteria definitions and alternative matrix will follow the team meetings. The focus of these meetings will be to obtain stakeholder's input and comment regarding the alternative comparison matrix.
  • Stakeholder meetings include:
  • The NJDOT core group invitees will include key Subject Matter Experts (SME) familiar with the project and the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process and who understand the criteria descriptions and alternative matrix process based on prior participation in core group meetings. An introductory statement will be made by the consultant regarding the meeting purpose and objective, followed by a presentation of the alternative analysis process, a review of all alternatives and a presentation of TES findings and alternative comparison matrix.
  • The CAC meeting will follow a similar format, i.e. introduction regarding meeting purpose and objective, presentation by the consultant regarding the alternative analysis process, impact criteria and alternative comparison matrix, followed by open discussion. A briefing for local officials will be held prior to this meeting.
  • An ACM will be held to obtain agency concurrence on the Summary of TES findings, impacts and benefits, impact criteria and the alternative comparison matrix.
  • Comments/input from each stakeholder group can result in adjusting the impact criteria and the alternative comparison matrix.
  • Once consensus is reached, the project team populates the alternative comparison matrix. The project team and core group meet to review the alternative comparison matrix and to discuss a Preferred Alternative.
  • The meeting process resumes again with stakeholders (LOB, CAC, ACM) to allow them to review the alternative comparison matrix and to discuss a Preferred Alternative.
  • A Public Information Center will be held to inform the public of the selection process to arrive at a Preferred Alternative.
  • The Preliminary Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will then be written to identify the NJDOT/FHWA Preferred Alternative.
The following information constitutes the supporting material necessary to review the Alternative Analysis Process leading to the advancement of a Preferred Alternative.
  • Impact Criteria (pdf 268k)
    This provides a narrative description of the Engineering and Environmental Criteria as well as the metrics used to rate each of the criteria for this Project. The Criteria were selected based on the distinguishing characteristics between the alternatives (and may either be actual numbers or "Low, Medium or High” based on the analysis of impacts).
  • Metrics for Distinguishing Characteristics (pdf 88k)
    This table illustrates the Impact Criteria used to facilitate the loading of the Alternative Comparison Matrix.
  • Summary of Engineering Criteria (pdf 71k)
    This table illustrates Engineering features and impacts contrasted for the Build and No Build Alternatives.
  • Summary of Technical Environmental Studies (TES) Findings, Impacts and Benefits (pdf 131k)
    This table summarizes the results of the seven Technical Environmental Studies for the Build and No Build alternatives arranged by discipline.
  • Alternative Comparison Matrix (pdf 88k)
    This table provides a side-by-side comparison of Build and No Build Alternatives based on the distinguishing characteristics and metrics established for the Engineering and Environmental Impact Criteria.

The files listed above are in Portable Document Format (PDF). You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these files, which is available at our state Adobe Access page

Last updated date: November 12, 2020 2:56 PM