Due to high travel demand and rapid growth, the Northeast Corridor has been the subject of transportation studies and public discussion over a period of several years. Key project issues and opportunities identified for the Northeast Corridor will be used during this study to help define and evaluate transit options in accordance with requirements of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) New Starts funding program and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).



What is an Alternatives Analysis?
The current study activity includes the completion of an Alternatives Analysis (AA). The AA will provide the details of why a particular alternative is selected for advancement through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding process. Completion and approval of both the AA and the environmental documents are required if federal funds are to be used for any stage of project development.

There are three key components of alternatives definition including:

  • Alignment: Preliminary Alternatives Analysis identified the HHPA Railroad right-of-way for all of the build alternatives. The northern study limit is downtown Noblesville. A northern terminal location is yet to be determined. The southern terminal of all alternatives is Union Station or an adjacent transit center in downtown Indianapolis.
  • Service: A range of service levels and operating plans will be evaluated to identify the transit service strategy that best meets project goals and objectives. Service frequency, vehicle capacity, station locations and route terminals will be refined as more information becomes available on travel patterns and other corridor characteristics.
  • Vehicle: There are five vehicle alternatives being considered along this alignment including:
    1. No Build: The existing transportation system plus projects in the region’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) including added travel lanes and interchange improvements on I-69 and I-465.
    2. Transportation System Management (TSM): Required as part of the New Starts evaluation process, a branded bus service in mixed traffic along I-69, Binford Boulevard, Fall Creek Parkway, and the Capitol Avenue / Illinois Street one-way pair between Noblesville and South Street in Indianapolis.
    3. Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) compliant Commuter Rail Transit (CRT): Passenger coaches powered by diesel locomotives or diesel multiple units (DMUs) on improved tracks in the HHPA Railroad right-of-way between Noblesville and approximately 10th Street in Indianapolis, then in the CSX Railroad right-of-way to Union Station. Vehicles in this alternative must meet crash worthiness requirements established by the FRA for operation on freight rail lines.

      Source: Aboutmovies from Wikipedia Creative Commons

      Copyright: © 2009 Marble Street Studio, Inc., courtesy HNTB

    4. Non FRA compliant Commuter Rail Transit (CRT): Light rail vehicles on improved tracks in the HHPA Railroad right-of-way between Noblesville and approximately 10th Street in Indianapolis, then on an alignment through the street network of downtown Indianapolis, reaching a downtown transit center at or adjacent to Union Station. These vehicles will not have to meet FRA requirements for crash worthiness due to their operation on corridors independent from freight rail traffic.

      Source: Wikipedia Public domain

    5. Bus Rapid Transit: A dedicated busway with on-line stations in the HHPA Railroad right-of-way between Noblesville and approximately 10th Street in Indianapolis, then on-street in mixed traffic via the Capitol Avenue / Illinois Street one-way pair to South Street.

      Copyright: © 2008 Mike McPheeters Photography, courtesy HNTB

      Federal transit Administration (FTA) Website


Although key tasks for alternatives evaluation and environmental review will be completed in about a year, document preparation and public/agency reviews will extend the schedule through the fall of 2011. This coincides well with a target of August, 2011 for submittal of the project in the annual FTA New Starts application process.



What is the environmental review process?
The current study activity includes the preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS or Draft EIS). An EIS is a detailed study of the environmental impacts of a proposed capital improvement. The EIS will provide a detailed description of the preferred alternative and identify all environmental, social, and economic impacts and benefits of the project and the proposed mitigation measures. Completion and approval of the environmental impact study are required if federal funds are to be used for any stage of project development.

The main steps of the federal environmental process include the following:*

  1. Notice of Intent (NOI): The NOI is an announcement to the public and to interested agencies that a project is being developed and that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared. It is posted in the Federal Register.
  2. Scoping: Scoping identifies the alternatives and impacts that will be examined in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). An important part of this phase is to invite the public to share their ideas, comments and concerns. Scoping identifies the key resources and issues that the project needs to address.
  3. Alternatives Analysis (AA): An analysis of the engineering and financial feasibility of alternatives under consideration for a major transit construction project; required before federal monies can be allocated to a project.
  4. Draft Environmental Impact statement (DEIS): A detailed study of the environmental impacts of a proposed capital improvement, including impacts to the human and natural environments. A DEIS must consider all reasonable alternatives for a project, including a “no build” alternative. During the preparation of the DEIS, there are opportunities for public input. Following the conclusion of a DEIS, one alternative is selected for advancement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).
  5. Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS): The FEIS documents the environmental impacts of the alternatives studied in the DEIS and addresses the comments submitted by agencies and the public in the DEIS phase. Following the completion of the FEIS, a Record of Decision (ROD) is issued, and the environmental study process is complete.
  6. Record of Decision (ROD): The Record of Decision (ROD) is the final step in the EIS process. The ROD is a concise report that states FTA's determination that NEPA has been completed for the proposed project. It describes the basis for the decision, identifies alternatives that were considered and summarizes specific mitigation measures that will be incorporated into the project. With a ROD, the project may proceed into final design and construction.

*Some information shown was obtained from the Maryland transit Administration Baltimore Red Line website

Please click here to download the Northeast Corridor Scoping Document