How do ideas for transit projects, like the T and busways, advance to implementation?
There is a federally-prescribed public planning process that is commonly required to implement major public transportation projects. During an Alternatives Analysis (AA) study, corridors within a specified area are identified for further study, the need for improvements is established, and public transit improvements and projects are recommended. Extensive public input is sought and incorporated into the study’s findings. Recommendations from the AA study that are low cost and with minimal community and environmental impacts can usually proceed directly to implementation, once funding for them is secured. This phase can take one to three years to complete. If the AA study recommends major projects for further analysis, the next phase of the planning process may begin, which is the preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). This phase evaluates environmental factors, ridership, operational costs and engineering feasibility. The proposed alignments are further refined.
