Environmental Process

CDOT is underway with the development of an Environmental Assessment Study (EA) for the US 287 project. The EA will build on the Feasibility Study and provide a greater level of detail on the proposed corridor alternative designs, and the potential environmental impacts of these proposed alternatives. As part of the formal EA process, the study must also consider a "No Build" alternative. This is generally defined as the "do nothing" alternative, leaving the conditions the way they are. In this case, if a "No Build" alternative was the selected alternative, improvements to Main Street would still be designed and funded.

Your input, as members of the Lamar community is critical to the success of this project. A series of public meetings and smaller working group meetings will be held to ask your help in identifying the issues needing to be resolved including historical, environmental, and aesthetic concerns. The goal of the EA is to conclude with a US 287 Corridor Alternative blending highway engineering and safety standards together with community desires and values. A draft EA will be available for public review in Spring 2009. Once this environmental document is completed, it will be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for review and approval. FHWA's approval of the decision will clear the way for CDOT to begin the next phases of project development which will include final design if a new facility is recommended.