In accordance with federal and state laws, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is undertaking a study to identify and analyze potential US-31 freeway alternatives between Napier Avenue and I-94 in Berrien County, Michigan. Careful consideration will be given throughout the process to develop alternatives which minimize impacts while maximizing benefits to the region and the traveling public. This analysis will provide ample opportunity for public and agency input and comments at each step during the project's development. The end product of this evaluation will be a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) prepared in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. This document will recommend a Recommended Alternative for the US-31 connection from Napier Avenue to I-94.

The US-31 Team will analyze a variety of potential transportation improvements within the identified study corridor. Alternatives to be assessed include but are not limited to taking no action, reevaluating the approved 1981 FEIS limited access freeway alignment, evaluating a possible connection with I-94 in the vicinity of the existing I-94 Benton Harbor/St. Joseph Business Loop interchange, and other alternatives as may be warranted by traffic, safety and environmental factors.

As illustrated in Figure 2.0 (below), as the study progresses through time, the alternatives will be refined and reduced in number through a staged process of progressively more involved analysis. The study will commence with the identification and mapping of known constraints within the study area which could preclude implementation of any given alternative. From this information preliminary "Illustrative" alternatives will be developed for comment by the public and interested local, state and federal agencies. Only those alternatives which are determined to be truly "Practical" will be carried forward and refined based upon public comment and further engineering and environmental analysis. These alternatives will be refined and presented for public comment before identifying a Recommended Alternative for additional public and agency comment.

Figure 2.0

The following summary provides further information on the activities which will be completed as part of the US-31 Freeway Connection to I-94 project:

• Data Collection and Preliminary Regional Analysis: The Planning Team will coordinate with local agencies and collect available data to be used as a baseline for the US-31 alternatives analysis.
  
  
• Early Coordination: The Planning Team will notify applicable local, state and federal agencies that the study is underway and identify potential concerns within the region.
  
  
• Preliminary Concepts (Illustrative Alternatives): The Planning Team will develop early alternative transportation improvement concepts for evaluation. Proposed concepts will range from the no-build scenario, reexamining the 1981 FEIS alternative and developing new alignments which could tie into I-94 in the vicinity of BL I-94.
  
  
• Public Information Meetings: The Planning Team will conduct meetings to receive input and share new developments throughout the different stages of the study.
  
  
• Preliminary Alternatives/Practical Alternatives Impact Analysis: The Project Team will identify potential social, economic and environmental impacts of alternatives. This analysis will include completing a detailed inventory of resources, conducting various field studies, and documenting proposed impacts within the environmental document. Specific analysis and field work will focus on documenting impacts on/from: