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Final Report - VHB.com

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The Purpose and Need Statement is fundamental to the analysis of a Feasibility<br />

Study under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Water Act<br />

(Section 404), and other environmental regulations.<br />

Project Purpose and Need<br />

The purpose of this Feasibility Study is to guide future infrastructure investments to<br />

enhance mobility and access for redevelopment of the NASB, including the Topsham<br />

Annex, by:<br />

identifying measures to improve safety at problem locations in the Study Area<br />

ac<strong>com</strong>modating future traffic demands related to <strong>com</strong>muter trips and the<br />

shipment of goods and services to and from the redeveloped NASB<br />

considering multimodal options (e.g., public transit and vehicular, rail, bicycle,<br />

and pedestrian modes) that improve access efficiency at the redeveloped NASB<br />

from I-295, US Route 1, and State Route 196<br />

evaluating the engineering and environmental feasibility of creating a rail<br />

connection to the NASB<br />

As described in the previous section, five needs were identified for evaluation. In<br />

meeting these needs, the proposed transportation solutions must dovetail with the<br />

goals of the <strong>com</strong>munities of Topsham and Brunswick, which include minimizing<br />

NASB-related trips through downtown Brunswick and residential districts and<br />

maintaining and enhancing livable <strong>com</strong>munities.<br />

Options to be considered include the No Action Option; TDM strategies to reduce<br />

vehicle trips (e.g., ride sharing/carpooling and public transit); enhanced rail service;<br />

and adding capacity to existing roadways by widening and improving intersections<br />

and interchanges.<br />

1.4 Public Participation Process<br />

An open and consensus-driven public participation process that engages all<br />

stakeholders is key to the development and refinement of thoughtful transportation<br />

solutions. Good planning practice involves a mutual learning process among<br />

practitioners, elected officials, residents, business groups, citizen groups, and other<br />

affected parties. The thoughts, concerns, and ideas of the general public on Study<br />

Area transportation needs, problems, and solutions are critical to crafting and<br />

refining solutions that are practical, permittable, affordable, and context-sensitive in<br />

meeting the transportation needs.<br />

Various methods were provided to simplify the process as much as possible for the<br />

public to learn about and provide input on the Feasibility Study.<br />

Introduction 14

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