7.4. SR 10-17-2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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IV. New Starts Criteria and Request to Enter Final Design The NPO request for a change in rating from "Not Recommended" to "Recommended" and the draft request to enter final design were submitted to FTA in July. On July 14, NPO staff visited the FTA Region V office to discuss the next steps. The NPO has worked closely with the FTA and Project Management Oversight Consultant (PMOC) since then to ensure FT A has sufficient data to make their decisions. FTA has provided comments on many elements of the submittal and the NPO has provided or will provide responses. A matrix summarizing the exchange of information associated with the requests follows in Table IV-A. Several activities to review the project must be completed before FTA will approve the project's entry into final design. Table IV-B lists a draft schedule of those activities. It is a revision to the schedule provided in earlier reports based on discussions with the Project Management Oversight Consultant. It is organized by the activities necessary for the Northstar project to gain approval to enter the final design phase. Level boarding was discussed at the July 14 meeting. The NPO staff described BNSF's clearance requirements and the conclusion that mini-high block platforms appear to be a logical solution to providing level boarding for disabled passengers. FTA reviewed the Project data submitted in response to FTA's level boarding questions and provided written guidance describing level boarding. The solution to this issue will require a resolution between BNSF railroad clearance requirements, FT A level boarding guidance, and project cost constraints. FT A and Project staff also discussed environmental documentation of project changes. FTA's Planning and Environment Office in Washington requested a letter summarizing the Project's changes so that FT A can determine if the associated environmental documentation and record of decision amendment must be complete before approval could be granted to enter final design. That letter was sent to FT A on August 5, 2005 and a follow-up response to a request for more detailed information was sent September 2, 2005. These suggested that these changes could be document through the categorical exclusion process. In a phone conversation on September 7,2005 Rhonda Reed of FTA's Region V office informed NPO staff that FTA will require an Environmental Assessment based on the project's high public profile, uncertainty about environmental issues surrounding BNSF's third main line from Interstate to Coon Creek, and project changes in the central business district of a major metropolitan area. NPO staff will continue to work with FT A and PMOC to complete the Risk Assessment and the Technical Capacity and Capability reviews so the Project may enter the final design phase. Monthly Report September 15, 2005 -7- Northstar Corridor Rail Project