What is a PEL?
By using public and stakeholder outreach, planning best practices and collaboration across different agencies and jurisdictions, a range of high-level ideas for transportation solutions are developed. These ideas are then refined and combined into concepts called alternatives that include an alignment (location on a map), a general description, and sometimes a cross-section to depict what a future project might look like. Ideas are developed into concepts and then alternatives through three levels of screening, with the goal of identifying a small number of alternatives to carry forward. The PEL process studies many of the same factors that will be considered in greater detail in the NEPA phase.
PELs are gaining in popularity as a result of changes to regulations that require agencies to more quickly complete NEPA studies.
This process is outlined by the Federal Highway Administration and weighs:
- Transportation issues & priorities
- Environmental resources & concerns
- Stakeholder & public concerns