DRIC Progress Reports

The Michigan Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration have extended the public comment period for the U.S. Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) by 30 days. The comment period will now end on Thursday, May 29, 2008, in order to give agencies, the public, and community groups more time to submit comments on the DEIS.

Press release announcing the comment period extension [English][ Spanish ][ Arabic ]

Flyer announcing the comment period extension [English][ Spanish ][ Arabic ]

Draft Environmental Impact Statement
This document is a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation for the United States' part of a proposed border crossing system between the international border cities of Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario. The proposed project also includes the plaza where tolls and U.S. Customs activities occur and the interchange connecting the plaza to I-75. This DEIS explains why the project is needed and analyzes the alternatives that are being considered, including the No Build alternative. Each alternative's impacts are explained. Sometimes impacts can be avoided, lessened, or mitigated. Mitigation means taking steps to reduce or substitute or provide a replacement for impacts, such as replacing wetlands affected by a project. The potential indirect and cumulative effects, as well as the impacts this project may have across the international boundary in Canada, are also covered in this document.

Click here to provide your comments on the DEIS.
Downloadable Comment Form

Cover
Preface
Foreword
Table of Contents
Executive Summary [ English ] [ Spanish ]

Section 1 – Why is a New Border Crossing Needed?
Section 2 – Alternatives
Section 3 – The Environment: What’s There Now and What are the Impacts?
Section 4 – What Are Mitigation and the Proposed Measures to Reduce Harm?

Green Sheet

Section 5 – Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation
Section 6 – How Were Local, State and Federal Agencies and the Public Involved?
Section 7 – List of Preparers
Section 8 – Distribution List
Section 9 – List of Acronyms

Appendices

Appendix A Conceptual-Stage Relocation Plan
Appendix B Partnership Framework, Charter, and Memorandum of Cooperation
Appendix C Concurrence by Federal Highway Administration of Illustrative Alternatives Analysis and Results
Appendix D Environmental Justice Analysis Approach
Appendix E State Historic Preservation Officer Letters and Draft Memorandum of Agreement Among the Michigan Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration and the Michigan State Historic Preservation Officer
Appendix F Responses to Comments Made During Scoping and Other Agency Correspondence
Appendix G Summary of Geotechnical Advisory Group Activities
Appendix H Local Advisory Council and Local Agency Group Members

Copies of the DEIS and supporting Technical Reports to view in person will be available at:

• MDOT Lansing Office, 425 West Ottawa St., (third floor), Lansing, MI
• MDOT Metro Region Office, 18101 W. Nine Mile Rd., Southfield, MI
• Detroit Transportation Service Center, 1400 Howard St., Detroit, MI
• Taylor Transportation Service Center, 25185 Goddard Rd., Taylor, MI
• Henry Ford Centennial Library, 16301 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI
• Detroit Public Library, 5201 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI
• Bowen Branch of the Detroit Public Library, 3648 W. Vernor, Detroit, MI
• Library at Southwestern High School, 6921 W. Fort St., Detroit, MI
• Delray Recreation Center, 420 Leigh St., Detroit, MI
• Allen Park Library, 8100 Allen Rd., Allen Park, MI
• Ecorse Library, 4184 W. Jefferson Ave., Ecorse, MI
• Melvindale Library, 18650 Allen Rd., Melvindale, MI
• River Rouge Library, 221 Burke St., River Rouge, MI
• Kemeny Recreation Center, 2260 S. Fort St., Detroit, MI
• Campbell Branch Library, 8733 W. Vernor, Detroit, MI
• Neighborhood City Halls
• Central District, 2 Woodward Ave., Detroit
• Northwestern District, 19180 Grand River Ave., Detroit
• Northeastern District, 2328 E. Seven Mile Rd., Suite 2, Detroit
• Western District, 18100 Meyers Rd., Detroit
• Eastern District, 7737 Kercheval St., Detroit
• Southwestern District, 7744 W. Vernor St., Detroit

Air Quality Impact Analysis
Bridge Conceptual Engineering Report
Bridge Type Study Report
Brine Well Cavity Investigation Program [ Part 1 ] [ Part 2 ]
Community Inventory
Conceptual Engineering

• Appendices Cover
• Appendix A - Design Criteria
• Appendix B - Plans
• Appendix C - Bridge Plans
• Appendix D - Cost Estimates
• Appendix E - Staging_MOT
• Appendix F - Geotechnical
• Appendix G - Utilities
• Appendix H - References
• Appendix I - Traffic Volumes

• Volume 1 - Summary
• Volume 2 - Technical Analysis
• Volume 3A - Plaza Technical Data [ Part 1 ]  [ Part 2 ]  [ Part 3 ]
• Volume 3B - Crossing Technical Data [ Part 1 ]  [ Part 2 ]  [ Part 3 ]
• Volume 3C - Route Technical Data [ Part 1 ] [ Part 2 ]  [ Part 3 ]  [ Part 4 ]  [ Part 5 ]

Air Quality Analysis Protocol Draft - May 31, 2007
An air quality analysis protocol is being developed for the environmental impact statement. The DRIC study has been identified as a project of air quality concern by an interagency work group consisting of representatives of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), and Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), the metropolitan planning organization for the area in which the study is being conducted.

This draft protocol is written to be consistent with the FHWA and EPA guidance of March 29, 2006 for PM2.5 and PM10 hot-spot analysis and its interagency consultation requirement, FHWA’s February 3, 2006 Interim Guidance on Air Toxic Analysis in NEPA Documents, and to follow the process developed while writing the Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal (DIFT) air quality analysis protocol.

Air Quality Analysis Protocol Draft - May 31, 2007

Detroit River International Crossing Study Preliminary Assessment of Impacts
December 5, 2006

Air Quality CO Hotspot Technical Information
README.doc
CAL3QHC data files
Prac Alts Dec 06 CAL3QHC graphics.pdf

U.S. Evaluation of Illustrative Alternatives
Detroit River International Crossing Study Evaluation of Illustrative
Alternatives - Volume 1

Detroit River International Crossing Study Evaluation of Illustrative
Alternatives - Volume 2

Detroit River International Crossing Study Evaluation of Illustrative
Alternatives - Volume 3A [Part1] [Part2] [Part3]

Detroit River International Crossing Study Evaluation of Illustrative
Alternatives - Volume 3B [Part1] [Part2] [Part3]

Detroit River International Crossing Study Evaluation of Illustrative
Alternatives - Volume 3C [Part1] [Part2] [Part3]

Illustrative Alternatives – Air Quality Burden Technical Information

Burden Information
Readme.doc
Burden Illust Alts Pl-Cross-Align to Mo 7may07.xls
MOBILE6.2 input files
MOBILE6.2 output files

Illustrative Alternatives – Air Quality CO Hotspot Technical Information

Readme.doc
CAL3QHC data files

Comments to Scoping Document
U.S. Evaluation Factor Weighting
Scoping Meeting Transcript 8-31-05

Detroit River International Crossing Study – Travel Demand Model Update(UPDATED Sept 16, 2005) - (3 MB)
Detroit River International Crossing Study – Travel Demand Forecasts (3 MB)
Detroit River International Crossing Study - Tunnel Evaluation

U.S. Draft Purpose and Need Statement
In the U.S., MDOT and FHWA are developing a Draft Purpose and Need Statement, which is required under NEPA. The statement describes why the project is needed and what problem(s) the project is intended to address, and is circulated to U.S. federal government agencies with responsibility for approvals and permits related to the project. Click here to view the latest version of the Purpose and Need Statement.

U.S. Scoping Document
The U.S. regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires environmental review of major federal projects, call for "an early and open process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying the significant issues related a proposed action" (Council on Environmental Quality regulation 1501.7). Toward that end, a Scoping Document has been prepared and is being made available for public viewing. Click here to view the latest version of the Scoping Information. For Attachment 2 - Consultant Scope of Work for the Following Tasks click here.

P/NF Progress Reports