Section 2.03 Corridor Studies and
Environmental Assessment
A Backsro
1. Generat
‘A Corsdor Study and Environmental AS.
‘Ssument serve asthe Basis for "sleting” new
route corridors of for deciding between high
‘vay relocation and continued use ofan exist-
Ing highway. Stades and decisions on highway
lleracves rele the goals and objectives of
the MOC to full the need for fs, sale, and
‘ficient transportation Faites while consi
‘verse SEE (Geclal, economic, and exvifon
‘mental effets
Tcluded in error studies ae activities lea:
ing to highway route location. All reasonable
tlfenatives ae idenied and comparison
nade of their aative cont benefit, aod the
Snvionmestal impacts Alternatives include
Aimerent locations or upgrading the existing
reads.
Dessous on the type of highway improvement
ste not made on the basis of traneportaios
‘Considerations alone. A higher or lower sta
‘ard, for iontance, may provide needed rae
Service and significantly change the SEE eect.
AAs an etample, a contoled access highway
fay not Be hecessary 10 serve transportation
ees, but may achieve beneficial ress. Con
telling socese may’ channel potential develop.
ment into Tes sensitive areas oF into aes
more compatible with planning objectives of
Data
203.4
toca jrisdotons or other Ministries.
‘A thorough inal ivetigation is essential to
intligenty make corador determinations. If
the most feasible, servseable, and economical
forrdor is not determined at tht sage 0
mount of engincering fort can overcome the
inherent deficiencies that will exist When pre
Seating corridor compris, ii imperative
that the same basi dst and methods of in-
‘stigition and evaluation be used for etch
onrdor studi
2 Interministry and Pubic Involvement
In adition to the cons eration of alternatives
find the tentieation and consideration of
‘SEE eect, third bai element in the MOC
projeet planning and development process
The’ involvement of other agencies, pubic
‘ficial, and ctzns
MOC requires timely involvement partes
vith special expertise or concert in project
planning and develope. Noication of ro-
[fet ectvites sent oils in provines,
Sites, cites, towns, villages, and 10 other
‘Ministris and agencies having jrtsdiction or
Special expertise concering lands and feares
Impacted.” MOC alo sequres coordination
‘vith urban transportation plans and compre
hensive area plans The fllowing “Notes.
tion of Intent” form, a similar one 5
Tire.
%203.4
[Notification of Intent to Begin
Project Planning sad Development Acivitcs
‘To: Appropriate agency
Project
Description,
Terie Get wach ge =
‘Any information that your agency can provide concerning this project and its sec
fn environmental elects wil be appreciate,
Send information to:
Ministry of Communications, Riyadh
Attention
Following the above noication and invol¥e- opportunity for effective participation by inter.
‘ment, public hearing is held in each com- ested ofits and chien A represettive of
‘munity impacted by the tansportation faiity. the MOC explains the ress of exginesring
‘This hearing or mectig may be chaired by 4 and SEE studies snd makes note of thet
local offi ora representative of the MOC. ewpoints and specie project rated infor:
A public hearing or meating is «public forum "8"
held before MOC is committed 10 specie. Table 203.1 depicts most activities requiring
alternative: Such a forum is held to ensure the coadination an the Ministries having r=
Aiton or special expertise for such activites.203 A
Interminity Coordination List
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36
Preliminary Dat
a. Trae
‘The ADT (20) neoded fr evaluation of the
pote wae-creying capacity of existing
Highways, or for” evaluation of route
proposals and design features during later
Sages of the study will be provided by the
MOC ‘or obtained by applying a. 20:year
alle projection factor othe current ADT.
‘The trac projection fator i ratio. of
{ature trae ADT (20) to current tee
‘The trafic incresses that this factor elt,
combine normal talfic growth, generated
Trame, and development trate
‘+ Normal Trafic Growth: Normal trafic
{growth is the increase in trafic volume
fue to general increse in number end
Usage of motor vehicles,
Generated Trafic: Generated teliccon-
sists of motor vehicle tips other than by
public trast) that would not have been
Fade if he new Tait had not been pro.
ded
+ Development Traffic: Development tric
Is that due to improvements on adjacent
land over and above the developmnent hat
would have taken place had aot the new
(+ improved highway been constructed,
‘The trafic projection factor is obtained by
sng the percentages of increase for each
item of tthe growth in relation to current
tual, dviding the sry by 100, an adding
Tt the result The value ofthe tac prov
jection factor les in iis use for estinating
breakdowns of current trafic such ay for
Separate turing movements, fr which the
future volumes are not estimated readily by
adding each item of tae gowth fo current
trai. Fuure volumes in such eases ean be
trained by multiplying current trafic by
the factor.
Specie values cannot be cited for trae
projtion factors for use indesign where no
Snalysis made of the separate factors of
tlle growth. Obviously sich factors will
‘ary widely betweon diferent facies, Pro:
jection factors that would apply to mar
fy of ural highway improvements today for
1 20-year period ae probably inthe ange of
1.51025" Where the rral highway i fo be
an expressway, the tal projection factor i
likely to be higher, inthe range of L810 30,
heeatse attracted or divert) taf, gene.
aed. trafic, apd development tale are
Tkely toe higher than for rural highways
without seces control
Advancements in transportation and land
Use planning wil enable trafic needs 0 be
Projected more accurately nthe future
Termini
Route termi have usually been selected
prior wo the authorization of ie recon
‘aicance sty. If definite termi. have not
teen selected, trae survey data should be
‘ed (0 establish the termi,
. Maps and Photographs
‘The type and scale of mapping equted for
the study are dictated by the tarain and
Jad wse intensity ofthe route cornidor area.
‘The ape most be complete, carent and
give full details of topography and physical
Fees
‘Mosaic reproductions or _phlographic
pnts may he used (0 show corridors ep
fons of corridors.
Existing aerial photogeaphs, planmetic
‘maps, topopraphle maps, gelopeal maps
and geophysical maps may be avalable and
in some instances will provide adsqute it~
Tormatio forthe initial investigation. Psst
‘le sources for these and otber maps and
Photographs ae as follows:
+ Ministry of Communications.
+ Ministry of Peoleum and Mineral Re-
Consulting Engineers.
‘ARAMCO,
US. Geological Survey
Ministry of Municipalities and Rural
Afr
1, Information to be Obtained Durag Study
For each corridor studied, the following infor
‘matin sal be developed
1. Proposed Geometrics
Design Class, Alignment (vertical and. hor-
zontal), and Typical Cross Seton. See HDM-
2-105, Geometic and Structure Stadards.
2, Land Use Activities
Locate and describe the general ownership and
the principal activites occuring onthe and in
the study area. Describe all. Government
‘owned land and fais,
3. Geology
Give the geology ofthe study area. Use a geo
logic map if avalable Interpret and show the
relationship of the geology’ to the proposed
Toute: Include sand dune and landsie areas,
Droperis of slid rock properties of uncon
{ohdted material avaiabity of “cad. con
Sruction materials (pe of deposts quantity,
and quali) See 1-206, Geotechnil aves
ations.
4. Topoeraphy
Deserie the topography forthe study area5. Hydrology—Climate
Collet hydrologic dats in accordance with
1207, Hydrology.
6, Beano Activity
Describe he economy ofthe study area incu
Ing the major industries,
1 Biological Data
Give the general vegetative dstrbution. De
scribe any" wife that may inhabit the area
8. Sociological Data
Describe the population distribution, rece
tional opportunities, publi services. and othe
socal rated activites,
C Fleld Investigation
1. Trae Surveys
1 the infomation i not available, tafe sur
veys may be necessary to aes existing trafic
tnd for projecting facre trate
2. Field Surveys
Ground and/or photogrammetric surveys may
te necesary to determine the physical charac
tension of the existing roads and to obtain
formation for ds in the evalvation of alter
fate coro
53, Cemeteries and Mosques
‘A eld survey will be made in each corridor
Ander consideration to determine the prsence
of graves, cemetris, or mosgucs. This survey
nd it findings shall be documented in the
Reconnaissance Report
4. Antiquities and Historic Stes
Projet personne will contact the Minister of
203 CD
Education and President of the Higher Coun
cal of Antiquities dug the corridor evalu
tion phase to determine if there are any known
Archaeological areas or istoialbulliags
‘thin each coeidor being considered.
[A iid survey wil be made in each corridor
‘under consideration by persons with kaow-
fdge of archacological or histori features and
5. other
Field investigations may be necessary to acea-
‘ately assess the fllowang features of the study
+ Toposraphy
* Geology
+ Hydrolony
* Land Use Activities
+ Biological Dat
Sociological Data
D, Corridor Evaluation
1, Socil and Enviromental pacts
Each comparison of representative alternate
‘oeridors should inchae consideration 50
‘Sal and svionmenal determinants Tsted
below. To ensure tha exch determinant i ade
‘uitey evaluated, the following questionnaire
‘Sha be completed anc included inthe Recon
assance Report Explanations of all yes and
Iaybe answers to the questions are required
following each determ nant.
‘The consideration given to each determinant
Wil vary with the natare and sie ofthe pro
Posed project and wih the characteristic of
the sly aes
o7203
Determinant:
‘4 Water. Wil the proposal result in
*+ Changes in currens, or the cours of direction of water
movements in either marine or fresh waters! —
‘Changes i absorption rates, drainage palters, or the
fate and amount of surface mater runod? ee
Alterations tothe course of Row of lod waters?
‘Change in the amount of surface water in any water
‘oa?
Discharge into surface waters, or in any alteration of
surface Water quali, inctuding but not limited to te
perature dissolved oxygen or turbidity? a
‘Alicia of re retin ovate of aw gr a
+ Change inthe quanity of ground waters, either through
‘ioct additions or withdrawals, or through interception
‘ofan aquifer by cuts or excavations? ee
Deterioration in ground water quality, either through
lest injection, or through the seepage of leachate,
‘howphates detergents, waterborne virus or bacteria, oF
Sther substances tothe ground waters? =
‘Realction in the amount of water otherwise avilable for
publi wate supplies? —
a
The location, quantity, and quality of usable could affect water and water use in stlemens
waters has prety inflenced the culture and of agricultural areas should be dscssed and
evelopment of the Kingdom. Avalaiity of coordinated with the Ministry of Agncultre
water also strongly influences the numbers and aad Water, the Minstry of Defense and Avie-
Iype of plant/animal associations in any locale, ton, the Proviacal Governor, andthe Minis-
(Ons, wads, ground water, natural springs, try of Municipalities and Rural AMfars. Their
fand developed wells all represent important recommendations shall be incorporated in po-
atcesas to scarce water supplies and warrant 4 jee lvation and design. All efforts made
high degice of protection. Although the water Obtain information from the Ministris should
‘ality ofthese sources may vary all water is be dacumented inthe Reconnaissance Report
‘rccous in this ari land. Recent and Sevl0P- soa examples of precautions 1 minimize en-
Aig iechnology in wer pureton “and "
Urément hos the promis making ll wa