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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 T _. WH } aH) i] = Vga e EE Fem Garg tan eu wera Spee Fiat ay an inhi Yi 2.03 8 4 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 area 5. 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 o7 203 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

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