Prior to developing alternatives, the project team defines the scope and study area, determines the purpose and need, and sets project goals and objectives (see

Chapter 1

for guidance). Developing alternatives demands understanding the issues. Coordination with project stakeholders is necessary to establish that an appropriate range of alternatives is considered. The number of alternatives acknowledged varies by project scope and level of detail; three to five alternatives are generally evaluated at each “tier.” Potential solutions to be considered include:

Consider developing alternatives with enough detail to adequately evaluate benefits and costs.