Programs & Regulations

SCEA Home  |  Training Modules  |  Recent Updates  |  Contact Info
Interactive Presentation  |  Training Exercises  |  Review Questions  |  Other Materials  |  FAQ

Training Modules / Interactive Presentation

Introduction :: Presentation Format & SCEA Overview
Module 1 :: How to Determine Which Resources Should be Considered in a SCEA
Module 2 :: How to Establish the SCEA Geographical Boundary
Module 3 :: How to Determine SCEA Time Frames
Module 4 :: How to Develop SCEA Land Use Information
Module 5 :: How to Prepare the Analysis & Reach SCEA Conclusions
Module 6 :: Presentation of SCEA in the Environmental Documentation

Module 1

Slide 1 How to Identify which resources should be considered in the SCEA

Slide 2 Overview

• Scoping and initial SCEA activities
• Initial SCEA resource identification
• Data Sources

Slide 3 Scoping & Initial SCEA Activities

• Incorporate into project planning process during preliminary alternatives development.
• Identify environmental resources and SCEA issues in the project area. (Directly impacted resources are the starting point. More resources may be identified based on secondary impacts or if new alternatives, with other/new impacts, are looked at.)
• Coordinate with resource agencies to:
  obtain input on resource identification and analysis methodologies
  inform them of missing information which could become an obstacle
  seek their approval
  

Slide 4 Initial SCEA Resource Identification

• Identify resources directly impacted by each proposed project alternative.
• Identify potential secondary impacts from project alternatives in coordination with local planners and developers.
  

Slide 5 Prepare SCEA Resource Matrix for Presentation at the Interagency Field Review (IFR)

• Identify readily available data sources.
• Create resource matrix identifying:
  each resource
  data availability
  data units
  data sources
  analysis methodology (Modules 4 & 5)

Slide 6 Key Data Sources

Slide 7 Middle River Employment Center Access Study (MRECAS)

Slide 8 MRECAS Project Purpose & Need

Purpose of the Project:

• To improve access from regional transportation network to enable planned economic development.
• To increase utilization of established employment areas in the Middle River Employment Center.

Need for the Project:

• There is a need for a sufficient level of access and mobility for the Employment Center.
• Support of economic development.
• Existing roads in the study area lack the capacity and continuity to provide adequate access to the entire MREC from the existing highway network.

Slide 9 MRECAS Study Area Boundary

See map

Slide 10 MRECAS Resource Matrix

The following table contains a list of all resources impacted in the MRECAS project area, with associated boundaries, time frames, approaches, data sources and the agencies from which the data was obtained. Resources that would not be appropriate to be studied in the SCEA are shown as a "strikethrough" (or with an asterisk).

View Matrix

Slide 11 MRECAS Resources (continued)

Rationale for Removing Resource in the SCEA

Rationale for Retaining Resource in the SCEA

NOTE: Disruption to Community as it is termed in the MRECAS environmental impact matrix, is not a resource and was not analyzed in the SCEA . However, communities is considered a resource and can be analyzed as such in other SCEAs.

Slide 12 MD 5 Hughesville Transportation Improvement Project

Slide 13 MD 5 (Study Area Location Map)

See map

Slide 14 MD 5 Direct Impacts Study Area

Slide 15 MD 5 Project Purpose & Need

• The purpose of the MD 5 Hughesville Transportation Improvement Project is to alleviate congestion and to address safety hazards along MD 5 at the MD 5/MD 231 intersection in the Hughesville area. MD 5 through Hughesville experiences a high accident rate due to a constrained typical section, limited capacity at the MD 5/MD 231 intersection, and numerous driveways with direct access onto MD 5.
• Traffic congestion and safety along MD 5 during morning and evening rush hours have become significant problems in recent years and conditions are expected to increase to 85 percent with the projected growth by year 2020 near Washington D.C., Lexington Park, and along the MD 5 corridor. The MD 5/MD 231 intersection currently operates at LOS "F" in the evening peak hour.

Slide 16 Alternatives Retained for Detailed Study

NoBuild This alternative would not provide any significant improvements to MD 5 in the Hughesville area. Minor improvements would occur as part of normal maintenance and safety operations. These improvements would not measurably affect roadway capacity or reduce the accident rate. Possible minor improvements include items such as curbing, sidewalks, striping, signing, lighting, rumble strips and additional drainage.

Slide 17 MD 5 Alternatives Retained for Detailed Study

Widen Existing MD 5 This alternative proposes widening existing MD 5 to a sevenlane curbed section, with two through lanes and an auxiliary right turn lane for both the northbound and southbound directions and a continuous center left turn lane. This alternative would have three northbound and southbound lanes near the MD 5/MD 231 intersection. The posted speed limit would be 40 miles per hour (mph), similar to existing MD 5. This alternative requires the additional widening of MD 5 at the MD 5/MD 231 intersection. The widening creates the necessary storage to efficiently move peak hour traffic through the MD 5/MD 231 intersection.

See map

Slide 18 MD 5 Alternatives Retained for Detailed Study (continued)

Eastern Bypass This alternative is a fourlane divided highway located east of MD 5 from south of Gallant Green Road to north of Carrico Mill Road. The Alternative 5 design speed is 60 mph. This alternative bypasses the town of Hughesville to the east. Alternative 5 is access controlled, providing only three points of access to the town of Hughesville. These points of access are at either end of the bypass and at MD 231, where a diamond interchange is proposed. The controlledaccess Alternative 5 would safely and efficiently accommodate the 90 percent through traffic projected for this facility. Construction of the bypass will also safely accommodate traffic on existing in Hughesville. By intercepting the high volume of through traffic traveling between Calvert County and Lexington Park prior to Hughesville.

See map

Slide 19 Summary of Direct Impacts as presented in the EA

Slide 20 MD 5 Resource Consideration (continued)

The resources which should not be studied in the SCEA have been shown as "strikethroughs" (or with an asterisk).

Slide 21 MD 5 Resource Consideration (continued)

The resources which should be excluded from the SCEA have been shown as "strikethroughs" (or with an asterisk).

Exercise 1 | Back to top

All content contained within these materials is the intellectual property of Maryland State Highway Administration.

© 2000 Maryland State Highway Administration.
Last modified: Friday September 15, 2000.