Planning studies for the Elgin O'Hare - West Bypass project will be advanced in two phases that build upon one another. A tiered EIS is applicable to projects where a single transportation solution for the study area has not been identified with respect to mode (e.g., roadway or transmit) and/or location. The Tier One EIS includes an examination of the overall transportation system improvement needs, a study of alternatives to satisfy them, and broad consideration of potential environmental and social impacts of the possible alternatives. The Tier One evaluation is completed at a sufficient level of engineering and environmental detail to assist decision makers in selecting a preferred transportation system alternative(s). Tier One includes preparing a draft and final EIS that will disclose potential environmental and social effects (evaluated at a planning level) of the proposed improvements. The final EIS will conclude with a Record of Decision (ROD) by the Federal Highway Administration that states the preferred plan for the system improvements to be implemented. The Tier One EIS will produce the following outcomes: - Approval of the preferred transportation system alternative (or alternatives) for the study area
- Identify components of the overall transportation system alternative that can be advanced independently by various agencies through Tier Two studies.
Following completion of the Tier One process, Tier Two environmental studies will focus on specific project corridors. For each project, detailed engineering and environmental studies will be performed to define the general layout, preliminary design and footprint of the project, as well as associated right-of-way requirements. Additionally, Tier Two will include detailed studies of possible methods to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts on environmental resources within the project footprint. The Tier Two environmental documents will serve as the basis for a decision on whether to proceed with the design and possible construction of each project. 
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