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A. - DECISION The Selected Alternative for the reconstruction of Highway 371 from County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 18 in Nisswa to CSAH 42 in Pine River, Minnesota is Alternative 3MOD (Existing Alignment with a Pequot Lakes Bypass), as described in the. SFEIS. The proposed improvements include a four -lane, divided, controlled access highway on existing alignment from Nisswa to County Road 168 /107 in Pequot Lakes, an easterly bypass of Pequot Lakes from County Road 168/107 to approximately 1.5 miles south of CSAH 16, and back to a four -lane divided highway on existing alignment from 1.5 miles south of CSAH 16 to CSAH 42 in Pine River. The project length is approximately 16 miles. Analysis contained in the SFEIS includes the area for right-of-way preservation associated with a future interchange at CSAH 11. It is anticipated that of the three cross- street connections proposed. in conjunction with the new Pequot Lakes bypass, this location will be first to see traffic volumes increase beyond a level that can be safely controlled by a standard traffic signal system. Although an interchange at this location is not proposed during the initial construction of Alternative 3MOD, because of funding constraints, the environmental impacts associated with the right -of -way footprint of this future facility were documented in the SFEIS to facilitate fixture implementation of this interchange if/when it is determined to be necessary. B. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED The December 2003 DEIS, the January 2005 Final EIS, and the July 2010 SFEIS documents describe, in detail, the project build alternatives (all four -lane alternatives) and analyze the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts associated with each build alternative and the No Build Alternative. The alternatives considered and reasons for their dismissal in favor of the Selected Alternative (Alternative 3MOD) are discussed in detail in the Draft EIS, Final EIS and the SFEIS. This information is summarized below: Alternative 1— No-Build Alternative The No -Build Alternative would involve no improvements being made to the existing Highway. 371 corridor. Under the No -Build Alternate, Highway 371 would continue to operate as a two - lane highway between Nisswa and Pine River. The No -Build Alternate does not preclude ongoing maintenance work. As noted in the Amended Scopin.g Decision Document, Alternative 1 is not a suitable solution for addressing the purpose and need objectives of this project. However, in accordance with federal and state regulations, the No -Build Alternative was retained throughout the EIS analysis process to serve as a baseline for comparison of the build alternatives. Alternative 2 — Capacity Expansion on Existing Alignment This build alternative, identified as the preferred alternative in 2005, would have reconstructed Highway 371 as a four -lane divided roadway on its existing alignment from CSAH 18 in Nisswa to CR 2/42 in'Pine River. After the ROD was signed, in -depth negotiations began with each of the affected communities in order to further develop the project details from conceptual level drawings, used in the FEIS, to detailed layouts suitable for use during the municipal consent process. TH 371 Adequacy Determination Nisswa to Pine River 2 October 2010 --11%