Opening of Proposals - Coal Line Trail, Phase III Proj No. 123-007 - Jones Petrie Rafinski Corp.

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| 10 PROJECT APPROACH: DES. #2201235 ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTATION With the inclusion of federal funding on this project, a NEPA document will need to be prepared by our subconsultant, Global Engineering and Surveying. Based on the requirements for determining the level of Categorical Exclusion, impacts from ROW acquisition and Section 106 are likely to be the determining factors. A CE-1 will likely be required if the project meets the MPPA and requires less than 0.5 acre of ROW, otherwise a CE-2 will be required. In the unlikely event archaeological or historic property investigations are required, the JPR team will coordinate with a qualified sub-consultant to perform the work. Additionally, if INDOT’s requirements for a public hearing are met, JPR is prepared to fulfill any necessary tasks. RIGHT-OF-WAY: Due to the scope of the project, right- of-way impacts are expected to be minimal. If any right- of-way acquisition is required, this will become a critical path task for a successful project completion. Acquisition greater than 0.5 acres will also elevate the NEPA document to a CE-2 or higher. The JPR team along with Dodd Title will investigate the need for right-of-way early in the design process to prevent any delays. SECTION 4(f) IMPACTS: A small portion of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center has a public recreational area that will qualify as a Section 4(f) resource. As the recommended location of the trail does not impact the Community Center, the JPR team anticipates it will be exempt from a full Section 4(f) analysis but will need to be coordinated with INDOT. SECTION 106: Initial research has shown that the project area is not located within or adjacent to a historic district; however, several sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places are located within or adjacent to the project limits. These historic sites, O’Brien Electric Priming Company and the South Bend Brewing Association building, are located outside the project limits and were torn down in 2022 respectively. Several other buildings along the proposed route have been identified as notable by the IDNR and will need to be reviewed. Any necessary historic property and archaeological investigations will be coordinated with our sub-consultants, but we anticipate the project will be eligible for the INDOT Minor Projects Programmatic Agreement. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: In addition to the other NEPA items discussed, stream, wetland, and endangered species impacts will need to be addressed. There are no streams located within the project limits and no wetlands were observed during our initial field visit, so impacts are not anticipated. As for endangered species, potential impacts could occur if any tree clearing or trimming is required, but it is not expected to warrant a “Likely to Adversely Affect” finding from USFWS. ADDED VALUE: With the project limits of this Coal Line Trail Phase 3 project and the SRTS project overlapping, the City of South Bend can save resources by combining the environmental documents. The JPR team will coordinate with the selected SRTS consultant to streamline the environmental process. City of South Bend | PE Services for Coal Line Trail Phase 3 in the LaPorte District - Des #2201235