This Draft EIS focuses on two phases of the incremental implementation of public transportation improvements at DUS: the complete build-out of improvements referred to as the Vision Plan Alternative (the Build Alternative) and the initial phase of the build-out referred to as Phase I. The anticipated private redevelopment projects on the DUS property are not part of this Draft EIS as they do not require a federal action.

The Denver Union Station Master Plan’s goals were used to develop and evaluate the transportation alternatives described in the Draft EIS. Criteria for screening these alternatives were based on the goals and objectives and included the following:

• Accommodation of future rail and bus program requirements;
• Transportation effectiveness;
• Opportunities for joint development;
• Impacts on existing transportation systems;
• Financial viability;
• Historic preservation;
• Impacts on the built and natural environment; and
• Urban design and neighborhood integration.

Alternatives evaluated and screened included: 14 initial alternatives developed by the project team to respond to the project’s need; nine publicly submitted alternatives based on comments received after the public’s review of the 14 initial alternatives; and over 20 additional design options to the initial alternatives and publicly submitted alternatives. The alternatives were subjected to a four-tier screening process which included:

• Tier I: Fatal Flaw Analysis;
• Tier II: General Screening;
• Tier III: Detailed Screening; and
• Tier IV: Additional Detailed Screening.

The three alternatives that survived the four-tier screening process were subjected to more detailed engineering and review which resulted in the elimination of one alternative. Upon closer examination, the project team recommended combining the two remaining alternatives into one Build Alternative, since the improvements of one alternative could be completed as an initial phase of the eventual build-out of the second alternative. The project team recommended the complete build-out be referred to as the Vision Plan Alternative and the initial phase of the build-out to be referred to as Phase I of the Vision Plan Alternative. The phasing recommendation was subsequently approved by the Executive Oversight Committee and project's citizen committee.

In addition to defining the Build Alternative, the project team also defined the No Action Alternative. The No Action Alternative is used as a baseline for comparison to the build alternative (Vision Plan Alternative) that is evaluated in the Draft EIS.