During the PA&ED phase, the project team conducts environmental studies to analyze the effect and impact of the various project alternatives for operational and emergency evacuation improvements. Alternatives are shared with the community, and after studying community input and environmental and engineering studies, Caltrans selects a final alternative. The preferred alternative will balance all users' needs and align with Federal and State laws, policies, and requirements.

Parallel to developing the alternatives, environmental studies required by state and federal laws under the general heading of the CEQA/NEPA are conducted to evaluate potential environmental impacts. Simple projects with few or no environmental impacts can have a one-page Environmental Document (ED). In contrast, larger, more complex projects with significant impacts will likely require a lengthy Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

To complete the PA& ED phase, the Project Development Team (PDT) and the Environmental Unit undertake the following tasks

• Perform Preliminary Engineering and Draft Project Report: Conduct preliminary engineering studies to develop a draft Project Report (PR) and a final Environmental Study Request (ESR). The PR defines the project purpose and area and an ESR is needed to begin the environmental study.
• Perform Environmental Studies and Prepare Draft Environmental Document: Determine the project's environmental impact and start preparing the determined type of Draft Environmental Document (DED). The SR-67 Highway Improvements project is preparing a draft joint EIR/EIS.
• Obtain Permits, Licenses, Agreements, and Certifications (PLACs) and Route Adoptions: PLACs and Route Adoptions require coordination with partner resource agencies for approval. These approvals must be in place for the project to continue into construction.
• Circulate Draft Environmental Document and Select Preferred Project Alternative: Circulate the draft EIR/EIS to collect and respond to public comment, and select a preferred alternative.
• Prepare and Approve Project Report and Final Environmental Document: Final preparation, review, and approval of a PR, a Final EIR/EIS, and Notices of Determination and/or Records of Decision.

• Preliminary Design Plans (for 3 Studied Alternatives)
• Traffic Forecasting/Modeling Volumes
• Noise Study Report
• Paleontology Study
• Field Surveys for Biological Studies
• Preliminary Geotechnical Design Report
• Structure Preliminary Geotechnical Report
• Bridge Advance Planning Study

• Draft Evacuation Analysis
• Traffic Studies
• ​Biological and Wildlife Movement
• Cultural / Ecological / Air Quality​ / Hazardous Waste / Visual Analysis
• VMT Analysis & Mitigation