The US 31 Kokomo Corridor Project is located primarily in Howard County, Indiana. The project's logical termini, or the rational end points for the sufficient review of environmental impacts, are located two miles south of State Road (SR) 26 and one mile north of the US Route (US) 35 northern junction (County Road 450 North), a distance of approximately 12 miles. The project corridor traverses the City of Kokomo and Center Township, as well as portions of Clay, Howard, Taylor, and Harrison Townships in Howard County. One mile of the project extends into Prairie and Liberty Townships in northern Tipton County.

The current US 31 facility represents a bypass of the original US 31 route that once passed through downtown Kokomo until 1952. Through the project area, existing US 31 is a four-lane divided roadway that includes 15 signalized intersections, three bridges, and three at-grade railroad crossings. There are approximately 140 minor cross-street and private property access points to US 31.

The land use along the central portion of US 31 in Kokomo is dominated by large retail and industrial developments such as the Delphi Automotive Systems plant, the southern Daimler-Chrysler Transmission plant, Markland Mall, and Kokomo Mall. Delphi and Daimler-Chrysler represent two of the largest employers in the State of Indiana. The southern portion of the corridor is dominated by residential development while the northern portion primarily consists of agricultural land with the exception of the northern Daimler-Chrysler Transmission plant.

Statewide Perspective
The need for transportation improvements in the US 31 corridor has been recognized by the State of Indiana for more than ten years. In 1992, INDOT initiated an in-depth study of alternative projects and strategies to improve north-south traffic flow along the US 31 corridor through the greater Kokomo area. This Major Investment Study (MIS), completed in 1995, evaluated a wide variety of options to improve the US 31 corridor, including new alignments. The final recommendation of the MIS called for an upgrade of the existing US 31 facility to urban freeway standards. The recommended upgrade designated a series of interchanges at major cross-streets within the study corridor.

Local/Regional Perspective
In 1991, traffic congestion along US 31 had intensified to a point that the Kokomo-Howard County GCC acknowledged the problem and adopted the upgrade of US 31 into their 1991 Transportation Policy Plan. The 1995 MIS recommended upgrading the existing US 31 facility to freeway standards which was endorsed by the GCC and adopted into their Long Range Transportation Plan for Kokomo and Central Howard County for 1995 to 2015. Following the MIS, the local businesses expressed concern and opposition over the potential impacts that would be associated with upgrading US 31. As a result, the Kokomo-Howard County GCC lifted their endorsement of the existing corridor upgrade alternative.

In February 2000, the Kokomo-Howard County GCC adopted a long-range transportation plan update for the years 2000 to 2025 that included a recommendation for a US 31 east bypass. The GCC subsequently formed a US 31 Task Force comprised of local officials and business leaders to identify and address local issues relating to future US 31 improvements. In August 2000, based on the recommendations of the group, the GCC adopted Resolution 2000-3: Resolution for Communicating US 31 Priorities to the Indiana Department of Transportation for Consideration in an Environmental Impact Study of US 31 in Howard County.

Current Status
In June 2002, INDOT began the US 31 Kokomo Corridor Project to evaluate alternatives for improvements to the US 31 corridor. As a part of this project, a Purpose and Need Statement was issued in June 2003 and a Public Meeting and Interagency Review Meeting were held in July 2003. The Preliminary Alternatives Analysis and Screening Report was published in November 2003 and a Public Meeting and Interagency Review Meeting were held in December 2003. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was published on April 1, 2005 and a formal public hearing was held on April 19, 2005.

Based on comments received on the DEIS, Alternative J Modified was developed and documented in the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement, published on Oct. 27, 2006. Alternative J Modified was identified as the preferred alternative and a 45-day comment period began on Oct. 27, 2006. A public hearing was held on Nov. 28, 2006.

On March 23, 2007, INDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) which detailed the preferred alternative for the corridor and addressed public comments and questions received in response to the DEIS and SDEIS. A final Record of Decision (ROD) from the FHWA is expected in late April 2007.

	Project team begins gathering preliminary engineering, traffic, and environmental data and initiates early coordination with federal, state, and local agencies.
	Complete Purpose and Need Statement, which examines existing and future transportation needs in the corridor. Hold initial Community Advisory Committee meeting, conduct the first public meeting and distribute the first newsletter.
	Project team identifies and analyzes preliminary alternatives.
	Publish Preliminary Alternatives Analysis and Screening Report, which identifies alternatives to be carried forward for more detailed study in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Hold second Community Advisory Committee meeting, conduct second public meeting and distribute second newsletter.
	Project team studies in greater detail the alternatives carried forward and prepares the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).
	Publish DEIS, which details the impacts and benefits for each alternative. Hold third Community Advisory Committee meeting, conduct a public hearing during 45-day comment period, and distribute third newsletter.
	After receiving public comment on the DEIS, INDOT and the FHWA name Alternative J Modified the preferred alternative and publish a Supplemental DEIS. Hold a public hearing during 45-day comment period on the SDEIS.
	After reviewing public and agency comments, INDOT publishes the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) with a selected alternative.
	The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issues a Record of Decision (ROD) on the selected alternative.