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Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) officials have begun the Oregon Passenger Rail Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as the next step in improving passenger-rail service in the Oregon segment of the federally designated Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor between Eugene and Portland, Ore.

ODOT is developing a corridor investment plan with two parts: a Tier 1 EIS, which will designate a preferred alternative for future improvements; and a system development plan, which will describe in detail how the preferred alternative will be implemented, ODOT officials said in a prepared statement.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requires a corridor investment plan be completed in order to apply for federal funding for improvement design and construction.

Gov. John Kitzhaber established the Oregon Passenger-Rail Leadership Council to guide the project and develop a consensus on the recommendations that will be submitted to the FRA for approval.

The EIS will be funded with state and federal dollars.