KDOT is selecting a route before they do and Environmental Assessment/Environmental Impact Statement

First of all, KDOT has not “selected” anything yet. They do have to come up with some general routing ideas before it can do an EA/EIS. What they have selected is their first preferential routing. This will likely be the selected final route, unless there are some serious environmental consequences in which another feasible alternative does not have. Translation: a route is preferred until the EA or EIS is okayed by Federal Highway. If the preferred route is approved, it then becomes the selected route.