A phase or type of work intended to develop feasible project proposals that produce the best balance among transportation needs, environmental values, public concerns and costs. The end products of scoping are: a recommended scheme with a realistic cost estimate; an approved environmental document; reasonable assurance that environmental permits can be obtained; community support, or documentation explaining why such support cannot reasonably be obtained; and identification of right of way (ROW) needs and costs. Scoping consists of two phases in NJDOT: Feasibility assessment and final scope development. FA denotes feasibility assessment by NJDOT; LFA denotes local feasibility assessment by a local entity (MPO, county, municipality).

Feasibility assessment is the first phase of scoping, during which the Division of Project Planning and Development performs sufficient engineering to determine whether the concept emerging from concept development can be feasibly evolved into a project in light of environmental and community constraints and issues. If it cannot be reasonably demonstrated that environmental approvals and community support are forthcoming, the concept will neither become a project, nor pass into the Five-Year Capital Program.

During feasibility assessment, project schemes that balance project objectives against environmental, community, engineering and budget constraints are developed. If alternatives which can resolve the problem to full engineering standards in light of constraints cannot be developed, then a full range of design and alignment alternatives will be considered, including those which back off desirable standards and instead meet minimum standards, which drop below minimum standards, or even those which do not achieve one or more of the project goals. In essence, the Division of Project Planning and Development (DPPD) will systematically "ratchet down" project expectations until a good fit between engineering goals and environmental and political considerations are achieved. This will lead to the development of what has been termed as the Initially Preferred Alternative (IPA).

During feasibility assessment, the community involvement will generally be limited to coordination with municipal staff and officials, although, if deemed necessary, the Department may decide to conduct the public meetings normally reserved for preliminary design. This may include the obtaining of the actual resolution of support from the community governing body.

Feasibility assessment will culminate in a presentation to the Screening Committee regarding the potential project. The Screening Committee's recommendations will be presented to the Capital Program Committee for approval. If deemed a worthy project, the project will be assigned to a Project Manager and entered into the pool of projects for preliminary design. If the project is determined to be "fatally flawed," it will be recommended for termination, or recycled for reconsideration as part of a further concept development.