# Phase 160: Hypothesis Route Transition Clearance Surface - Discussion Log

> **Audit trail only.** Do not use as input to planning, research, or execution agents.
> Decisions are captured in CONTEXT.md.

**Date:** 2026-04-12
**Phase:** 160-hypothesis-route-transition-clearance-surface
**Areas discussed:** transition-clearance visibility, relation to escalation, bounded scope

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## Surface Placement

| Option | Description | Selected |
|--------|-------------|----------|
| extend the existing route ladder with explicit transition clearance | preserves one visible operator truth path | ✓ |
| invent a separate checkpoint-clearance subsystem | would fragment the operator model | |

## Relation To Existing Mechanisms

| Option | Description | Selected |
|--------|-------------|----------|
| coexist with current route transition-escalation and helper mechanisms | keeps current execution surfaces intact | ✓ |
| auto-trigger fresh runtime mutation from the new clearance surface | widens scope too far | |

## Scope

| Option | Description | Selected |
|--------|-------------|----------|
| declarative transition-clearance visibility | closes the immediate gap cleanly | ✓ |
| checkpoint-answer interpretation and route mutation | too wide for the immediate next milestone | |
