[Federal Register: September 2, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 170)]
[Notices]
[Page 53764-53765]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02se04-106]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: I-15 Corridor, Utah and Salt Lake
Counties, UT
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Utah
Department of Transportation (UDOT) are issuing this notice to advise
the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be
prepared for a proposed transportation improvement project in Utah and
Salt Lake Counties, Utah. To date, five alternatives have been
identified in previous studies, to be addressed in the EIS. These
alternatives include a no-action alternative, transportation systems
management alternative, highway only alternative, transit only
alternative, and a combined transit and highway or multimodal
alternative. In addition, alternatives that are identified from the
scoping process will be evaluated in the EIS. Scoping will be
accomplished through correspondence and discussions with interested
persons; organizations; federal, state and local agencies; and through
public and agency meetings.
DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives
and impacts to be considered in the EIS must be received no later than
October 11, 2004, and must be sent to UDOT at the address indicated
below. Scoping Meetings: UDOT will conduct three public scoping
meetings and one agency meeting. The agency meeting will be held on
September 8, 2004 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the UDOT Complex, located
at 4501 South 2700 West in Salt Lake City. The public scoping meetings
will be held on September 8, 2004 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Murray
High School Spartan Conference Room, located at 5440 S. State Street in
Murray; on September 9, 2004 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Larsen Elementary
School located at 1175 E. Flonette Drive in Spanish Fork; and on
September 11, 2004 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the McKay Events Center,
North Presidential Level, Utah Valley State College located on 800 W.
University Parkway in Orem.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Berna, Environmental
Specialist, Federal Highway Administration, 2520 West 4700 South, Suite
9A, Salt Lake City, UT 84118. Telephone: (801) 963-0182. Written
comments should be sent to Mr. Merrell Jolley, Project Manager, Utah
Department of Transportation, 658 North 1500 West Orem, UT 84057.
Telephone: (801) 222-3406. To be added to the mailing list, contact
Eileen Barron, Public Involvement Manager, Parsons Brinckerhoff, 488
East Winchester Street, Suite 400, Murray, Utah 84107. Telephone (888)
898-2111 or e-mail i15utahcounty@utah.gov. Persons with special needs
should contact Eileen Barron at the above address and phone number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 53765]]
1. Description of Study Area and Scope
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in cooperation with the
Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Utah Department of
Transportation (UDOT) and Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is preparing an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed action
approximately 66 miles in length to address capacity, operational,
infrastructure deficiencies along 1-15 from Santaquin to the 10600
South Interchange (southern point of previous I-15 reconstruction). The
proposed action will also examine transit alternatives that address the
purpose and need for the corridor including, but not limited to,
commuter rail from Payson to the Salt Lake City Intermodal Center,
light rail from 1000 South in Sandy to Orem, and bus rapid transit.
II. Purpose and Need
Growth within Utah County over the last ten years has been
significant. Population in Utah and Salt Lake counties is expected to
grow 84 and 63 percent respectively by the year 2030, at an annual
growth rate of approximately 2.0 percent. I-15 is the only continuous
north-south route in Utah County, and the primary north-south facility
in the State. Sections of I-15 are currently demonstrating unacceptable
levels of service in the peak hours resulting in significant driver
delay and frustration.
Two recent planning studies have identified possible transit and
highway transportation solutions for the Utah County and southern Salt
Lake County. These two studies are the Inter-Regional Corridor
Alternatives Analysis (January 2002) and the Utah County I-15 Corridor
Management Plan (August 2002). This EIS will build upon these previous
studies and will also analyze the environmental impacts for various
alternatives.
III. Alternatives
The proposed project intends to consider no-build, transportation
system management, highway only, transit only, and multimodal build
alternatives to address the transportation need. Build alternatives for
I-15 will consider widening the facility, improvements to or new
interchanges, and correction of existing deficiencies.
Alternatives 1: No-Action. This alternative consists of highway and
transit systems existing as of year 2004, plus improvements programmed
in the approved long range transportation plan.
Alternative 2: Transportation Systems Management. This alternative
consists of low cost, reasonable and cost-effective highway and transit
system improvements within the I-15 Corridor that address the purpose
and need.
Alternative 3: Highway-Only Improvements: Based on previous
studies, this alternative consists of reconstructing existing
interchanges; constructing 3-5 new interchanges; possibly including
collector-distributor lanes from University Parkway to 920 South Provo;
and widening I-15 from 6 to 8 general purpose lanes from the Salt Lake
County line to the US-6 interchange in Spanish Fork.
Alternative 4: Transit-Only Improvements. This alternative consists
of transit improvements paralleling I-15, including examining commuter
rail, light rail, bus rapid transit, and managed lanes.
Alternative 5: Multimodal Improvements: This alternative consists
of Alternative 3 (with possible modifications) plus transit
improvements, including examining commuter rail, light rail, bus rapid
transit, and managed lanes. This alternative could become multiple
alternatives depending on alignment and mode.
IV. Probable Effects
Environmental issues to be examined in the Alternatives Analysis
and in the EIS include: potential changes to the physical environment
(natural resources, air quality, noise, water quality, geology,
visual); changes in the social environment (land use, development,
business and neighborhood disruptions); changes in traffic and
pedestrian circulation; changes in transit service and patronage;
associated changes in traffic congestion; and impacts on parklands and
historic sites. Impacts will be identified both for the construction
period and for the long-term operation of the alternatives. The
proposed evaluation criteria include transportation, social, economic,
and financial measures, as required by current federal (NEPA)
environmental laws and current Council on Environmental Quality; FHWA
and FTA guidelines.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed
action will be addressed and all significant issues identified,
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties.
Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS
should be directed to UDOT as noted above.
V. FHWA Procedures
The EIS for the I-15 Corridor Utah and Salt Lake counties will be
prepared simultaneously with conceptual engineering. The EIS/conceptual
engineering process will address the potential use of federal funds for
the proposed action, as well as assess the social, economic and
environmental impacts of the alternatives.
After publication the Draft EIS will be available for public and
agency review and comment, and public hearings will be held. Based on
the Draft EIS comments received, UDOT will select a locally preferred
alternative for further assessment in the Final EIS.
(Catalog of Federal and Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental
consultation on federal programs and activities apply to this
program)
Issued on: August 27, 2004.
Jeffrey Berna,
Environmental Specialist, Salt Lake City, Utah
[FR Doc. 04-20018 Filed 9-1-04; 8:45 am]
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