[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8076-8077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4332]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Pierce County, Washington
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Revised Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the
scope of a project in Pierce County, Washington for which a notice of
intent had previously been issued has been changed and that additional
scoping and public involvement meetings will be conducted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gene Fong, Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, 711
South Capitol Way, Suite 501, Olympia WA 98501, telephone (360) 753-
9413; or Gary Demich, Region Administrator, Olympic Region, Washington
State Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 7440, Olympia WA 98504,
telephone (360) 357-2659.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA in cooperation with the Washington
State Department of Transportation issued a Notice of Intent December
9, 1993, to prepare an environmental impact statement on a proposal to
improve State Route 16 (SR 16) in Pierce County, Washington. Scoping
comments to date have been in favor of operational improvements and/or
capacity improvements with a strong preference for HOV treatments. A
Major Investment Study currently being conducted in the SR 16 corridor
has indicated the need to expand the scope of this EIS. The scope of
the proposed action is being expanded to address congestion and improve
safety and operational reliability in the SR 16 corridor from the Cedar
Street overcrossing in Tacoma to the SR 302 interchange south of Purdy
in Pierce County, a distance of 20.4 kilometers (12.7 miles). Reduced
congestion in the SR 16 corridor would be provided by either added
highway capacity, Transportation Demand Management, Transportation
System Management, or other general approaches derived from the Major
Investment Study.
The SR 16 corridor between Cedar Street in Tacoma and SR 302 near
Purdy has experienced substantial increases in traffic volumes,
congestion and accidents as a result of regional growth. Regional
growth patterns have established this corridor as a major commute
route. There are no alternate routes between Tacoma and Gig Harbor and
those points north of Gig Harbor in Pierce and Kitsap Counties.
Substantial delays in traffic caused by the high volumes are
exacerbated by even minor accidents in the corridor. The proposed
additional HOV lanes are consistent with, and a part of, WSDOT's
overall Transportation System Plan for the SR 16 corridor.
Alternatives under consideration include (1) no action; (2) added
capacity alternatives with either a parallel span or a retrofitted
Tacoma Narrows Bridge; (3) Transportation Demand Management; and (4)
Transportation System Management. Other alternatives will be
considered, as appropriate, as a result of public scoping or the Major
Investment Study. Incorporated into and
[[Page 8077]]
studied with the build alternatives will be the siting of a new
interchange in the vicinity of 36th Street NW., the addition of HOV
lanes within the existing Rights of Way whenever possible, and the
addition of toll facilities in the 24th Street vicinity.
Announcements describing the proposed action and soliciting
comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies.
These announcements will also be set to private organizations and
citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have interest in
this proposal. A series of public scoping meetings will be held in
Tacoma, Gig Harbor, and on the Kitsap Peninsula on March 11th, 12th,
13th, 18th, and 19th 1997. In addition, a public hearing on the Draft
EIS will be held. Public notice will be given of the time and place of
these meetings and of the hearing. The draft EIS will be available for
public and agency review and comment prior to the public hearing.
It is important that the full range of issues related to this
proposed action be addressed and that all significant issues be
identified. To ensure this, comments and suggestions are invited from
all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning this proposed
action and the EIS should be directed to the FHWA at the address and
phone number provided above. (Catalog of Federal 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 February 14, 1997.
Jose M. Miranda,
Environmental Program Manager, Olympia, Washington.
[FR Doc. 97-4332 Filed 2-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M
