[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 78 (Monday, April 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 17749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9763]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Caddo Parish, Louisiana
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an
environmental impact statement will be prepared for a proposed highway
project in Caddo Parish, Louisiana.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. William A. Sussmann, Division Administrator, Federal Highway
Administration, Louisiana Division Office, Post Office Box 3929, Baton
Rouge, Louisiana 70821, Telephone: (504) 389-0464, Facsimile: (504)
389-0758; or Mr. Vincent Pizzolato, Environmental Engineer
Administrator, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development,
Post Office Box 94245, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-9245, Telephone:
(504) 929-9190, Facsimile: (504) 929-9188.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Louisiana
Department of Transportation and Development (LDOTD), will prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to construct a four-
lane, divided, fully controlled access highway facility located on new
alignment. The proposed project, known locally as the North-South
Expressway, is generally located in the U.S. Highway 71 (US 71)
corridor and extends from the Arkansas state line south to Interstate
220 in Shreveport, Louisiana. The new roadway includes several
alternates based on new locations and various interchange access
points. The approximate length of the project is 65 kilometers (40
miles).
The proposed improvements would improve capacity of the existing
route US 71 and increase regional mobility along a proposed ultimate
route extending from Kansas City, Missouri to Shreveport, Louisiana.
This project is one of several projects identified as ``high priority
corridors'' on the National Highway System that would provide a
transportation corridor of national significance from Kansas City to
Shreveport. The proposed improvements will draw new traffic through
northwest Louisiana, western Arkansas and northeast Texas and serve as
both a short-term and long-term economic stimulus. Major metropolitan
areas lying along this ``high priority corridor'' include Kansas City,
Kansas-Missouri; Joplin, Missouri; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Fort Smith,
Arkansas; Texarkana, Arkansas-Texas; and Shreveport, Louisiana.
The northern terminus of the proposed improvement will be at the
Arkansas state line, and its location determined based on new corridor
location developed in conjunction with the State of Arkansas. The
southern terminus of the proposed improvement will connect to the
Interstate 220 loop in Shreveport, Louisiana between the existing
interchanges of Interstate 220 with Louisiana Highway 173 (LA 173) and
Louisiana Highway 1 (LA 1)/US 71.
Alternatives to be considered are:
(1) The ``Do-Nothing'' Alternative, where roads are constructed
according to the regional plan with the exception of the proposed
facility; and
(2) The ``Build'' Alternative, considering several different
alignments and full control of access.
Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will
be sent to appropriate Federal, state, and local agencies and to
private organizations, including conservation groups and groups of
individuals who have expressed interest in the project in the past, and
to major northwest Louisiana newspapers. A series of public
informational meetings will be held in the project areas which will be
affected. In addition, a public hearing will be held. Public notice
will be given of the time and place of the public informational
meetings and the public hearing. The draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) will be available for public and agency review and
comment prior to the public hearing. An agency scoping meeting will be
held at a time and place to be determined at a later date.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed
action are 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 the FHWA at the address provided above.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on
Federal programs and activities apply to this program)
Issued on: April 11, 1996.
William A. Sussmann,
Division Administrator, FHWA, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
[FR Doc. 96-9763 Filed 4-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M
