[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 82 (Friday, April 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18638-18639]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10323]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Pierce County, WA
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA, Washington State Department of Transportation
(WSDOT), and Pierce County are issuing this notice to advise the public
that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a
proposed new roadway project in Pierce County, Washington between
Interstate 5 and State Route 7 (Pacific Avenue).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Leonard, Area Engineer FHWA,
Olympia, Washington 98501 Phone Number (360) 753-9558.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with WSDOT and
Pierce County, will prepare an EIS on a proposal to build a new roadway
between Interstate 5 at the Thorne Lane interchange and State Route 7
(Pacific Avenue) at 176th Street South. The proposed roadway corridor
passes through a residential area in the City of Lakewood known as
American Lake Gardens and portions of the Fort Lewis Military
Reservation and McChord Air Force Base. The EIS will include a Major
Investment Study (MIS) that examines the overall need for the project
and alternative means of reducing or meeting the demand for additional
transportation capacity.
The purpose of the proposed facility is to reduce congestion on
existing arterial streets and highways and to provide a more direct
connection for the movement of goods and people between Interstate 5
and mid-Pierce County. The corridor must also maintain security and
accommodate existing and planned operations on both military
installations. Recent and planned residential and industrial
development in the Lakewood, Spanaway, Fredrickson, American Lake, and
[[Page 18639]]
Dupont areas is creating traffic volumes in excess of current system
capacity. Under current land use plans, the areas on the east and west
ends of the corridor are expected to become major new employment
centers within the next 20 years. At present, the only connections
between these areas and Interstate 5 are SR 512, SR 507 and SR 510, and
Perimeter Road. Roads connecting mid-Pierce County to SR 512 are
already congested (LOS E/F at many intersections during peak hours),
and peak hour LOS on SR 512 is currently LOS D and projected to be LOS
E/F by 2017 if additional east-west capacity is not added. Reaching
Interstate 5 from mid-Pierce County via SR 507 and SR 510 requires over
30 miles of travel, compared to 13 miles via SR 512. Perimeter Road is
owned by McChord Air Force Base and may be closed whenever necessary to
maintain military security.
The alternatives under consideration include roadway alternatives,
transportation system management, transportation demand management, and
the no-action alternative. The roadway alternatives corridor is
approximately six miles long. The proposed roadway would be four to six
lanes with limited access. Access would be considered at two locations
in the American Lake Gardens area (possible locations include 150th
Street SW, Spring Street [76th Avenue SW], Woodbrook Road, and the Fort
Lewis Logistics Center), A Street, and Spanaway Loop Road.
Roadway alternatives to be considered include three alignments in
the American Lake Gardens area. One alignment follows Murray Road and
turns east to follow the northern border of Fort Lewis on military
property. The second alignment passes diagonally through American Lake
Gardens from the Thorne Lane interchange, across 150th Street SW,
reaching the northern edge of Fort Lewis west of Woodbrook Road and
continuing east on military property. The third alignment also passes
diagonally through American Lake Gardens from the Thorne Lane
interchange, and follows 150th Street SW east past Lake Mondress where
it turns south to join the other alignments. Between American Lake
Gardens and the Spanaway Lake area, the Corridor passes through Fort
Lewis and McChord Air Force Base. In this area, only one alignment will
be evaluated. This is because the proposed corridor is constrained by
the need to maintain security at both installations, to accommodate
existing and proposed military operations including the McChord Air
Force Base runway, and to avoid sensitive environmental areas. On the
east end of the corridor, the alignment follows south of 176th Street
South on Fort Lewis property. This alignment allows 176th Street South
to continue as local access and avoids direct impacts to adjacent
residential areas.
The MIS/EIS will consider Transportation System Management (TSM)
and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) methods as part of all
roadway alternatives. These methods would include dedicated lanes for
high-occupancy vehicles (HOV) and intelligent transportation systems
(such as variable message signs, incident response systems, and
emergency telephones). Additional strategies to be evaluated include
employer-based TDM programs such as subsidized transit passes,
vanpools, ridesharing, and alternative work schedules.
A newsletter describing the proposed roadway was mailed to all
postal patrons and residential and non-residential property owners in
the project vicinity in January, 1996. Public informational (pre-
scoping) meetings on the proposed project were held on February 15,
1996 in American Lake Gardens and February 20, 1996 in the Spanaway
Lake area. At these meetings, information was provided on six
alternative alignments through the American Lake Gardens area,
including the three described above. Two alignments on 176th Street
South near Pacific Avenue were described, also including the alignment
described above. In addition, maps and descriptive information on the
entire corridor were provided. Comments on the project, and especially
on which alternatives should be evaluated in the MIS/EIS were taken
orally and in writing. These public comments were considered in
selecting the three American Lake Garden alignments and 176th Street
South alignment that will be evaluated in the MIS/EIS. Announcements
for the meetings and the information distributed stated that comments
received would be considered part of the MIS/EIS scoping process.
The scoping process for the MIS/EIS will include press releases and
advertisements in local newspapers inviting further comments on the
proposed alternatives and their potential impacts. Agencies and
organizations potentially interested in or with jurisdiction over
specific environmental features related to the project will be
contacted by letter and offered briefings upon their request.
Additional newsletters will be distributed to continue to inform the
public about the project and invite further comment. To ensure the full
range of issues related to this proposed action are addressed and all
significant issues identified, comments or questions concerning this
proposed action and the EIS should be directed to the FHWA at the
address listed 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: April 19, 1996.
Jose M. Miranda,
Environmental Program Manager, Olympia, Washington.
[FR Doc. 96-10323 Filed 4-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M
