[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 104 (Monday, June 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 29778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14320]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk,
Suffolk, Portsmouth and Chesapeake, VA
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA is reissuing this notice to advise the public that an
environmental impact statement will be prepared to determine the impact
of a proposed new crossing of Hampton Roads in southeastern Virginia.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Bruce Turner, Planning and Environmental Manager, Federal Highway
Administration, The Dale Building Suite 205, 1504 Santa Rosa Road,
Richmond, Virginia 23229, Telephone: (804) 281-5100.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),
in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT),
is reestablishing its intent to prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) to determine the impact of a proposed new crossing of
Hampton Roads in southeastern Virginia. A previous Notice of Intent was
published on May 27, 1994. A Major Investment Study (MIS), completed in
accordance with 23 CFR 450 Subpart C, was published in October of 1997.
The MIS initially investigated various alternatives developed to
alleviate congestion and improve access and mobility across Hampton
Roads. The various alternatives ranged from transportation demand
management strategies to constructing a new crossing. After a screening
of the initial alternatives, the MIS studied 11 multimodal
transportation corridors and the no build alternative.
The EIS will examine reasonable alternatives, including the no-
build alternative, in an area generally bounded by the interchange of
I-64/I-664 on the north, I-64/I-564 on the east, I-264/I-64 on the
south, and the I-664 alignment on the west.
The Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization selected a
locally preferred corridor in July of 1997, and the Commonwealth
Transportation Board endorsed the locally preferred corridor in
September of 1997. Termini for the preferred corridor consists of the
following: the intersection of I-64 and I-644 in Hampton; the
intersection of I-264 and I-64 in Chesapeake; the intersection of I-64
and I-564 in Norfolk, and the intersection of VA 164 in Portsmouth. The
proposed corridor consists of a new crossing, which connects Norfolk to
southeastern Newport News. It also includes a connection to VA 164 in
Portsmouth, and it includes the widening of existing I-664 and I-564.
The proposed corridor includes a multimodal component, which could be
used for reversible HOV lanes, an exclusive busway, exclusive truck
lanes, and/or a passenger rail system.
Regularly scheduled meetings with Federal and State agencies will
occur during the study. A set of public meetings, one on the Southside
and one on the Peninsula, will be held to present the results of the
Draft EIS. In addition, a set of formal public hearings will be held.
The Draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and
comment prior to the hearings. Public notice will be given of the time
and place of the meetings and hearings. Additional public outreach will
occur through the issuance of project newsletters and a project home
page, which will be accessible through VDOT's Internet site
(www.vdot,state.va.us). A formal scoping meeting will be held.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to this project 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 direct
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 proposed action.)
(Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315: 49 CFR 1.48)
Issued on: May 13, 1998.
J. Bruce Turner,
Planning and Environmental Manager, Richmond, Virginia.
[FR Doc. 98-14320 Filed 5-29-98; 8:45 am]
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