[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 105 (Thursday, June 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13338]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 2, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: St. Clair and Madison Counties,
IL
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 (EIS) will be prepared for the
construction of a Mississippi River crossing, which would add capacity
and divert traffic from the Poplar Street Bridge between Missouri and
Illinois. The proposed project study area will extend from the McKinley
Bridge on the north to Illinois Route 157, or Cherokee Street in St.
Louis, on the south.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James C. Partlow, Design
Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Illinois Division,
3250 Executive Park Drive, Springfield, Illinois 62703, Telephone:
(217) 492-4622; Mr. Dale L. Klohr, District Engineer, Illinois
Department of Transportation (IDOT), 1100 Eastport Plaza Drive,
Collinsville, Illinois 62234, Telephone: (618) 346-3110.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action is to construct a new
crossing of the Mississippi River at downtown St. Louis. The proposed
project study area will extend from the McKinley Bridge on the north to
Illinois Route 157, or Cherokee Street in St. Louis, on the south.
The need for a new Mississippi River crossing is based on the
transportation demands, safety considerations and the opportunity for
economic enhancement in the greater downtown St. Louis and East St.
Louis area. The Poplar Street Bridge, which presently caries 128,000
vehicles per day, is operating over capacity in the peak periods,
resulting in delays and congestion. By the year 2020, this condition
will deteriorate and affect all of the other existing crossings.
Consideration of facility type to this point has been focused on a
freeway to freeway bridge with two possible alternates identified
within the study area. Because this project qualifies as a major
metropolitan transportation investment, the St. Louis Metropolitan
Planning Organization (East-West Gateway Coordinating Council) and the
Illinois Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway
Administration and the Federal Transit Authority are currently applying
major transportation analysis procedures to determine other alternate
modes which may be considered.
In addition to the major investment analysis, an informal scoping
process will be undertaken as part of this project. The process will
include meetings, review sessions as appropriate, and discussions at
regularly scheduled meetings. Participants will include the East-West
Gateway Coordinating Council, the Missouri Highway and Transportation
Department and other Federal, State and local agencies. Further details
and a scoping information packet may be obtained from one of the
contact persons listed above.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to the 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 FHWA or IDOT contact persons at the addresses provided
above.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Research, Planning, and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372 intergovernmental consultation on
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)
Issued on April 28, 1994.
James C. Partlow,
Design Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Illinois
Division, Springfield, Illinois.
[FR Doc. 94-13338 Filed 6-1-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M
