[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34924-34925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16752]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Environmental Impact Statement, St. Paul, MN
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration.
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 possible
reconstruction of Ayd Mill Road, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Lohr, Federal Highway
Administration, Suite 490 Metro Square Building, 121 East Seventh
Place, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101, Telephone (612) 290-3241; or Michael
C. Klassen, Project Manager, St. Paul Department of Public Works, 800
City Hall Annex, 25 West 4th Street, St. Paul, MN 55101, Telephone
(612) 266-6209.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Minnesota
Department of Transportation and the City of St. Paul, will prepare an
EIS on a proposal for the improvement of Ayd Mill Road. Ayd Mill Road
is located in the southwestern portion of the City of St. Paul and runs
in a northwesterly direction from I-35E near Jefferson Avenue to the
intersection of Selby Avenue and Pascal Street. The total length of the
project is approximately 1.8 miles.
A direct connection between I-35E and the south end of Ayd Mill
Road was postponed in the early 1980's until a connection to I-94 on
the north had been studied. An Ayd Mill Road Task Force, comprised of
neighborhood representatives and the City Planning Commission,
concluded in 1988 that issues in the Ayd Mill Road corridor were
serious enough to warrant further study in an EIS.
An EIS Scoping Process was initiated in 1993. Working with the
organizations they represent, Task Force members developed and
evaluated ten major alternatives, each with sub-alternatives. In May
1996, the St. Paul City Council determined that seven alternatives will
be carried forward in the Draft EIS. The alternatives to be studied in
the Draft EIS include:
No Build
[[Page 34925]]
Transportation Systems Management Plan and Travel Demand
Management (TSM/TDM)
Replace Ayd Mill Road with a Linear Park
Two-lane City Street (35 mph) on the Hybrid alignment with a
direct connection to I-35E on the south and a split diamond interchange
with I-94
Four-lane roadway (40 mph) on the Hybrid alignment with a
direct connection to I-35E on the south and a split diamond interchange
with I-94
Four-lane expressway (45 mph) on the Railroad Spur alignment
with a direct connection to I-35E on the south and a freeway-to-freeway
interchange with I-94
Limited access freeway (45 mph) on the Railroad Spur alignment
with a direct connection to I-35E on the south and a freeway-to-freeway
interchange with I-94
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes as sub-alternatives for the
last four alternatives
The Ayd Mill Road Scoping Document and Draft Scoping Decision
Document was published February 6, 1995. A Public Scoping meeting was
held March 2, 1995 to receive comments. After a delay due to
administrative matters, the Ayd Mill Road Scoping Decision Document was
published May 13, 1996. Copies of both documents were distributed to
agencies, interested persons, elected and appointed officials and
libraries. A press release was published to inform citizens of the
documents' availability.
Coordination has been initiated and will continue with appropriate
Federal, State and local agencies, and private organizations and
citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have an interest
in this project. A formal public hearing will be held in the project
area following release of the Draft EIS. Public notice will be given
for the time and place of the hearing. The Draft EIS will be available
for public and agency review and comment prior to the public hearing.
To ensure that all significant issues relating to this proposed
action are addressed, comments and suggestions are invited from all
interested parties. Comments or questions concerning this proposed
project and the EIS should be directed to the City of St. Paul at the
address provided above.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 10.205,
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)
Issued on: June 13, 1996.
Alan J. Friesen,
Engineering and Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-16752 Filed 7-2-96; 8:45 am]
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