[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 161 (Friday, August 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45584-45585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21395]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Federal Transit Administration
Draft Environmental Impact Statement; Denver, Arapahoe, and
Douglas Counties
AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit
Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, the FHWA and FTA, in cooperation with the Colorado Department of
Transportation (CDOT) and the Regional Transportation District (RTD),
have jointly prepared a Draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for
proposed transportation improvements in the Southeast Corridor of the
Denver, Colorado metropolitan area. The project is within the
municipalities of Denver, Arapahoe and Douglas Counties. The Draft EIS
identifies a preferred alternative and the associated environmental
impacts of the proposed preferred alternative. Interested citizens are
invited to review the Draft EIS and submit comments. Copies of the
Draft EIS may be obtained by telephoning or writing the contact person
listed below under Addresses. Public reading copies of the Draft EIS
are available at the locations listed under Supplementary Information.
DATES: A 45-day public review period will begin on August 20, 1999 and
conclude on October 5, 1999. Written comments on the scope of the
alternatives and impacts to be considered must be received by CDOT by
October 4, 1999. Public hearings to receive oral comments on the Draft
EIS will be held in two locations in Denver. See Supplementary
Information section for hearing dates and locations.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Draft EIS should be addressed to Jim
Bumanglag, Project Manager, Colorado Department of Transportation,
Southeast Corridor, 4201 East Arkansas, Denver, CO 80222. Requests for
a copy of the Draft EIS may be addressed to Mr. Bumanglag at the
address above. Please see Supplementary Information section for a
listing of the available documents and formats in which they may be
[[Page 45585]]
obtained. Copies of the Draft EIS are also available for public
inspection and review. See Supplementary Information section for
locations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request copies of the Draft EIS or
for additional information, contact: Mr. Vincent P. Barone, FHWA
Colorado Division, 555 Zang Street, Room 250, Denver, CO 80228,
Telephone (303) 969-6730, extension 369; or Mr. David L. Beckhouse, FTA
Region VIII, 216 16th Street Mall, Suite 650, Denver, CO 80202,
Telephone (303) 844-3242
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Hearing Dates and Locations:
Thursday, September 9, 1999, Most Precious Blood Catholic
School, 2250 South Harrison Street, Denver, CO 80237, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00
p.m.
Thursday, September 16, 1999, Calvary Baptist Church, 6500
East Girard Avenue, Denver, CO 80224, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Copies of the Draft EIS, supporting technical reports and
engineering plan sheets are available in hard copy format for public
inspection at:
CDOT Region 6 Office, 2000 South Holly Street, Denver, CO
80222, 303-757-9372
CDOT Environmental Services, 1325 S. Colorado Boulevard,
Denver, CO 80222, 303-757-9259
RTD Administrative Services, 1600 Blake Street, Denver, CO
80202, 303-299-2484
Denver Public Library, 10 West 14th Avenue, Denver, CO
80203, 303-640-6220
Castlewood Public Library, 6739 South Uinta Street,
Denver, CO 80237, 303-771-3197
Southeast Corridor Project Office (Carter & Burgess), 216
16th Street Mall, Suite 1700, Denver CO 80202, 303-820-5278
The Draft EIS evaluated a No-Action, and a Preliminary Preferred
Alternative (including transportation management solutions) in the I-25
Southeast Corridor study limits from Broadway to Lincoln Avenue, which
includes I-225 from I-25 to Parker Road, and determined the estimated
costs and potential impacts associated with each. CDOT was the local
lead agency for the preparation of the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS
satisfies the requirements of the 1999 Clean Air Act Amendments.
The FHWA, the FTA, the CDOT, the RTD and other local agencies
invite interested individuals, organizations, and Federal, State and
local agencies to comment on the identified preferred alternative and
associated social, economic, or environmental impacts related to the
alternatives.
The preferred alternative is consistent with the Southeast Corridor
Major Investment Study completed in July, 1997. It begins at
approximately I-25 and Broadway and proceeds south and southeast to
Lincoln Avenue following the general alignment of I-25. Also included
is a segment along I-225 from I-25 to Parker Road. The preferred
alternative excludes any proposed roadway improvements near I-25 from
6th Avenue to approximately the Logan Street crossing including the I-
25 interchanges at Alameda, Santa Fe, and Broadway. The primary purpose
of the Southeast Corridor Multi-Modal Project is to improve travel time
and enhance safety along these two transportation corridors, while
causing the least disruption to neighboring residents and businesses.
The Southeast Corridor is the most heavily congested corridor on a
daily basis, in the State of Colorado. It has been the focus of study
for twenty years. These studies have consistently recommended that
improvements be made to the highway system and to the provision of
public transit.
The alternatives evaluated in the Draft EIS include the following:
1. The No-Action alternative served as the baseline for
environmental analysis and consists of the existing transit and highway
systems and all projects contained in the federally approved
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the Denver metropolitan
area.
2. The Preliminary Preferred Alternative generally used the I-25
right-of-way between Broadway and Lincoln Avenue, and the I-225 right-
of-way between I-25 and Parker. There are 17.9 miles of double tracked
light rail transit beginning at the existing Broadway Station and
ending at Lincoln Avenue on the west side of I-25. Light rail will also
be added to the median of I-225, from I-25 to the existing Nine Mile
Park-n-Ride. There will be thirteen stations. Improvements to I-25 and
I-225 consist of one additional lane in each direction on I-25 from
Logan Avenue to I-225, two additional lanes in each direction on I-25
from I-225 to C-470/E-470 and one additional lane in each direction on
I-225 from I-25 to Yosemite. This alternative is designed to
accommodate future transportation needs and includes improvements to
the highway, transportation systems management, and pedestrian and
bicycle facilities in the study area.
The FHWA, the FTA, the CDOT and the RTD evaluated all significant
social, economic, and environmental impacts of the alternatives. The
primary areas of examination included transit ridership, the capital
outlays needed to construct the recommended alternative, the cost of
operating and maintaining facilities created by the project, and the
financial requirements on the funding agencies. Environmental and
social impacts evaluated in the analysis include land use and
neighborhood impacts, traffic and parking impacts near stations, visual
impacts, hazardous material impacts, impacts on cultural and
paleontological resources, and noise and vibration impacts. Impacts on
natural areas, threatened and endangered species, air and water
quality, and groundwater are also covered. Right-of-way impacts are
also identified. Impacts were also evaluated both for the construction
period and for the long-term period of operation. Measures to mitigate
adverse impacts were developed.
In accordance with the Federal Transit Act, as amended, and FHWA
and FTA policy, the Draft EIS was prepared with required engineering
design studies necessary to complete the document. On the basis of the
Draft EIS and the comments received, a preferred alternative will be
selected and preparation of the Final EIS and Record of Decision will
proceed.
(23 U.S.C. 315; 49 U.S.C. 107, 5301 et seq.; 49 CFR 1.48 and 1.51)
Issued on August 12, 1999.
James Daves,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Lakewood,
Colorado.
Louis F. Mraz, Jr.,
Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Region VIII,
Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 99-21395 Filed 8-19-99; 8:45 am]
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