[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 175 (Monday, September 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-22391]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: September 12, 1994]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Anchorage, AK
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an
environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed
highway construction project in Anchorage, Alaska.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Phillip Smith, Field Operations Engineer, Federal Highway
Administration, Box 21648, Juneau, Alaska 99802-1648. Telephone (907)
586-7428.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Alaska
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF), will
prepare an EIS on a proposal to upgrade and extend Dowling Road, an
east-west arterial, from the Raspberry interchange at Minnesota Drive
eastward to Lake Otis Parkway. The proposed project would be
approximately three miles long.
The proposed improvements would include: a four to six lane roadway
for the entire length of the project; a crossing of the Alaska Railroad
tracks; replacement of a bridge crossing Campbell Creek; modification
or replacement of an interchange bridge at the New Seward Highway;
facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, the disabled, and transit
users; signalization and illumination; and a drainage system. The
proposed project would be constructed in stages.
The proposed action is necessary to meet the community's current
and future transportation needs. Dowling Road, between the Old Seward
Highway and Lake Otis Parkway, is currently over capacity, especially
during peak hours. Traffic congestion significantly delays drivers and
contributes to deterioration of Anchorage's air quality. Pedestrians
are poorly accommodated due to the lack of roadway shoulders and
pedestrian facilities. The road improvement would alleviate traffic
congestion on other east-west arterials such as Tudor Road,
International Airport Road, and Dimond Boulevard. The proposed action
is an integral part of the Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation
Study Long Range Transportation Plan and the Municipality of Anchorage
Official Streets and Highway Plan.
Alternatives which would be considered include:
(1) No action;
(2) Upgrading and extending Dowling Road to connect to the
Raspberry interchange at Minnesota Drive via a Rovenna Street
alignment;
(3) Upgrading and extending Dowling Road to connect to the
Raspberry interchange at Minnesota Drive via a `C' Street/Raspberry
Road alignment;
(4) Traffic system management strategies that include alternatives
such as improved signal timing, upgrading mass transit, and travel
demand reduction strategies.
The FHWA and ADOT&PF have contracted with a private consultant to
prepare the EIS, develop various design alternatives, and conduct the
preliminary engineering studies. The consultant will be responsible for
all scoping activities including the notification of appropriate
Federal, State, and local agencies, private organizations, and citizens
who might be potentially interested in this proposal. A series of
meetings and other activities to discuss the project and solicit input
from agencies and the public will be conducted in the fall of 1994 and
continue into 1995. FHWA and ADOT&PF will make requests for formal
cooperating agency status prior to other scoping activities. In
addition, public hearings will be held after completion of the draft
EIS. Public notice will be given of the time and places of the hearings
at a later date. The Draft EIS will be available for public and agency
review and comment prior to the public hearing.
To ensure that a full range of issues related to this proposed
action are addressed and all significant issues are identified,
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties.
Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS
should be directed 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 program.)
Issued on: September 1, 1994.
Robert E. Ruby,
Division Administrator, Juneau, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 94-22391 Filed 9-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M
