[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48447-48448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22985]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: SR 104--Kingston Ferry Terminal
(Kitsap County) to the SR 104/101 I/C (Jefferson County), Washington;
Notice of Intent/Notice of Scoping
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), USDOT, in cooperation
with Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
ACTION: Notice of intent and notice of scoping.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an
environmental impact statement will be prepared to evaluate potential
solutions to identified safety problems and traffic congestion along SR
104 in Kitsap and Jefferson Counties, Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene Fong/Jim Leonard, Federal Highway
Administration, 711 South Capitol Way, Suite 501, Olympia, Washington
98501, Telephone: (360) 753-9413/9408; or Gary Demich/Cassandra
Brotherton, Washington State Department of Transportation, Olympia
Region, PO Box 47440, Tumwater, WA 98504-7440, Telephone (360) 357-
2605/2722.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the WSDOT,
will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on alternative
solutions that can reduce the accident rate and provide additional
capacity to meet current and future needs along a 24.5 mile stretch of
the State Route 104 corridor on the Olympia Peninsula. The SR 104
project is a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) ``pilot''
project, intended to evaluate and improve the application of the NEPA
process. The ``pilot'' process was developed cooperatively by
Washington State and Federal agencies, and is jointly sponsored by
Washington State Department of Transportation and FHWA.
The primary need in the SR 104 corridor is to provide multi-modal
transportation linkage to the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas that
enables safe, efficient and economical movement of
[[Page 48448]]
people and goods. The purpose is to do so in a manner that respects and
provides for the competing needs: preserving scenic and natural beauty,
historic and rural character of the area, the current quality of life
for both residents and users, and the integrity of the natural
environment.
This segment of SR 104 includes five areas along the corridor where
the projected 20 year traffic growth will cause level of service `F',
or system breakdown due to high congestion. There are also three areas,
generally one mile or longer, that currently have a five-year history
of higher than average accident occurrences (HAC).
There are also six locations where existing roadway geometrics,
traffic volumes, and other factors indicate a high potential for
vehicles to run off the roadway (Risk).
Solutions are needed to reduce the rate and severity of accidents
and to provide for the projected traffic demand. While alternatives
have not yet been identified, a series of reasonable alternatives that
could meet the purpose and need, as generated by the corridor
stakeholders and adopted by the study Steering Committee will be
considered in the EIS. The list of possible alternative solutions to be
addressed in the EIS will be developed after evaluation/consideration
of scoping comments.
Scoping
Announcements describing the proposed study/actions and soliciting
comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, Tribal, and local
agencies, and to private organizations and citizens who have previously
expressed or are known to have interest in this proposal. Three
meetings will be held to identify the scope of issues to be addressed,
the significant issues, and the possible improvement alternatives. The
first two meetings will be conducted on September 22, 1999, at, the
Kingston Community Center in Kingston, Washington. The first meeting
from 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. will be conducted to focus on input from
governmental agencies and tribes. The second, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.,
will be conducted primarily for the public. The third meeting, also for
the public, will be held on September 23, 1999 at the Port Ludlow Fire
Hall, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Written scoping comments may be
submitted to the FHWA or WSDOT at the address provided above.
To ensure that the 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 action and the EIS should also be
directed to the FHWA or WSDOT 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.)
James A. Leonard, P.E.,
Transportation and Environmental Engineer, Federal Highway
Administration--Washington Division.
[FR Doc. 99-22985 Filed 9-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M
