[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-939]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 14, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 

Environmental Impact Statement: Contra Costa County and Solano 
County, CA

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 a 
supplement to a Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared 
for a proposed highway project in Contra Costa County and Solano 
County, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. John Schultz, Chief, District Operations ``A'', Federal Highway 
Administration, 980 9th Street--Suite 400, Sacramento, California 
95814-2724, Telephone: (916) 551-1314.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the California 
Department of Transportation (Caltrans), will prepare a supplement to 
the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on a proposal to 
construct a new toll bridge across the Carquinez Strait at Interstate 
680 between the City of Benicia and the City of Martinez. The proposed 
new toll bridge will be parallel to the existing Benicia-Martinez 
Bridge. The original DEIS for the Benicia-Martinez Bridge System (FHWA-
CA-EIS-91-03-D) was approved October 17, 1991. The proposed 
improvements will provide a new five-lane bridge, including one 
auxiliary lane and one slow-vehicle lane, a new toll plaza and new 
freeway-to-freeway connectors between I-680 and I-780. These are 
considered necessary to improve operation and safety, relieve freeway 
congestion and accommodate projected traffic volumes.
    The proposed project limits include I-680, from 2000 feet south of 
the Marina Vista Interchange in Contra Costa County to Bayshore Road in 
Solano County, and I-780, from East 5th Street to include the I-680/I-
780 Interchange in Solano County. The scope of the traffic study 
includes: (1) I-680 from Route 4 to I-80, (2) I-780 between I-680 and 
I-80, (3) I-80 between Red Top Road and the Route 12 East Interchange, 
(4) Freeway-to-freeway as well as local interchanges, and (5) Freeway 
ramp-end and local street intersections potentially affected by 
proposed improvements. Modifications to the I-680/Marina Vista 
Interchange and the I-680/I-780 Interchange will be required, and will 
be considered in the preliminary engineering and environmental studies.
    A Draft EIR/EIS for the Benicia-Martinez Bridge System Project was 
circulated and a public hearing was held in December 1991. One hundred 
thirty (130) written comments were received. Substantial comments 
involved: (1) Matching the scope of the project with the available 
funding, (2) providing for future rail transit on the new bridge, (3) 
location of the new bridge and toll plaza, (4) the direction of toll 
collection, and (5) construction impacts. Based on this information the 
decision was made to down-scope the project to the current proposal and 
prepare a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
    Alternatives under consideration include: (1) Taking no action, (2) 
providing for mass transit and (3) providing for multi-modal 
transportation modes including bicycle and pedestrian facilities. 
Incorporated into the studies with the build alternatives will be 
design variations of grade and alignment.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are 
known to have interest in this proposal. A public meeting (open house/
map display) will be held to provide information and discuss features 
of the project. In addition, a public hearing will be held. Public 
notice will be given of the time and place of the meeting and hearing. 
The Supplemental Draft EIS will be available for public and agency 
review and comment prior to the public hearing. No formal scoping 
meeting will be held.
    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 proposed action and the EIS 
should be directed to the FHWA at the address previously provided in 
this document.

(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: January 6, 1994.
Patrick A. Bauer,
Transportation Engineer, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 94-939 Filed 1-13-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M