[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]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration

 

Environmental Impact Statement: Anchorage, AK

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 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