[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 218 (Monday, November 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-27959]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 14, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration

 

Environmental Impact Statement; Snyder County, Union County, 
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice of advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for the proposed 
highway project in Penn Township, Monroe Township, Selinsgrove Borough, 
Hummels Wharf, and Shamokin Dam, Snyder County; Union Township, and 
East Buffalo Township, Union County; and Northumberland Borough, Milton 
Borough, East Chillisquaque Township, West Chillisquaque Township, 
Chillisquaque, Point Township, Turbot Township, Northumberland County, 
Pennsylvania.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bradley D. Keazer, District Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 
228 Walnut Street, P.O. Box 1086, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17108-1086, 
Telephone: (717) 782-4422, or John W. Leisenring, Project Manager, 
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, District 3-0, 715 Jordan 
Avenue, Montoursville, Pennsylvania 17754-0218, Telephone: (717) 368-
4328.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the 
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to improve the 
safety and capacity on U.S. Routes 11 and 15 north of Selinsgrove in 
Snyder County, and Traffic Route 147 in Northumberland County. The 
approximate project length from the farthest north-south termini is 17 
miles with a total study area of 35 square miles. Transportation 
improvements in this area are being studied for several reasons:
     Between I-80 and Chillisquaque, T.R. 147 is a two-lane 
limited access roadway on four-lane limited access right-of-way. All 
structures over T.R. 147 were constructed to accommodate four lanes.
     From I-80 north, T.R. 147 designation changes to I-80 and 
is a four-lane access highway. The accident data indicates T.R. 147 has 
a high accident rate with a substantial number of head-on collisions 
and fatalities.
     T.R. 147 has heavy truck traffic due to the expanding 
industrial development along T.R. 147 and utilization of T.R. 147 to 
access I-180 and I-80 to the north and U.S. Route 11 and 15 to the 
south.
     Utilization of T.R. 147 as an alternate to U.S. Route 15 
to access I-80, I-180, and U.S. Route 11 has caused congestion and a 
high accident rate in the Borough of Northumberland.
     The section of U.S. Route 11 and 15 through Shamokin Dam 
is heavily congested with a high percentage of trucks and a high 
accident rate. Because this area is highly commercialized, there is a 
conflict with the truck traffic, the thru traffic, and the business 
traffic entering and leaving the adjacent establishments. At the 
northern end of this section, U.S. Route 11 and 15 split, with the 
traffic either following Route 11 towards Northumberland to access T.R. 
147 or using Route 15 north towards Lewisburg. Both routes provide 
access to I-80.
    The project consists of evaluating the following: transportation 
systems management alternatives; the addition to two lanes to T.R. 147, 
making it a four-lane limited access route; a new river crossing to 
connect T.R. 147 to U.S. Route 15 south of Lewisburg; and upgrading 
and/or relocation of U.S. Routes 11 and 15 through the Shamokin Dam 
area. The full range of alternatives to be studied will be identified 
after completion of the Project Needs Assessment.
    Consideration will be given to separating this project into two 
independent projects after the Project Need Assessment and Phase I 
alternatives are complete. Should this be the case, a revised Notice of 
Intent will be issued.
    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 series of public agency 
meetings will be held throughout the development of the project. In 
addition, a public hearing will be held. Public notice will be given of 
the time and place of the meetings and hearing. The draft DEIS will be 
available for public and agency review and comment prior to the public 
hearing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues 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 or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation 
at the addresses provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultations on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

    Issued on: November 2, 1994.
Manuel A. Marks,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Harrisburg, 
Pennsylvania.
[FR Doc. 94-27959 Filed 11-10-94; 8:45 am]
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