[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 96 (Thursday, May 18, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 26758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12238]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: City of Kelso, Washington
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 bridge
replacement project in Kelso, Washington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene Fong, Division Administrator,
Federal Highway Administration, 711 South Capitol Way, Suite 501,
Olympia, WA 98501, telephone: (360) 753-9413; or Gerald Smith, Regional
Administrator, Southwest Region, Washington State Department of
Transportation, 4200 Main Street, P.O. Box 1709, Vancouver, WA 98668,
Telephone (360) 905-2001; or Bob Gregory, Public Works Director, City
of Kelso, 312 Allen Street, P.O. Box A, Kelso, WA 98626, telephone
(360) 423-6590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Washington
State Department of Transportation and the City of Kelso, will prepare
an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to replace the
structurally deficient Allen Street Bridge and improve the Allen Street
corridor between SR 5 on the east and Cowlitz Way/SR 4 on the west. The
corridor serves the Kelso-Longview community in Cowlitz County.
The project will consist of the replacement of the existing bridge
with one 4-lane bridge or two 2-lane bridges, as necessary to satisfy
the projected demand and to address existing and anticipated traffic
circulation problems. The approach roadways will be widened, if
necessary, to accommodate the projected traffic. The bridge and the
approaches in the vicinity of the bridge will be raised to separate
provide grades separation at the railroad tracks.
This project is considered necessary to increase capacity, improve
traffic safety, and address structural and geometric inadequacies of
the existing bridge. The Allen Street Bridge now carries up to 25,000
vehicles per day, which is above the usual capacity of a two-lane
bridge. It is projected to carry 31,000 vehicles per day in 2015, the
design year. It currently performs at a Level of Service (LOS) F during
the afternoon peak hour; It would perform at an LOS F, with average
speed decreasing to 10 mph in 2015. Just east of the bridge, Allen
Street crosses the Burlington Northern Railroad tracks. The high
traffic volumes, combined with frequent trains through the area creates
the potential for severe accidents at the railroad crossing. Also, the
accident rate (3.42 accidents/million vehicle miles) in this section of
road is more than double the corresponding rate for State highways in
southwest Washington. The bridge is only 24 feet in width with two 12-
foot lanes and no shoulders and has a weight limit of 10 tons, which
does not meet the standards for this type of facility and traffic
conditions.
Alterntives currently under consideration include a No Build
alternative, and two build alternatives that would replace the existing
bridge and span the railroad tracks. The build alternatives include (1)
A one-way couplet system with a two-lane eastbound bridge along the
Catline/Vine Street corridor and a two-lane westbound bridge along the
Main/Allen Street corridor: (2) A single four-lane bridge with two
lanes each direction along the Main/Allen Street corridor. Both build
alternatives propose roadway improvements at both of the bridge(s)
necessary to provide lane continuity with the new structures.
The following areas of environmental and socio-economic concern
have been identified and will be addressed in the environmental
document: water quality, air quality, highway noise, visual quality,
historic properties, parklands and recreational facilities, land use,
anadromous fish species, relocations, economic development, and access
to businesses and to a multi-modal terminal. Other issues identified
during the scoping and public involvement processes will also be
addressed.
Announcements describing the proposed action and soliciting
comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local
agencies. These will also be sent to Indian Tribes, private
organizations, and citizens who are known to have interest in this
proposal. A scoping meeting will be held in Kelso in late spring of
1995. In addition, other public meetings will be held prior to the
release of the Draft EIS on the project. In addition, a public hearing
will be held after the release of the Draft EIS to receive public and
agency comments on the EIS. Public notice will be given of the time and
place of these future meetings and the hearing. The Draft EIS will be
available for public and agency review prior to the public hearing.
It is important that the full range of issues related to this
proposed action be addressed and that all significant issues be
identified. To ensure this, 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 and
phone number provided above.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Research, Planning, and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this
program.)
Issued on: May 8, 1995.
Jose M. Miranda,
Environmental Program Manager, Olympia, Washington.
[FR Doc. 95-12238 Filed 5-17-95; 8:45 am]
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