[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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