[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 3, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 34924-34925] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-16752] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Environmental Impact Statement, St. Paul, MN AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for the possible reconstruction of Ayd Mill Road, in St. Paul, Minnesota. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Lohr, Federal Highway Administration, Suite 490 Metro Square Building, 121 East Seventh Place, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101, Telephone (612) 290-3241; or Michael C. Klassen, Project Manager, St. Paul Department of Public Works, 800 City Hall Annex, 25 West 4th Street, St. Paul, MN 55101, Telephone (612) 266-6209. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the City of St. Paul, will prepare an EIS on a proposal for the improvement of Ayd Mill Road. Ayd Mill Road is located in the southwestern portion of the City of St. Paul and runs in a northwesterly direction from I-35E near Jefferson Avenue to the intersection of Selby Avenue and Pascal Street. The total length of the project is approximately 1.8 miles. A direct connection between I-35E and the south end of Ayd Mill Road was postponed in the early 1980's until a connection to I-94 on the north had been studied. An Ayd Mill Road Task Force, comprised of neighborhood representatives and the City Planning Commission, concluded in 1988 that issues in the Ayd Mill Road corridor were serious enough to warrant further study in an EIS. An EIS Scoping Process was initiated in 1993. Working with the organizations they represent, Task Force members developed and evaluated ten major alternatives, each with sub-alternatives. In May 1996, the St. Paul City Council determined that seven alternatives will be carried forward in the Draft EIS. The alternatives to be studied in the Draft EIS include:No Build [[Page 34925]] Transportation Systems Management Plan and Travel Demand Management (TSM/TDM) Replace Ayd Mill Road with a Linear Park Two-lane City Street (35 mph) on the Hybrid alignment with a direct connection to I-35E on the south and a split diamond interchange with I-94 Four-lane roadway (40 mph) on the Hybrid alignment with a direct connection to I-35E on the south and a split diamond interchange with I-94 Four-lane expressway (45 mph) on the Railroad Spur alignment with a direct connection to I-35E on the south and a freeway-to-freeway interchange with I-94 Limited access freeway (45 mph) on the Railroad Spur alignment with a direct connection to I-35E on the south and a freeway-to-freeway interchange with I-94 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes as sub-alternatives for the last four alternatives The Ayd Mill Road Scoping Document and Draft Scoping Decision Document was published February 6, 1995. A Public Scoping meeting was held March 2, 1995 to receive comments. After a delay due to administrative matters, the Ayd Mill Road Scoping Decision Document was published May 13, 1996. Copies of both documents were distributed to agencies, interested persons, elected and appointed officials and libraries. A press release was published to inform citizens of the documents' availability. Coordination has been initiated and will continue with appropriate Federal, State and local agencies, and private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have an interest in this project. A formal public hearing will be held in the project area following release of the Draft EIS. Public notice will be given for the time and place of the hearing. The Draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment prior to the public hearing. To ensure that all significant issues relating to this proposed action are addressed, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning this proposed project and the EIS should be directed to the City of St. Paul at the address provided above. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 10.205, Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this program.) Issued on: June 13, 1996. Alan J. Friesen, Engineering and Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration. [FR Doc. 96-16752 Filed 7-2-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-22-M