[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8076-8077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4332]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Pierce County, Washington

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Revised Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the 
scope of a project in Pierce County, Washington for which a notice of 
intent had previously been issued has been changed and that additional 
scoping and public involvement meetings will be conducted.

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 Gary Demich, Region Administrator, Olympic Region, Washington 
State Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 7440, Olympia WA 98504, 
telephone (360) 357-2659.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA in cooperation with the Washington 
State Department of Transportation issued a Notice of Intent December 
9, 1993, to prepare an environmental impact statement on a proposal to 
improve State Route 16 (SR 16) in Pierce County, Washington. Scoping 
comments to date have been in favor of operational improvements and/or 
capacity improvements with a strong preference for HOV treatments. A 
Major Investment Study currently being conducted in the SR 16 corridor 
has indicated the need to expand the scope of this EIS. The scope of 
the proposed action is being expanded to address congestion and improve 
safety and operational reliability in the SR 16 corridor from the Cedar 
Street overcrossing in Tacoma to the SR 302 interchange south of Purdy 
in Pierce County, a distance of 20.4 kilometers (12.7 miles). Reduced 
congestion in the SR 16 corridor would be provided by either added 
highway capacity, Transportation Demand Management, Transportation 
System Management, or other general approaches derived from the Major 
Investment Study.
    The SR 16 corridor between Cedar Street in Tacoma and SR 302 near 
Purdy has experienced substantial increases in traffic volumes, 
congestion and accidents as a result of regional growth. Regional 
growth patterns have established this corridor as a major commute 
route. There are no alternate routes between Tacoma and Gig Harbor and 
those points north of Gig Harbor in Pierce and Kitsap Counties. 
Substantial delays in traffic caused by the high volumes are 
exacerbated by even minor accidents in the corridor. The proposed 
additional HOV lanes are consistent with, and a part of, WSDOT's 
overall Transportation System Plan for the SR 16 corridor.
    Alternatives under consideration include (1) no action; (2) added 
capacity alternatives with either a parallel span or a retrofitted 
Tacoma Narrows Bridge; (3) Transportation Demand Management; and (4) 
Transportation System Management. Other alternatives will be 
considered, as appropriate, as a result of public scoping or the Major 
Investment Study. Incorporated into and

[[Page 8077]]

studied with the build alternatives will be the siting of a new 
interchange in the vicinity of 36th Street NW., the addition of HOV 
lanes within the existing Rights of Way whenever possible, and the 
addition of toll facilities in the 24th Street vicinity.
    Announcements describing the proposed action and soliciting 
comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies. 
These announcements will also be set to private organizations and 
citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have interest in 
this proposal. A series of public scoping meetings will be held in 
Tacoma, Gig Harbor, and on the Kitsap Peninsula on March 11th, 12th, 
13th, 18th, and 19th 1997. In addition, a public hearing on the Draft 
EIS will be held. Public notice will be given of the time and place of 
these meetings and of the hearing. The draft EIS will be available for 
public and agency review and comment 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 February 14, 1997.
Jose M. Miranda,
Environmental Program Manager, Olympia, Washington.
[FR Doc. 97-4332 Filed 2-20-97; 8:45 am]
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