[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 237 (Wednesday, December 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65123-65124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32316]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Montgomery and Frederick 
Counties, Maryland

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 will be prepared for a proposed 
transportation project in Montgomery and Frederick Counties, Maryland.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Renee Sigel, Planning, Research, 
and Environmental Team Leader, Federal Highway Administration, The

[[Page 65124]]

Rotunda--Suite 220, 711 West 40th Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21211. 
Telephone (410) 962-4440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA in cooperation with the Federal 
Transit Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers and the Maryland Department of Transportation, 
will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to 
provide multi-modal transportation measures within the I-270/U.S. 15 
corridor in Montgomery and Frederick Counties, Maryland for a distance 
of approximately 35 miles.
    The proposed strategies consist of a combination of improvements to 
the existing corridor such as highway widening, and transportation 
management strategies, as well as additional multi-modal facilities 
including a busway, or light rail transit. The purpose of the proposed 
transportation improvements is to address the effect of regional growth 
and traffic congestion on transportation trends and safety operations.
    The I-270/U.S. 15 Corridor provides a connection between the 
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and central and western Maryland, as 
well as to the midwest via I-70 and I-68. Current operating conditions 
within the I-270/U.S. 15 Corridor reflect severe traffic congestion at 
many locations within the project area. Congestion is expected to 
increase as continued growth in both population and employment occur 
over the next quarter century.
    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 an interest in this proposal. A public hearing is 
anticipated in the fall of 1998. Public notice will be given of the 
time and place of this hearing.
    The draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and 
comment prior to the public hearing. Scoping meetings for the public, 
agencies, and for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments 
have been conducted throughout the course of the project. No formal 
scoping meeting for this project is planned at this time.
    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 at the address 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 of Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)

    Issued On: December 3, 1997.
Renee Sigel,
Planning, Research and Environment Team Leader, Baltimore.
[FR Doc. 97-32316 Filed 12-9-97; 8:45 am]
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