[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18246-18247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9793]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: City of Lafayette, Lafayette 
Parish, LA

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 highway 
project in Lafayette, Louisiana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. William C. Farr, Program Operations Manager, Federal Highway 
Administration, P.O. Box 3929, Baton Rouge, LA 70821, Telephone: (504) 
389-0465.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will 
be prepared on a proposal to improve U.S. Routes 90 and 167 (Evangeline 
Thruway) in Lafayette, Louisiana. The proposed improvement, called the 
I-49 Connector, would involve an upgrade of the existing transportation 
corridor between the Lafayette Regional Airport and just south of the 
existing I-10/I-49 interchange, a distance of 5 miles.
    In 1987, the U.S. Congress authorized and funded a demonstration 
study ``to provide limited continuous access between an Interstate 
route and a highway on the Federal-Aid Primary System in Lafayette, 
Louisiana.'' In October, 1990, the Louisiana Department of 
Transportation and Development (LDOTD) and Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA) began work on a comprehensive location study and 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of potential transportation 
improvements in the U.S. 90/U.S. 167 Evangeline Thruway corridor in 
Lafayette. A Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was issued on January 
17, 1991. That work resulted in an approved Draft EIS in May, 1992, and 
a Public Hearing on the proposed project was held in July, 1992. 
Following the Public Hearing, FHWA withdrew the Draft EIS on December 
11, 1992. This is a reopening of that project.

[[Page 18247]]

    Improvements to the corridor are considered warranted to improve 
mobility for local traffic and provide route continuity for I-49, which 
currently terminates at I-10 north of the urban area. Any improvement 
under consideration would be adequate to accommodate existing and 
projected traffic demand. Alternatives under consideration include (1) 
taking no action; and (2) constructing a fully controlled access 
highway on new alignment or existing alignment. Incorporated into and 
studied with the build alternative will be design variations of grade 
and alignment. A re-examination of four (EA-1 Elevated, RR-3, RR-4, and 
RR-5 Elevated) of the six alternatives developed in the preparation of 
the 1992 Draft EIS will be conducted. In addition, an at-grade 
alignment through the corridor study area with the main line going over 
at selected interchange and or grade separation locations will be 
developed and evaluated (At-Grade, Over at selected Interchange 
Locations). Alternatively, an at-grade alignment through the corridor 
study area with selected cross streets going over at interchange 
locations will also be developed and evaluated (At-Grade, with selected 
cross streets over at Interchange Locations). The Lafayette MPO has 
identified the following locations and cross streets to be considered 
for these alternatives; Willow Street, Mudd Avenue, Johnston Street, 
Pinhook Road, University Avenue and Kaliste Saloom Road The EA-1 
Depressed and the RR-5 Depressed alternatives will not be re-examined, 
but they will be referenced to as alternatives considered but 
eliminated with an explanation of the reason for elimination, as well 
as a history of these alternatives and their analysis.
    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 interest in this proposal. Public meetings will be held 
in Lafayette between March, 1998 and the conclusion of the study. In 
addition, a Public Hearing will be held. Public notices will be given 
with the time and place of the meetings and hearing. The Draft EIS will 
be available for public and agency review and comment prior to the 
formal public hearing. A formal agency scoping meting will be held.
    To insure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and that all significant issues are identified, 
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. 
Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS 
should be directed to Mr. William C. Farr at the address provided 
above.

    (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program)
Mr. William A. Sussmann,
FHWA Division Administrator, Baton Rouge, LA.
[FR Doc. 98-9793 Filed 4-13-98; 8:45 am]
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