[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 104 (Monday, June 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 29778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14320]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, 
Suffolk, Portsmouth and Chesapeake, VA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is reissuing this notice to advise the public that an 
environmental impact statement will be prepared to determine the impact 
of a proposed new crossing of Hampton Roads in southeastern Virginia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Bruce Turner, Planning and Environmental Manager, Federal Highway 
Administration, The Dale Building Suite 205, 1504 Santa Rosa Road, 
Richmond, Virginia 23229, Telephone: (804) 281-5100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 
in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), 
is reestablishing its intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) to determine the impact of a proposed new crossing of 
Hampton Roads in southeastern Virginia. A previous Notice of Intent was 
published on May 27, 1994. A Major Investment Study (MIS), completed in 
accordance with 23 CFR 450 Subpart C, was published in October of 1997. 
The MIS initially investigated various alternatives developed to 
alleviate congestion and improve access and mobility across Hampton 
Roads. The various alternatives ranged from transportation demand 
management strategies to constructing a new crossing. After a screening 
of the initial alternatives, the MIS studied 11 multimodal 
transportation corridors and the no build alternative.
    The EIS will examine reasonable alternatives, including the no-
build alternative, in an area generally bounded by the interchange of 
I-64/I-664 on the north, I-64/I-564 on the east, I-264/I-64 on the 
south, and the I-664 alignment on the west.
    The Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization selected a 
locally preferred corridor in July of 1997, and the Commonwealth 
Transportation Board endorsed the locally preferred corridor in 
September of 1997. Termini for the preferred corridor consists of the 
following: the intersection of I-64 and I-644 in Hampton; the 
intersection of I-264 and I-64 in Chesapeake; the intersection of I-64 
and I-564 in Norfolk, and the intersection of VA 164 in Portsmouth. The 
proposed corridor consists of a new crossing, which connects Norfolk to 
southeastern Newport News. It also includes a connection to VA 164 in 
Portsmouth, and it includes the widening of existing I-664 and I-564. 
The proposed corridor includes a multimodal component, which could be 
used for reversible HOV lanes, an exclusive busway, exclusive truck 
lanes, and/or a passenger rail system.
    Regularly scheduled meetings with Federal and State agencies will 
occur during the study. A set of public meetings, one on the Southside 
and one on the Peninsula, will be held to present the results of the 
Draft EIS. In addition, a set of formal public hearings will be held. 
The Draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and 
comment prior to the hearings. Public notice will be given of the time 
and place of the meetings and hearings. Additional public outreach will 
occur through the issuance of project newsletters and a project home 
page, which will be accessible through VDOT's Internet site 
(www.vdot,state.va.us). A formal scoping meeting will be held.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this project 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 direct 
to the FHWA 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 proposed action.)

(Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315: 49 CFR 1.48)

    Issued on: May 13, 1998.
J. Bruce Turner,
Planning and Environmental Manager, Richmond, Virginia.
[FR Doc. 98-14320 Filed 5-29-98; 8:45 am]
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