[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 161 (Friday, August 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45584-45585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21395]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration
Federal Transit Administration


Draft Environmental Impact Statement; Denver, Arapahoe, and 
Douglas Counties

AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit 
Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, the FHWA and FTA, in cooperation with the Colorado Department of 
Transportation (CDOT) and the Regional Transportation District (RTD), 
have jointly prepared a Draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for 
proposed transportation improvements in the Southeast Corridor of the 
Denver, Colorado metropolitan area. The project is within the 
municipalities of Denver, Arapahoe and Douglas Counties. The Draft EIS 
identifies a preferred alternative and the associated environmental 
impacts of the proposed preferred alternative. Interested citizens are 
invited to review the Draft EIS and submit comments. Copies of the 
Draft EIS may be obtained by telephoning or writing the contact person 
listed below under Addresses. Public reading copies of the Draft EIS 
are available at the locations listed under Supplementary Information.

DATES: A 45-day public review period will begin on August 20, 1999 and 
conclude on October 5, 1999. Written comments on the scope of the 
alternatives and impacts to be considered must be received by CDOT by 
October 4, 1999. Public hearings to receive oral comments on the Draft 
EIS will be held in two locations in Denver. See Supplementary 
Information section for hearing dates and locations.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Draft EIS should be addressed to Jim 
Bumanglag, Project Manager, Colorado Department of Transportation, 
Southeast Corridor, 4201 East Arkansas, Denver, CO 80222. Requests for 
a copy of the Draft EIS may be addressed to Mr. Bumanglag at the 
address above. Please see Supplementary Information section for a 
listing of the available documents and formats in which they may be

[[Page 45585]]

obtained. Copies of the Draft EIS are also available for public 
inspection and review. See Supplementary Information section for 
locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request copies of the Draft EIS or 
for additional information, contact: Mr. Vincent P. Barone, FHWA 
Colorado Division, 555 Zang Street, Room 250, Denver, CO 80228, 
Telephone (303) 969-6730, extension 369; or Mr. David L. Beckhouse, FTA 
Region VIII, 216 16th Street Mall, Suite 650, Denver, CO 80202, 
Telephone (303) 844-3242

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Hearing Dates and Locations:
     Thursday, September 9, 1999, Most Precious Blood Catholic 
School, 2250 South Harrison Street, Denver, CO 80237, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 
p.m.
     Thursday, September 16, 1999, Calvary Baptist Church, 6500 
East Girard Avenue, Denver, CO 80224, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
    Copies of the Draft EIS, supporting technical reports and 
engineering plan sheets are available in hard copy format for public 
inspection at: 

     CDOT Region 6 Office, 2000 South Holly Street, Denver, CO 
80222, 303-757-9372
     CDOT Environmental Services, 1325 S. Colorado Boulevard, 
Denver, CO 80222, 303-757-9259
     RTD Administrative Services, 1600 Blake Street, Denver, CO 
80202, 303-299-2484
     Denver Public Library, 10 West 14th Avenue, Denver, CO 
80203, 303-640-6220
     Castlewood Public Library, 6739 South Uinta Street, 
Denver, CO 80237, 303-771-3197
     Southeast Corridor Project Office (Carter & Burgess), 216 
16th Street Mall, Suite 1700, Denver CO 80202, 303-820-5278
    The Draft EIS evaluated a No-Action, and a Preliminary Preferred 
Alternative (including transportation management solutions) in the I-25 
Southeast Corridor study limits from Broadway to Lincoln Avenue, which 
includes I-225 from I-25 to Parker Road, and determined the estimated 
costs and potential impacts associated with each. CDOT was the local 
lead agency for the preparation of the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS 
satisfies the requirements of the 1999 Clean Air Act Amendments.
    The FHWA, the FTA, the CDOT, the RTD and other local agencies 
invite interested individuals, organizations, and Federal, State and 
local agencies to comment on the identified preferred alternative and 
associated social, economic, or environmental impacts related to the 
alternatives.
    The preferred alternative is consistent with the Southeast Corridor 
Major Investment Study completed in July, 1997. It begins at 
approximately I-25 and Broadway and proceeds south and southeast to 
Lincoln Avenue following the general alignment of I-25. Also included 
is a segment along I-225 from I-25 to Parker Road. The preferred 
alternative excludes any proposed roadway improvements near I-25 from 
6th Avenue to approximately the Logan Street crossing including the I-
25 interchanges at Alameda, Santa Fe, and Broadway. The primary purpose 
of the Southeast Corridor Multi-Modal Project is to improve travel time 
and enhance safety along these two transportation corridors, while 
causing the least disruption to neighboring residents and businesses. 
The Southeast Corridor is the most heavily congested corridor on a 
daily basis, in the State of Colorado. It has been the focus of study 
for twenty years. These studies have consistently recommended that 
improvements be made to the highway system and to the provision of 
public transit.
    The alternatives evaluated in the Draft EIS include the following:
    1. The No-Action alternative served as the baseline for 
environmental analysis and consists of the existing transit and highway 
systems and all projects contained in the federally approved 
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the Denver metropolitan 
area.
    2. The Preliminary Preferred Alternative generally used the I-25 
right-of-way between Broadway and Lincoln Avenue, and the I-225 right-
of-way between I-25 and Parker. There are 17.9 miles of double tracked 
light rail transit beginning at the existing Broadway Station and 
ending at Lincoln Avenue on the west side of I-25. Light rail will also 
be added to the median of I-225, from I-25 to the existing Nine Mile 
Park-n-Ride. There will be thirteen stations. Improvements to I-25 and 
I-225 consist of one additional lane in each direction on I-25 from 
Logan Avenue to I-225, two additional lanes in each direction on I-25 
from I-225 to C-470/E-470 and one additional lane in each direction on 
I-225 from I-25 to Yosemite. This alternative is designed to 
accommodate future transportation needs and includes improvements to 
the highway, transportation systems management, and pedestrian and 
bicycle facilities in the study area.
    The FHWA, the FTA, the CDOT and the RTD evaluated all significant 
social, economic, and environmental impacts of the alternatives. The 
primary areas of examination included transit ridership, the capital 
outlays needed to construct the recommended alternative, the cost of 
operating and maintaining facilities created by the project, and the 
financial requirements on the funding agencies. Environmental and 
social impacts evaluated in the analysis include land use and 
neighborhood impacts, traffic and parking impacts near stations, visual 
impacts, hazardous material impacts, impacts on cultural and 
paleontological resources, and noise and vibration impacts. Impacts on 
natural areas, threatened and endangered species, air and water 
quality, and groundwater are also covered. Right-of-way impacts are 
also identified. Impacts were also evaluated both for the construction 
period and for the long-term period of operation. Measures to mitigate 
adverse impacts were developed.
    In accordance with the Federal Transit Act, as amended, and FHWA 
and FTA policy, the Draft EIS was prepared with required engineering 
design studies necessary to complete the document. On the basis of the 
Draft EIS and the comments received, a preferred alternative will be 
selected and preparation of the Final EIS and Record of Decision will 
proceed.

(23 U.S.C. 315; 49 U.S.C. 107, 5301 et seq.; 49 CFR 1.48 and 1.51)

    Issued on August 12, 1999.
James Daves,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Lakewood, 
Colorado.
Louis F. Mraz, Jr.,
Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Region VIII, 
Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 99-21395 Filed 8-19-99; 8:45 am]
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