[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 246 (Thursday, December 23, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72139-72140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32984]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Federal Transit Administration


Final 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 the FTA, in cooperation with the Colorado Department 
of Transportation (CDOT) and the Regional Transportation District 
(RTD), have jointly prepared a Final 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 
Final EIS identifies a preferred alternative and the associated 
environmental impacts of the proposed preferred alternative. Interested 
citizens are invited to review the Final EIS and submit comments. 
Copies of the Final EIS may be obtained by telephoning or writing the 
contact person list below under Addresses. Public reading copies of the 
Final EIS are available at the locations listed under Supplementary 
Information.

DATES: A 30-day public review period will begin on December 23, 1999, 
and conclude on January 28, 2000. Written comments on the preferred 
alternative and impacts to be considered must be received by CDOT by 
January 28, 2000. A public hearing to receive oral comments on the 
Final EIS will be held in one location in Denver. See Supplementary 
Information section for hearing date and location.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Final 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 Final 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 
obtained. Copies of the Final EIS are also available for public 
inspection and review. See Supplementary Information section for 
locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request copies of the Final 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 Date and Location:
     January 12, 2000, Most Precious Blood Catholic School, 
2250 South Harrison Street, Denver, CO 80237, 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Copies of the Final EIS 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.
     Aurora Central Library, 14949 East Alameda Drive, Aurora, 
CO 80012, 303-739-6600.
     Aurora Planning Office, 1470 South Havana St., Room 608, 
Aurora, CO 80012, 303-739-7250.
     Douglas Public Library District-Philip S. Miller Branch, 
961 South Plum Creek Blvd., Castle Rock, CO 80104, 303-688-5157.
Copies of supporting technical reports and engineering plan sheets are 
available at:
     CDOT Region 6 Office, 2000 South Holly Street, Denver, CO 
80222, 303-757-9372.
     Southeast Corridor Project Office (Carter & Burgess), 216 
16th Street Mall, Suite 1700, Denver CO 80202, 303-820-5278.

Background

    The Final EIS evaluated a No-Action, and a Preferred Alternative 
(including transportation management solutions) in the Southeast 
Corridor and determined the estimated costs and potential impacts 
associated with each. The project study limits are on I-25 from 
Broadway Avenue to Lincoln Avenue, which includes I-225 from I-25 to 
Parker Road. CDOT was the local lead agency for the preparation of the 
Final EIS.
    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 generally consistent with the 
Southeast Corridor Major Investment Study completed in July 1997. It 
begins at approximately I-25 and Broadway Avenue 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, 
businesses, and commuters. 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

[[Page 72140]]

that improvements be made to the highway system and that public transit 
be provided.
    The alternatives evaluated in the Final 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 Preferred Alternative generally will use the I-25 right-of-
way between Broadway Avenue and Lincoln Avenue, and the I-225 right-of-
way between I-25 and Parker Road. There are 19.12 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. Thirteen light rail stations are planned. 
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 included 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, (49 U.S.C. 
5301 et seq.) and FHWA and FTA policy, the Final EIS was prepared with 
required engineering design studies necessary to complete the document. 
On the basis of the Final EIS and the comments received, a 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)
James Daves,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Lakewood, 
Colorado.
Louis F. Mraz Jr.,
Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Region VIII, 
Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 99-32984 Filed 12-22-99; 8:45 am]
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