[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 89 (Monday, May 8, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26656-26657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11413]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Lehigh and Norththampton 
Counties, Pennsylvania

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 Lehigh and Northampton Counties, Pennsylvania.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David W. Cough, P.E., Operations Group 
Leader, Federal Highway Administration, Pennsylvania Division Office, 
228 Walnut Street, Room 536, Harrisburg, PA 17101-1720, Telephone: 
(717) 221-3411 OR Donald Lerch, Assistant District Engineer, 
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, District 5-0, 1713 Lehigh 
Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania, 18103, Telephone (610) 798-4131.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the 
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), and the Lehigh 
Valley Planning Commission will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to identify and evaluate alternatives for improvements 
to the U.S. Route 22 corridor in Lehigh and Northampton Counties, 
Pennsylvania. The proposed action would consist of improvements along 
U.S. Route 22 between its interchanges with Interstate 78 to the west 
and S.R. 248 to the east, a distance of approximately 31 km (19 miles). 
Included in the overall project will be the identification of a range 
of alternatives that meet the identified project needs, and supporting 
environmental documentation and analysis to recommend a selected 
alternative for implementation. A complete public involvement program 
is included as part of the project.
    Documentation of the need for the project is being prepared. This 
process will identify the need for roadway improvements through the 
study area based on local and regional transportation demand, system 
linkage and continuity, geometric criteria, safety and local and 
regional planning.
    Alternatives that will be considered may include, but will not be 
limited to: No Build; transportation systems management (TSM) upgrade 
existing facility, construction on new alignment, upgrade of existing 
road network, mass transit, traffic control measures, (TCM), and travel 
demand management (TDM). These alternatives will be the basis for 
recommendation of alternatives to be carried forward for detailed 
environmental and engineering studies in the EIS.
    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 express interest in this proposal. 
Public meetings will be held in the area throughout the study process. 
Public involvement and agency coordination will be maintained 
throughout the development of the EIS.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to the proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues are identified, 
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. 
Comments or questions concerning this

[[Page 26657]]

proposed action and the EIS should be directed to FHWA or PennDOT 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)

    Issued on: April 25, 2000.
James A. Cheatham,
FHWA Division Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-11413 Filed 5-5-00; 8:45 am]
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