[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-33376]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Anchorage, AK

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Alaska Department of 
Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF).

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural 
Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA) is issuing this notice to advise the public that 
an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed 
transportation improvement project in the Municipality of Anchorage 
(MOA), Alaska. The purpose of the proposed project is to mitigate 
congestion along an existing transportation corridor and to provide for 
future transportation demands.


    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim A. Haugh, Environmental/Right-of-
way Specialist, Federal Highway Administration, Alaska Division Office, 
709 W. 9th Street, Room 851, P.O. Box 21648, Juneau, Alaska 99802-1648. 
Telephone 907/586-7430. Jim Childers, P.E., Project Manager, Alaska 
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Preliminary Design 
& Environmental, P.O. Box 196900, Anchorage, Alaska 99519-6900. 
Telephone 907/269-0544.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 
in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public 
Facilities (ADOT&PF), intends to prepare an EIS on a proposal to 
relieve congestion on the New Seward Highway from Rabbit Creek Road to 
36th Avenue (Interstate Route I-A3-1) and to provide for future 
transportation demand in the corridor. Alternatives under consideration 
include but are not limited to:
    (1) No build; continued current use of roadways, may include short-
term minor restoration types of activities (safety and maintenance 
improvements) that maintain continuing operation of the existing 
roadway;
    (2) Highway mainline, frontage road, and bicycle/pedestrian 
improvements, including new grade separations for improved east-west 
mobility and/or modifications to existing interchanges;
    (3) Transportation System Management (TSM) and/or Transportation 
Demand Management (TDM) Strategies;
    (4) Traffic Operations/Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS);
    (5) Public Transit Improvements:
     Commuter rail strategies
     Light rail strategies
     Other transit improvements;
    (6) Other improvements to the existing arterial road system. The 
Campbell Creek wetlands and the Areawide Trails System would be 
accommodated as part of the proposed action alternatives. The project 
corridor is not currently served by other modes of public 
transportation, such as the ``People Mover'' bus system or the Alaska 
Railroad.
    The proposed project is necessary to meet Anchorage's future 
transportation needs. An increase in population as well as new 
commercial and residential development in south and east Anchorage have 
resulted in a need to improve travel to and from these areas. The 
proposed action is an integral part of the Anchorage Metropolitan Area 
Transportation Study (AMATS) Long Range Transportation Plan and 
Transportation Improvements Plan, and the MOA Official Streets and 
Highways Plan.
    The Anchorage area is currently listed as a serious non-attainment 
area relative to carbon monoxide emissions. This non-attainment is in 
part a result of traffic congestion. The proposed action would aid in 
relieving traffic congestion in south Anchorage.
    The scoping process will include the use of newsletters, internet 
website, and meetings soliciting comments from appropriate Federal, 
State, and local agencies, beginning in December, 2000 and continuing 
throughout 2001. Private organizations and citizens who have an 
interest in this proposal will also be notified. A public hearing will 
be scheduled and a series of public meetings will be held in the 
communities adjacent to and served by the New Seward Highway. Public 
notice will be given of the time and place of the meetings and hearing. 
To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action 
are addressed and all significant issues identified, written public 
input, comments and suggestions on environmental issues or concerns 
related to the proposed improvements are invited from all interested 
parties. Comments should be submitted to the Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA) or the Alaska Department of Transportation and 
Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) at the addresses provided above. (Catalog 
of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20-205, Highway Research, 
Planning and Construction)

    Dated: December 20, 2000.
Karen A. Schmidt,
Assistant Division Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-33376 Filed 12-29-00; 8:45 am]
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