[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7692-7693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2156]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Rock Island County, IL, and Scott 
County, IA

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 
improvement in Rock Island County, Illinois, and Scott County, Iowa.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Manu M. Chacko, Transportation 
Engineer, FHWA, 105 6th Street, Ames, IA 50010-6337, (515) 233-7307. 
James P. Rost, Director, Office of Environmental Services, Iowa 
Department of Transportation, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50010, (515) 
239-1798.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem 
and suitable communications software from the Government Printing 
Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 512-1661. Internet 
users may reach the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing Office's database at: 
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

Background

    The FHWA, in cooperation with the Iowa and Illinois Departments of 
Transportation, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on 
a proposal to improve capacity and safety in the I-74 corridor between 
23rd Avenue in Moline, Illinois, and 53rd Street in Bettendorf, Iowa. 
This corridor, which includes a crossing of the Mississippi River, is 
approximately 9.7 km (6 miles) long. Within the project limits, the I-
74 corridor includes three interchanges in Illinois and five 
interchanges in Iowa.
    Corridor improvements are considered necessary to improve safety 
and to accommodate future traffic demand. The proposed improvements are 
expected to include mainline capacity enhancements, interchange 
modifications, and the realignment of I-74 across the Mississippi 
River. Alternatives under consideration include: (1) Taking no action; 
(2) employing low-cost measures (such as traffic management, incident 
management, additional transit service, and van and carpool efforts); 
and (3) realigning and widening I-74 across the Mississippi River, 
which may include providing auxiliary lanes between interchanges or an 
additional through lane in each direction, and reconfiguring existing 
service interchanges. Changes in grade, alignment, river crossing 
location, and ramp terminal locations will be evaluated.
    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 have previously expressed 
interest in or are known to be interested in this proposal. A series of 
public meetings will be held in Moline, Illinois, and Bettendorf, Iowa, 
during 2001 and 2002. In addition, a public hearing will be held. 
Public notice will be given of the time and place of the meetings and 
hearing. The draft EIS will be available for public and agency review 
and comment prior to the public hearing. A scoping meeting will be held 
for identifying significant issues to be addressed in the environmental 
impact statement.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action 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 
directed to the Iowa Department of Transportation or FHWA at the 
address provided in the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation of

[[Page 7693]]

Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

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

    Dated: January 12, 2001.
Bobby W. Blackmon,
Division Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-2156 Filed 1-23-01; 8:45 am]
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