[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 81 (Thursday, April 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21038-21039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10305]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Merced County, California

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Revised 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 
expressway project in Merced County, California. A notice for this 
project was originally issued January 25, 2000. Since that time a 
refined traffic analysis resulted in modifying the project description. 
This notice is intended to advertise the changes in the project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. C. Glenn Clinton, Team Leader, 
Program Delivery Team--North, Federal Highway Administration, 
California Division, 980 9th Street, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95814-
2724, Telephone: (916) 498-5020.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the California 
Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Merced County 
Department of Public Works, will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) on a proposal to construct a regional arterial, known 
as Campus Parkway, in Merced County. The proposed project would involve 
the construction of a new limited access expressway, between the State 
Route 99/Mission Avenue Interchange to the south and Yosemite Avenue to 
the north. The project would be approximately 7.25 kilometers (4.5 
miles) in length. The revised project, from Route 99 to Yosemite 
Avenue, represents the limits necessary to meet projected demand 
occurring within the twenty-year design horizon (year 2025). North of 
Yosemite Avenue, transportation demand is not projected to reach a 
level necessitating further improvements until well beyond 2025. 
However, a future connection with Bellevue Road represents a logical 
connection with the existing roadway network that is a reasonably 
foreseeable action that could occur post 2025. To address cumulative 
impacts, the EIS

[[Page 21039]]

will also identify and analyze potential transportation corridors 
between Yosemite Avenue and Bellevue Road. No construction or right-of-
way acquisition north of Yosemite Avenue is proposed to be included as 
part of this project.
    The purpose (focused end result) of the Campus Parkway project is a 
transportation corridor that supplies sufficient capacity and 
connectivity to serve the northern and eastern portions of the City of 
Merced through the year 2025. Alternatives under consideration include: 
(1) Taking no action; and, (2) constructing a limited access expressway 
with the appropriate number of lanes to serve the anticipated demand 
for the design horizon (2025) within the right-of-way necessary to 
support the number of lanes required for the ultimate build-out of the 
Merced area. Three alternatives alignments have been identified that 
will be analyzed in the EIS.
    Other proposed projects and actions that are likely to have an 
impact on the Campus Parkway project will be evaluated, including the 
potential cumulative impacts of the proposed UC Merced and adjacent 
University Community.
    Public information meetings and a public hearing will be held for 
this project. A letter advising these meetings and hearing will be sent 
to appropriate Federal, State, and Local agencies as well as to private 
organizations and individuals who have expressed an interest in this 
project. The draft EIS will be available for public and agency review 
and comment prior to the public hearing. No formal scoping meeting is 
planned at this time.
    To ensure that the full range of issues relate to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues are 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 FHWA at the address provided above. Comments 
received that responded to the January 25, 2000 notice will still be 
addressed, as well as any additional responses received as a result of 
this notice.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance program Number 20.205, 
Highway research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program)

    Issued on: April 12, 2001.
Glenn Clinton,
Team Leader, Program Delivery Team--North Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 01-10305 Filed 4-25-01; 8:45 am]
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