[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 188 (Thursday, September 27, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49448-49449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24156]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Assessment(s) or Environmental Impact Statement(s): 
Cuyahoga County, City of Cleveland, Ohio

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 assessment(s) or environmental impact statement(s) will 
be prepared for a proposed project in the City of Cleveland in Cuyahoga 
County, Ohio.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael B. Armstrong, Urban Programs 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 200 N. High Street, Room 328, 
Columbus, Ohio 43215, Telephone: (614) 280-6855.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Ohio 
Department of Transportation (ODOT), will prepare an environmental 
assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal 
to reconstruct a portion of the Interstate Highway System, known as the 
Innerbelt, which travels through the City of Cleveland's CBD. 
Specifically, the proposed action is being considered from Interstate 
71 and W. 25th Street, on the west, through the Interstate 90/490

[[Page 49449]]

interchange (where the existing alignment changes to Interstate 90) to 
Interstate 90 and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, on the East.
    Reconstruction of this alignment is considered necessary to: 
provide for the infrastructure which is approaching the end of its 
useful life especially the 5,000 foot Interstate 90 Central Viaduct 
bridge; reduce congestion on the facility; improve substandard 
geometrics which result in high accident rates and operating 
inefficiencies; and improve access into and out of the Cleveland CBD, 
the Cuyahoga River Valley and the adjoining neighborhoods.
    A wide range of alternatives will be considered including: (1) 
taking no action; (2) reconstruction within the existing right-of-way; 
(3) relocating portions of the facility on new alignment; and (4) 
multi-modal options. Alternatives 2, 3 and 4 have sub-alternatives that 
may involve (1) the redesign, closure or construction of new ramps or 
(2) construction of mitigating measures.
    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 or are 
known to have interest in this proposal. A series of public meetings 
will be held in the project area with a series already held during the 
Summer of 2001, a series currently scheduled the Fall of 2001, another 
series in the Winter/Spring of 2002 and an additional meeting in the 
Fall of 2002. In addition, a Public Hearing will be held. Public notice 
will be given of the time and place of the meetings and hearing. 
Project reports will be available throughout the study time frame and 
the EA(S) or Draft EIS(S) will be available for public and agency 
review and comment prior to the public hearing.
    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 EA(S) or EIS(S) 
should be directed to FHWA 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: September 18, 2001.
Michael B. Armstrong,
Urban Programs Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Columbus, 
Ohio.
[FR Doc. 01-24156 Filed 9-26-01; 8:45 am]
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