[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 51495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25109]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Napa and Solano Counties, CA

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 Napa and Solano Counties, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bill Wong, Acting Team Leader, 
Project Delivery Team, Federal Highway Administration, 980 9th Street, 
Sacramento, California 95814-2724, Telephone: (916) 498-5042.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the California 
Department of Transportation (Caltrans), will prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposal to convert an existing two-lane 
conventional highway into a four-lane divided expressway from the 
intersection with state Route 29 south of the City of Napa (Napa 
County) to a point 0.3 kilometer (0.2 mile) west of Interstate 80 in 
the City of Fairfield (Solano County). The existing highway, State 
Route 12, is a major east-west link in the interregional road system of 
the northern Bay Area. The section of highway under consideration is 
9.5 kilometers (5.9 miles) long.
    FHWA considers it necessary to increase capacity of this highway to 
provide for existing and projected traffic demand. The existing 
facility currently operates at full capacity during commute hours and 
other high-demand hours. By the year 2025, peak period volume is 
expected to double.
    Alternatives currently under consideration are: (1) taking no 
action; (2) construct a parallel alignment north of the existing 
roadway to be used for westbound traffic and correct the existing 
roadway alignment and use it for eastbound traffic; (3) construct a 
parallel alignment south of the existing roadway to be used for 
eastbound traffic and correct the existing roadway alignment and use it 
for westbound traffic; and (4) construct AN alignment that closely 
follows the existing alignment, with the additional roadway constructed 
to the north in some sections and the south in some sections, depending 
on the terrain. Incorporated into and studied with the various build 
alternatives will be design variations of grade and alignment.
    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 be interested in this proposal. Public scoping meetings will 
be held in Napa County and in Solano County in October and November 
2001. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the scoping 
meetings. After the draft EIS has been completed, a public hearing will 
be held. The draft EIS will be available for public and agency review 
before the public hearing, and public notice will be given of the time 
and place of the hearing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action is addressed and that 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.

    Issued on: September 20, 2001.
Dennis A. Scovill,
Team Leader, Planning, Finance, Environment, and Right-of-Way, 
Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 01-25109 Filed 10-5-01; 8:45 am]
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