[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 28 (Monday, February 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6316-6317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-3253]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Orange County, New York

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), New York State 
Department of Transportation.

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 Orange County, New York.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert A. Dennison III, P.E., Regional 
Director; NYSDOT Region 8; Eleanor Roosevelt State Office Building; 4 
Burnett Boulevard; Poughkeepsie, NY 12603; Telephone: (845) 431-5750.
        or
Robert E. Arnold, Division Administrator, Federal Highway 
Administration, New York Division, Leo W. O'Brien Federal Building, 
Room 719, Clinton Avenue and North Pearl Street, Albany, New York 
12207, Telephone: (518) 431-4127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New York 
State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to improve NYS Route 
17 in Orange County, New York. The proposed improvement will center on 
the reconstruction and reconfiguration of the NYS Route 17 Exit 122 
Interchange, within the Town of Wallkill, and associated improvements 
on existing Town and County roadways for a distance ranging from 
approximately 1.6 to 3.3 km (1.0 to 2.1 miles) depending upon the

[[Page 6317]]

alternative implemented, including East Main Street (CR 67) and Crystal 
Run Road. This project is being progressed to address identified 
operational and safety problems, non-standard and non-conforming 
geometrics, and bridge structural needs.
    Alternatives under consideration include a Null or No-Build 
Alternative (Alternative 1A) and two (2) build alternatives. The build 
alternatives have been identified as Exit 122 Reconfiguration with an 
East Main Street Extension (Alternative 2C) and Exit 122 
Reconfiguration with Crystal Run Road Realigned but no Main Street 
Extension (Alternative 2E). Alternative Transportation Measures, 
including enhancing public transportation and implementing intelligent 
transportation systems and demand management strategies (Alternative 
1B) will be considered as an integrated element of the feasible build 
alternatives. Also included with the feasible build alternatives, there 
will be further consideration and evaluation of the benefits and costs 
of adding an auxiliary lane on Route 17 westbound between Exit 121 and 
Exit 120 and/or improving the geometry of the I-84 westbound to Route 
17 westbound ramp. Isolated improvements to nearby intersections may be 
included to improve operations on roadways within the project area. 
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 
interest in this proposal. A series of public information meetings will 
be held in the Town of Wallkill between February 2002 and June 2003. In 
addition, a public hearing will be held. Public notice will be given of 
the time and place of the meetings and hearings. The draft EIS, when 
prepared, will be available for public and agency review and comment. A 
formal NEPA scoping meeting will be held at the Town of Wallkill Court 
Room, Town Hall 600 Route 211 East, Wallkill, New York 10940 on Monday 
February 11, 2002. At 3:30 PM a meeting will be held for Federal, 
State, and Local officials and at 7:00 PM a meeting for the general 
public and all interested parties. Each meeting will be preceded by a 
30-minute open house during which attendees can view concept plans and 
interact with project team members.
    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 NYSDOT or FHWA at the addresses provided above.

(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.)


    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 23 CFR 771.123.

    Issued on: January 15, 2002.
Douglas P. Conlan,
District Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Albany, New York.
[FR Doc. 02-3253 Filed 2-8-02; 8:45 am]
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