[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 144 (Friday, July 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 48965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19024]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Route 9 Dover/Lakewood Project, 
Ocean County, NJ

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), USDOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA and New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) 
are issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for the proposed widening of 
Route 9 to four lanes between Indian Head Road in Dover Township and 
Main Street in Lakewood Township in Ocean County, New Jersey. The four 
lanes would be separated by a grass median that would provide left-turn 
lanes at major intersections.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you wish to be placed on the 
mailing list to receive further information as the study develops, 
contact Mr. Young Kim at Federal Highway Administration, 840 Bear 
Tavern Road, Suite 310, West Trenton, NJ 08628, Telephone: (609) 637-
4233 or Mr. Steve Mikulak at New Jersey Department of Transportation, 
1035 Parkway Avenue, P.O. Box 600, Trenton, NJ 08625-0600, Telephone: 
(609) 530-6558.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Project Need and Description

    Route 9 through Dover and Lakewood is a two-lane signalized roadway 
with a high volume of vehicles throughout the day, and especially 
during the morning and evening commuting hours, and the summer. This 
large vehicular volume, combined with left turning vehicles, and narrow 
shoulders results in poor levels of service for multiple hours of the 
day. This proposed project was developed to improve the operation, 
safety and level of service along this corridor.
    The Township of Dover in 1999 and Township of Lakewood in 2000 each 
approved Resolutions of Support for the four lanes with grass median 
and left turn lanes concept. This concept will be studied under, at 
least, three alternatives: Left turn lane scheme with expansion to the 
east side of Route 9; Left turn lane scheme with expansion to the west 
side of Route 9; and, Left turn lane scheme that would ``snake'' the 
expansion between the east and west sides of Route 9. A fourth scheme 
that would be analyzed is the provision of jug-handles instead of left-
turn lanes at select locations. The Draft EIS will document the 
analysis and elimination of alternatives, and only viable, 
constructible alternatives will be carried through the environmental 
analysis phase.

II. Scoping

    The FHWA and NJDOT invite all interested individuals and 
organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies to provide 
comments on the scope of the study. During the scoping process, 
comments should focus on identifying specific social, economic, or 
environmental issues to be evaluated and suggesting alternatives, which 
may be less costly or have less environmental impacts, while achieving 
the similar transportation objectives. Comments should focus on the 
issues and alternatives for analysis and not on a preference for a 
particular alternative.
    A public hearing will be held after publication of the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to obtain comments on the 
document. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the DEIS 
public hearing.
    Scoping Meeting: Public scoping meetings for the Route 9 Dover/
Lakewood EIS will be held on: Wednesday, September 18, 2002, 3 p.m. to 
7 p.m., Lakewood Municipal Building, 231 Third Street, Lakewood, NJ 
08701; and Wednesday, September 25, 2002, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Dover 
Township Municipal Complex, 33 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ 08753.
    People with special needs should contact Mr. Steve Mikulak at NJDOT 
(a sign language interpreter will be made available upon request). The 
buildings are accessible to people with disabilities.
    Oral and written comments may be given at the scoping meetings; a 
stenographer will record all comments.
    Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of the EIS should 
be sent to Mr. Young Kim with FHWA by October 16, 2002 at the address 
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: July 18, 2002.
Young Kim,
Area Engineer, FHWA--New Jersey Division, Trenton.
[FR Doc. 02-19024 Filed 7-25-02; 8:45 am]
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