[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 84 (Friday, April 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23849-23850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-9821]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Clay and Jackson Counties, 
Missouri

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for proposed 
improvements to Interstates 29 & 35 in Kansas City and North Kansas 
City, Jackson and Clay Counties, Missouri.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Donald Neumann, Programs Engineer, 
FHWA Division Office, 209 Adams Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101, 
Telephone Number 573-636-7104; or Mr. Kevin Keith, Chief Engineer, 
Missouri Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 
65102, Telephone Number 314-751-2803.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Missouri 
Department of Transportation (MoDOT), will prepare an EIS on a proposal 
to reconstruct and widen the I-29/I-35 (U.S. Route 71) facility with 
new interchange configurations, bridges including the bridge over the 
Missouri

[[Page 23850]]

River, and roadways in Jackson and Clay Counties, Missouri. It is 
intended that the reconstructed facility will meet current interstate 
standards. A location study will run concurrently with the preparations 
of the EIS and will provide definitive reasonable alternatives for 
evaluation in the EIS.
    The proposed action will accomplish several goals: (1) Replace the 
deteriorating facility and substandard interchanges, (2) improve 
traffic safety, (3) improve the interstate system linkage across the 
Missouri River, (4) provide sufficient vehicle capacity to accommodate 
travel demands, (5) improve traffic operation and decrease congestion, 
(6) improve access to the CBD and other major activity centers, (7) 
facilitate the movement of trucks, and (8) enhance the movement of 
international trade.
    The proposed project, which includes the north side of the downtown 
loop designated as I-35/I-70 (U.S. Routes 24/40), begins at the 
northwest corner of the downtown freeway loop in the city of Kansas 
City in Jackson County and continues north on I-29/I-35/US 71 to just 
north of Missouri Route 210 in Clay County. The project length is 4.7 
miles (7.6 kilometers). Known potential impacts include access changes; 
residential, commercial, and institutional acquisitions/relocations; 
acquisition of or impacts to National Register of Historic Places--
eligible properties including the Paseo Bridge, the Western Union 
Telegraph Building, and the Old Town and Wholesale Historic Districts; 
and impacts to parklands including the River Forest Park, Kessler Park, 
Columbus Park, Margaret Kemp Park, and West Terraces Park, which are 
eligible for protection under section 4(f) of the Department of 
Transportation Act of 1966. A Department of the Army Section 404 
Permit, a US Coast Guard Bridge Permit, and a floodplain development 
permit from the State Emergency Management Agency may be required.
    Alternatives under consideration include (1) no build, (2) build 
alternatives, and (3) transportation management options. The 2002 
Northland-Downtown Major Investment Study (MIS) recommended widening 
and upgrading mainline lanes from US 169 to the Downtown Loop to 
generally provide an eight-lane section with auxiliary lanes as needed, 
including a new Paseo Bridge. The Kansas City Area Transportation 
Authority (KCATA) will examine the MIS transit recommendation in a 
separate environmental document.
    To date, substantial preliminary coordination has occurred with 
local officials and other interested parties. As part of the scoping 
process, an interagency coordination meeting will be held with federal, 
state, and local agencies on May 12, 2004. In addition, public 
information meetings and further meetings for community officials will 
be held to solicit public and agency input on the reasonable range of 
alternatives. A location public hearing will be held to present the 
findings of the Draft EIS (DEIS). Public notice will be given 
announcing the time and place of all public meetings and the hearing. 
The DEIS will be available for public and agency review and comment 
prior to the public meeting.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues are identified, 
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. 
Comments and questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS 
should be directed to the FHWA or MoDOT at the addresses provided 
above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 122372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program)

    Issued on: April 21, 2004.
Donald L. Neumann,
Programs Engineer, Jefferson City.
[FR Doc. 04-9821 Filed 4-29-04; 8:45 am]
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