[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 170 (Thursday, September 2, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53764-53765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20018]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: I-15 Corridor, Utah and Salt Lake 
Counties, UT

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Utah 
Department of Transportation (UDOT) are issuing this notice to advise 
the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be 
prepared for a proposed transportation improvement project in Utah and 
Salt Lake Counties, Utah. To date, five alternatives have been 
identified in previous studies, to be addressed in the EIS. These 
alternatives include a no-action alternative, transportation systems 
management alternative, highway only alternative, transit only 
alternative, and a combined transit and highway or multimodal 
alternative. In addition, alternatives that are identified from the 
scoping process will be evaluated in the EIS. Scoping will be 
accomplished through correspondence and discussions with interested 
persons; organizations; federal, state and local agencies; and through 
public and agency meetings.

DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives 
and impacts to be considered in the EIS must be received no later than 
October 11, 2004, and must be sent to UDOT at the address indicated 
below. Scoping Meetings: UDOT will conduct three public scoping 
meetings and one agency meeting. The agency meeting will be held on 
September 8, 2004 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the UDOT Complex, located 
at 4501 South 2700 West in Salt Lake City. The public scoping meetings 
will be held on September 8, 2004 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Murray 
High School Spartan Conference Room, located at 5440 S. State Street in 
Murray; on September 9, 2004 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Larsen Elementary 
School located at 1175 E. Flonette Drive in Spanish Fork; and on 
September 11, 2004 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the McKay Events Center, 
North Presidential Level, Utah Valley State College located on 800 W. 
University Parkway in Orem.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Berna, Environmental 
Specialist, Federal Highway Administration, 2520 West 4700 South, Suite 
9A, Salt Lake City, UT 84118. Telephone: (801) 963-0182. Written 
comments should be sent to Mr. Merrell Jolley, Project Manager, Utah 
Department of Transportation, 658 North 1500 West Orem, UT 84057. 
Telephone: (801) 222-3406. To be added to the mailing list, contact 
Eileen Barron, Public Involvement Manager, Parsons Brinckerhoff, 488 
East Winchester Street, Suite 400, Murray, Utah 84107. Telephone (888) 
898-2111 or e-mail [email protected]. Persons with special needs 
should contact Eileen Barron at the above address and phone number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 53765]]

1. Description of Study Area and Scope

    The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in cooperation with the 
Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Utah Department of 
Transportation (UDOT) and Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is preparing an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed action 
approximately 66 miles in length to address capacity, operational, 
infrastructure deficiencies along 1-15 from Santaquin to the 10600 
South Interchange (southern point of previous I-15 reconstruction). The 
proposed action will also examine transit alternatives that address the 
purpose and need for the corridor including, but not limited to, 
commuter rail from Payson to the Salt Lake City Intermodal Center, 
light rail from 1000 South in Sandy to Orem, and bus rapid transit.

II. Purpose and Need

    Growth within Utah County over the last ten years has been 
significant. Population in Utah and Salt Lake counties is expected to 
grow 84 and 63 percent respectively by the year 2030, at an annual 
growth rate of approximately 2.0 percent. I-15 is the only continuous 
north-south route in Utah County, and the primary north-south facility 
in the State. Sections of I-15 are currently demonstrating unacceptable 
levels of service in the peak hours resulting in significant driver 
delay and frustration.
    Two recent planning studies have identified possible transit and 
highway transportation solutions for the Utah County and southern Salt 
Lake County. These two studies are the Inter-Regional Corridor 
Alternatives Analysis (January 2002) and the Utah County I-15 Corridor 
Management Plan (August 2002). This EIS will build upon these previous 
studies and will also analyze the environmental impacts for various 
alternatives.

III. Alternatives

    The proposed project intends to consider no-build, transportation 
system management, highway only, transit only, and multimodal build 
alternatives to address the transportation need. Build alternatives for 
I-15 will consider widening the facility, improvements to or new 
interchanges, and correction of existing deficiencies.
    Alternatives 1: No-Action. This alternative consists of highway and 
transit systems existing as of year 2004, plus improvements programmed 
in the approved long range transportation plan.
    Alternative 2: Transportation Systems Management. This alternative 
consists of low cost, reasonable and cost-effective highway and transit 
system improvements within the I-15 Corridor that address the purpose 
and need.
    Alternative 3: Highway-Only Improvements: Based on previous 
studies, this alternative consists of reconstructing existing 
interchanges; constructing 3-5 new interchanges; possibly including 
collector-distributor lanes from University Parkway to 920 South Provo; 
and widening I-15 from 6 to 8 general purpose lanes from the Salt Lake 
County line to the US-6 interchange in Spanish Fork.
    Alternative 4: Transit-Only Improvements. This alternative consists 
of transit improvements paralleling I-15, including examining commuter 
rail, light rail, bus rapid transit, and managed lanes.
    Alternative 5: Multimodal Improvements: This alternative consists 
of Alternative 3 (with possible modifications) plus transit 
improvements, including examining commuter rail, light rail, bus rapid 
transit, and managed lanes. This alternative could become multiple 
alternatives depending on alignment and mode.

IV. Probable Effects

    Environmental issues to be examined in the Alternatives Analysis 
and in the EIS include: potential changes to the physical environment 
(natural resources, air quality, noise, water quality, geology, 
visual); changes in the social environment (land use, development, 
business and neighborhood disruptions); changes in traffic and 
pedestrian circulation; changes in transit service and patronage; 
associated changes in traffic congestion; and impacts on parklands and 
historic sites. Impacts will be identified both for the construction 
period and for the long-term operation of the alternatives. The 
proposed evaluation criteria include transportation, social, economic, 
and financial measures, as required by current federal (NEPA) 
environmental laws and current Council on Environmental Quality; FHWA 
and FTA guidelines.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action will be 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 UDOT as noted above.

V. FHWA Procedures

    The EIS for the I-15 Corridor Utah and Salt Lake counties will be 
prepared simultaneously with conceptual engineering. The EIS/conceptual 
engineering process will address the potential use of federal funds for 
the proposed action, as well as assess the social, economic and 
environmental impacts of the alternatives.
    After publication the Draft EIS will be available for public and 
agency review and comment, and public hearings will be held. Based on 
the Draft EIS comments received, UDOT will select a locally preferred 
alternative for further assessment in the Final EIS.

(Catalog of Federal and 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)

    Issued on: August 27, 2004.
Jeffrey Berna,
Environmental Specialist, Salt Lake City, Utah
[FR Doc. 04-20018 Filed 9-1-04; 8:45 am]
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