[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 241 (Friday, December 16, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 74864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-24111]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement: Lafayette Parish, LA

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 a 
Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a 
proposed toll highway facility in the vicinity of Lafayette, Louisiana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William Farr, Program Operations 
Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 5304 Flanders Drive, Suite A, 
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808, Telephone: (225) 757-7615, or Mr. Michael 
Mangham, Commission Chairperson, Lafayette Metropolitan Expressway 
Commission, 406 Audubon Boulevard, Lafayette, Louisiana 70503, 
Telephone: (337) 233-6200, or Dr. Eric Kalivoda, Assistant Secretary, 
Office of Planning and Programming, Louisiana Department of 
Transportation and Development, PO Box 94245, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-
9245. Project information may be obtained from the project Internet Web 
site at http://www.lafayettexpressway.com/project.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Lafayette 
Metropolitan Expressway Commission (LMEC), and the Louisiana Department 
of Transportation and Development (LADOTD), will prepare a Tier 1 EIS 
on corridor alternatives for the proposed Lafayette Metropolitan 
Expressway to connect on new location to I-49 north of Lafayette, LA, 
I-10 west of Lafayette, LA, and US 90 south of Lafayette, LA. The 
proposed facility would be a controlled access toll road on new 
location with interchanges with I-10, I-49, and Johnston Street. 
Interchanges with other connecting cross streets will also be 
considered. The proposed facility would initially have four lanes with 
provision to expand to six lanes.
    The new facility is considered necessary to provide for existing 
and future traffic demand and to improve the hurricane evacuation 
system.
    At a minimum, the current project will examine, in addition to the 
no build alternative, three corridor build alternatives that were 
identified in the Lafayette Metropolitan Expressway Feasibility Study. 
Three corridors were identified in the study that ranged in length from 
31 to 38 miles. The implementation cost estimate, including planning, 
design, right of way acquisition, and construction, was generally about 
the same for the various corridors ($760 million in 2005 dollars).
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, local agencies, tribes, elected 
officials and to private organizations and citizens who have previously 
expressed or are known to have interest in this proposal. Public 
meetings will be held. In addition, a public hearing will be held. 
Public notice will be given of the time and place of the public 
meetings and public hearing. The draft EIS will be available for public 
and agency review and comment prior to the public hearing. A formal 
scoping meeting will be held upon initiation of this project. Public 
scoping meetings will be scheduled to provide the public with 
information about the project and an opportunity to assist in 
formulating the scope of the study.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
project 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 FHWA at the address 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 of Federal programs and activities, apply to this 
program.)

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

    Issued on: December 2, 2005.
Joe A. Bloise,
Acting Division Administrator, FHWA, Louisiana Division.
[FR Doc. 05-24111 Filed 12-15-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M