[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 173 (Thursday, September 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 52846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14814]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga 
County, OH

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 an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed 
project in the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victoria Peters, Office Director, 
Office of Engineering and Operations, Federal Highway Administration, 
200 N. High Street, Room 328, Columbus, Ohio 43215, Telephone: (614) 
280-6896.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Ohio 
Department of Transportation (ODOT), will prepare an EIS for proposed 
improvements to Interstates 71, 77 and 90, and connecting radial 
freeways and local roadways, known as the Cleveland Innerbelt. The 
Cleveland Innerbelt is routed across the Cuyahoga River valley and 
around the south and east sides of downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The 
project termini are located approximately at the merge/diverse point of 
State Route 176, (the Jennings Freeway) and Interstate 71 southwest of 
downtown, south of the existing Interstate 90/77 Central Interchange on 
I-77 south of downtown, and east of the Interstate 90/State Route 2 
interchange east of downtown along the shore of Lake Erie.
    On September 18, 2001 the FHWA issued a Notice of Intent, (66 FR 
49448, Sep. 27, 2001), for the Cleveland Innerbelt action, which was in 
the planning phase of project development, indicating that an 
Environmental Assessment or EIS would be prepared. Since 2001 project 
development and public involvement activities have been ongoing. To 
effectively and efficiently manage the Cleveland Innerbelt Project the 
FHWA, in cooperation with the ODOT, has decided to prepare an EIS for 
the proposed Project.
    The purpose of the Cleveland Innerbelt Project is to improve the 
physical condition of the existing bridge decks and roadway pavements, 
improve the operational performance of the roadway system, improve the 
safety of the roadway system, and improve the access provided by the 
roadway system, while supporting community goals and objectives. 
Alternatives under consideration include: (1) the no-build (Defined as: 
maintaining/reconstructing the facility in kind); and (2) 
rehabilitation/upgrading of the existing infrastructure combined with 
construction of new facilities on modified alignment(s).
    Letters describing the proposed Project and soliciting comments 
will be sent to appropriate Federal, and State, agencies known to have 
interest in this proposal. Moreover, public involvement activities will 
continue to facilitate the further development of alternatives, and to 
identify and quantify the social, economic, and environmental impacts 
of the proposed Project. A public hearing will be held. Public notice 
will be given of the time and place of the hearing. The Draft EIS will 
be available for public and agency review and comment prior to the 
public hearing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues relating 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 Project and the EIS should be sent 
to the FHWA at the address provided 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: August 31, 2006.
Victoria Peters,
Office Director, Office of Engineering and Operations, Federal Highway 
Administration, Columbus, Ohio.
[FR Doc. E6-14814 Filed 9-6-06; 8:45 am]
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