[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 198 (Friday, October 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60604-60605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17015]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Polk County, IA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT, Polk County.
SUMMARY: The FHWA and Iowa DOT are issuing this notice to advise the 
public an EIS will be prepared for a proposed roadway project in Polk 
County, Iowa. The planned EIS will evaluate potential transportation 
improvement alternatives for serving northwest Des Moines and its 
neighboring communities between IA 415 and Euclid Avenue.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael La Pietra, Environment and 
Realty Manager, FHWA Iowa Division Office, 105 Sixth Street, Ames, IA 
50010, Phone 515-233-7302; or James P. Rost, Director, Office of 
Location and Environment, Iowa Department of Transportation, 800 
Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50010, Phone 515-239-1798.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document is available for free download 
from the Federal Bulletin Board (FBB). The FBB is a free electronic 
bulletin board service of the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. 
Government Printing Office (GPO).
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telnet or FTP to: http://fedbbs.access.gpo.gov">fedbbs.access.gpo.gov. Users can access the FBB via 
the World Wide Web at http://fedbbs.access.gpo.gov.
    User assistance for the FBB is available from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., 
Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except federal holidays) by 
calling the GPO Office of Electronic Information Dissemination Services 
at 202-512-1530, toll-free at 888-293-6498; sending an e-mail to 
[email protected]; or sending a fax to 202-512-1262.
    Access to this notice is also available to Internet users through 
the Federal Register's home page at http://www.nara.gov/fedreg.

Background

    The FHWA, in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Transportation 
and Polk County will prepare an EIS for the roadway improvements 
between IA 415/NW 26th Street and Euclid Avenue/M.L. King Parkway in 
Des Moines. The proposed project would include an interchange with I-
35/80 at NW 26th Street and also provide access to Morningstar Drive.
    The purpose of the NW 26th Street extension is to provide increased 
system continuity between Des Moines, Ankeny, and Polk City, by 
providing a continuous route between IA 5 and IA 415 via NW 26th 
Street, M.L. King Parkway, and Fleur Drive. The proposed corridor 
improvements would relieve north-south traffic congestion on both Merle 
Hay Road and 2nd Avenue. The improvement of NW 26th Street would also 
provide direct access via IA 415 to the Saylorville/Big Creek 
Recreation Area, Polk City, and Ankeny.
    Alternatives under consideration include: (1) Taking no action; (2) 
widening existing roadways; (3) Transportation System Management/
Transportation Demand Management (TSM/TDM) strategies; and, (4) 
constructing a roadway on a new location.
    The build alternative will include consideration of various 
alignments and grades. Letters describing the proposed action and 
soliciting comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and 
local agencies, and to private organizations and citizens who have 
previously expressed or are known to have interest in this proposal. A 
series of public meetings will be held in 2006 and 2007. In addition, a 
public hearing will be held upon completion of the draft EIS. 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 scoping meeting (the initial public meeting) will be held 
identifying significant issues to be addressed in the environmental 
impact statement. The date and location of the scoping meeting have not 
yet been determined but will be advertised in various local media.
    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 or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS 
should be directed to the FHWA or Iowa

[[Page 60605]]

Department of Transportation at the address provided in the caption FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

(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.)

(Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48)

    Dated: October 5, 2006.
Philip E. Barnes,
Division Administrator, FHWA, Iowa Division.
 [FR Doc. E6-17015 Filed 10-12-06; 8:45 am]
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