[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17412-17413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6607]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: San Benito County and Santa Clara 
County, California

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA, on behalf of the California Department of 
Transportation (Caltrans), is issuing this notice to advise the public 
that a TIER I Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for 
a proposed highway project and route adoption study in San Benito and 
Santa Clara Counties, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bobi Lyon-Ritter, Senior Environmental 
Planner, Sierra Pacific Environmental Analysis Branch, Caltrans, 2015 
E. Shields Avenue, Suite 100, Fresno, California 93726 or call (559) 
243-8178.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Effective July 1, 2007, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) 
assigned, and the Caltrans assumed, environmental responsibilities for 
this project pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327. Caltrans will prepare a Tier I 
EIS on a proposal for the eventual conversion of approximately 11 miles 
of the existing State Route 25 from two-lane conventional highway to a 
four-lane expressway in San Benito and Santa Clara counties in 
California. This TIER I EIS includes both a route adoption, which is a 
locational decision for future highways, and a proposed construction 
project within a portion of the proposed route adoption.
    The route adoption extends from San Felipe Road within the City of 
Hollister (post mile 51.5) to the San Benito/Santa Clara County line 
(post mile 60.1) and on to the end of State Route 25 at U.S. 101 south 
of the City of Gilroy (post miles 0.0/2.56 in Santa Clara County).
    Five alternatives are under consideration: Alternative 1 and 
Alternative 2 are route adoption alignments, and Alternative A and 
Alternative B are proposed build alternatives. The No Action 
alternative will also be considered.
    Alternative 1 and Alternative 2, the route adoption alternatives, 
are approximately 11 miles long, and share the same alignment from the 
bend in Route 25 approximately 1.7 miles south of Shore Road (post mile 
56.1) in San Benito County to U.S. 101 in Santa Clara County. Between 
the east end of the proposed project at San Felipe Road and post mile 
56.1 in San Benito County the

[[Page 17413]]

two alignment alternatives separate. Alternative 1 proposes to align 
the future four-lane expressway to the east (or north) of the existing 
two-lane north/south highway. Alternative 2 would be aligned to the 
west (or south) of the existing two-lane highway.
    Both route adoption alternatives would accommodate a future:
     342 foot wide four-lane expressway with a 62 foot median 
and frontage roads on either one or both sides.
     Interchange to replace the Route 25/Route 156 at-grade 
intersection.
     Route 25/Route 101 interchange to replace and be located 
north of the existing interchange.
    As well as:
     New bridges over Carnadero Creek and the Pajaro River.
     New overheads to cross over the Union Pacific Railroad 
Hollister branch line and the Union Pacific main line just east of 
US101.
    Alternative A and Alternative B, the build alternatives, would 
extend 3.8 miles in San Benito County, from San Felipe Road (post mile 
51.5) to just west of Hudner Lane (post mile 55.3). Unlike the route 
adoption alternatives, the build alternatives propose a realigned and 
widened at-grade intersection at Route 25 and Route 156 instead of an 
interchange. Both construction alternatives would transition back to 
the existing two-lane highway near Hudner Lane.
    Alternative A would be constructed at the southeastern end of the 
Alternative 1 route adoption alignment. Direct access to the expressway 
would be available from San Felipe Road, Wright Road, Flynn Road, two 
new west-side frontage roads, SR 156, and one new east-side frontage 
road. An undercrossing at the Don Chapin gravel operation driveway 
would provide access to this otherwise landlocked parcel.
    Alternative B would be constructed at the southeastern end of the 
Alternative 2 route adoption alignment. Direct access to the expressway 
would be available from San Felipe Road, Wright Road, Briggs Road, two 
new west-side frontage roads, SR 156, and one new east-side frontage 
road.
    The No Action Alternative would result in no action being taken and 
no further improvements would be made to State Route 25 within the 
Route Adoption limits other than those already programmed/funded or 
under construction. Improvements at the San Felipe Road/State Route 25 
intersection are currently under construction in 2008 as part of the 
Route 25 Hollister Bypass Project. It is anticipated that work will 
begin early in 2009 on the Route 25 Safety and Operations Enhancement 
Project and will be completed by early 2010. Work will begin just south 
of Hudner Lane (post mile 55.1) and end just south of the Union Pacific 
Railroad Crossing (post mile 60.0) in San Benito County. Roadway 
widening will consist of two-10' outside shoulders, two-12' traveled 
lanes, two-5' inside shoulders and placement of a temporary concrete 
median barrier. Rumble strips will be installed on all inside and 
outside shoulders. Hudner Lane and Shore Road intersections will be 
improved.
    No Federal permits or approvals would be needed for either of the 
two route adoption alternatives or the two build alternatives. Future 
TIER II environmental documents for build projects proposed within the 
remaining segment of the route adoption alignment may require a section 
404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; a section 7 
Biological Opinion from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and a 
section 401 Permit from the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
    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. In addition, a newsletter will 
be mailed separately, and updated information will be available on the 
project Web site http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/paffairs/hwy25widening/index.htm.
    A public scoping meeting will be held on April 3, 2008 from 4:30 to 
6:30 p.m. at R. O. Hardin Elementary School in Hollister, California to 
provide additional opportunities for public input on the proposed 
project.
    Public outreach for the proposed project and preparation of an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) was initiated in 2001. A Public 
Information Meeting was held in December 2003. In December 2007 
Caltrans decided to prepare a Tier I EIS instead of an EA. This 
document type gives Caltrans the ability to both secure an adopted 
route (locational decision for planning purposes) and to propose a 
stand-alone construction project for a segment of the adopted route.
    Significant impacts to farmland are anticipated.
    The public hearing will be held during circulation of the 
environmental document, which is expected to occur in Fall 2008. A 
Public Notice will be issued to announce the time and place of the 
hearing. The TIER I 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 related to this proposed 
action 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 Caltrans 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: March 25, 2008.
Nancy Bobb,
Director, State Programs, Federal Highway Administration, Sacramento, 
California.
 [FR Doc. E8-6607 Filed 3-31-08; 8:45 am]
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