[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 134 (Friday, July 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40012-40013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15770]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Anchorage, Alaska

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 will be prepared for the proposed Seward 
Highway to Glenn Highway (Highway-to-Highway) project in Anchorage, 
Alaska.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Vanderhoof, Division 
Environmental Coordinator, Federal Highway Administration, Alaska 
Division, 709 West 9th Street, Room 851, Juneau, AK 99802, Phone: 907-
586-7464; Fax: 907-586-7420; e-mail: [email protected] or 
Jerry Ruehle, Central Region Environmental Coordinator; Alaska 
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities; 4111 Aviation 
Drive, Anchorage, AK 99502; Phone: (907) 269-0534; Fax: (907) 243-6927; 
e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA and the Alaska Department of 
Transportation and Public Facilities in cooperation with the 
Municipality of Anchorage, propose to improve the connection between 
the Seward and Glenn Highways (State Route Number 1) in Anchorage, 
Alaska. The facilities needing improvement are part of the National 
Highway System (NHS) and are designated as Interstate Highway Routes. 
The proposed project is identified in the adopted Anchorage 
Metropolitan Area Transportation Solutions' ``Anchorage Bowl Long Range 
Transportation Plan'' (LRTP) (2007). The LRTP conducted extensive 
public involvement and studied the existing transportation problems, 
planned development patterns, and resultant transportation needs in 
Anchorage which led to identification of the Highway-to-Highway project 
in the plan.
    The Highway-to-Highway improvements are considered necessary to 
address capacity, travel demand, safety, and system linkage to major 
destinations and freight mobility on the existing Seward Highway and 
Glenn Highway NHS routes. These NHS routes provide access to major 
employment centers in downtown and midtown Anchorage and major 
intermodal port, rail, and airport facilities. The Seward and Glenn 
Highway NHS routes are divided highways coming into the center of 
Anchorage, which transition to urban arterial streets with connecting 
roads, stop lights, and commercial and residential access. The urban 
arterial segments of the routes are characterized by high travel 
demand, congestion, and resulting safety issues caused by traffic 
levels that have exceeded the capacity of the existing arterial street 
network.
    Alternatives under consideration include: (1) Taking no action; (2) 
transportation system management and transportation demand management; 
(3) transit; (4) connecting the Seward Highway and Glenn Highways on a 
new alignment; (5) upgrading the Seward Highway and Glenn Highway NHS 
routes on their existing alignments; and (6) multi-modal options 
combining elements of alternatives 2 through 5. Incorporated into and 
studied with the various build alternatives will be design variations 
of facility type, number of lanes, grade, and alignment.
    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 project. Coordination with Cooperating 
and Participating Agencies and the public will be conducted in 
accordance with Section 6002 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, 
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), 
23 U.S.C. 139. A coordination plan will be prepared to describe the EIS 
process, identify roles and responsibilities, and explain the project 
schedule and key coordination points. A series of public meetings will 
be held in Anchorage over the course of the project. Formal scoping 
meetings will be held in Anchorage on July 29th and 31st 2008 and an 
agency scoping meeting will be held in mid-August. While the project 
team will take comments throughout the development of the project, 
formal scoping comments should be submitted within 90 days of this 
notice.
    Additional meetings and other opportunities to provide input on the 
project will be provided as the project develops. A public hearing will 
be held on the draft EIS. The draft EIS will be available for public 
and agency review and comment prior to the public

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hearing. Public notice in the Anchorage Daily News will be given of the 
time and place for all public meetings and hearings. Project 
information can be found on the project Web site at http://www.highway2highway.com.
    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 FHWA at the address 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: July 7, 2008.
David C. Miller,
Division Administrator, Alaska Division, FHWA, Juneau, Alaska.
[FR Doc. E8-15770 Filed 7-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P