[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60748-60749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23805]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice of Availability of the Mid County Parkway Draft 
Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement

DATE: October 2008.
AGENCY: United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway 
Administration.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of a Draft Environmental Impact 
Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC), the 
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and California Department of 
Transportation (Caltrans) announce the availability of the Mid County 
Parkway (MCP) Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIR/EIS) that evaluates the environmental effects of the 
proposed MCP project. The MCP project will construct a new west-east 
parkway between Interstate 15 (I-15) on the west and State Route 79 
(SR-79) on the east which will provide a direct and continuous route 
connecting existing and planned major population/employment centers in 
the County of Riverside and the cities of Corona, Perris, and San 
Jacinto, a distance of approximately 51 kilometers (km) (32 miles 
[mi]). The project alternatives consist of five Build Alternatives (4, 
5, 6, 7 and 9) and two No Build Alternatives (1A and 1B).

DATES: The comment period for the MCP Draft EIR/EIS will end 60 days 
after publication of the NOA in the Federal Register. The RCTC is 
hosting public informational meetings to provide the public with 
information about the Draft EIR/EIS. The public informational meetings 
will be held on October 28, 29, & 30, 2008 at the following locations, 
respectively: Eagle Glen Golf Course, 1800 Eagle Glen Parkway, Corona 
CA 92883; Perris Senior Center, 100 North D Street, Perris, CA 92570; 
and Valley Wide Recreation and Park District--Sport Center Meeting 
Room, 901 West Esplanade Avenue, San Jacinto, CA 92581. At these ``open 
house'' style meetings, you may attend anytime between 6 p.m. and 8 
p.m. to view informational displays and the Draft EIR/EIS. The MCP 
project team will be available to discuss your questions, comments, and 
suggestions, one-on-one, regarding the proposed project.
    In addition, the RCTC is holding two formal public hearings to 
accept public comments. These public hearings will be held on November 
6, 2008 at 6 p.m. at the Perris City Council Chambers, 101 North D 
Street, Perris CA 92570 and November 12, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. at the 
RCTC--Board Room, 4080 Lemon Street, Main Floor, Riverside, CA 92501.
    Contact/Address: Comments on the MCP Draft EIR/EIS can be mailed to 
the following addresses: Ms. Cathy Bechtel at RCTC, 4080 Lemon Street, 
3rd Floor, Riverside, CA 92502 and/or Mr. Tay Dam, FHWA, 650 Capitol 
Mall, Suite 4-100, Sacramento, CA 95814, or via e-mail at: 
midcountyparkway.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cathy Bechtel at RCTC: (951) 787-
7141, or Mr. Tay Dam at FHWA: (213) 605-2013.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MCP Draft EIR/EIS evaluates the 
environmental and socioeconomic effects of constructing and 
implementing the proposed MCP project. The purpose of the proposed MCP 
project is to provide a transportation parkway that would effectively 
and efficiently accommodate regional west-east movement of people and 
goods between and through Corona, Perris, and San Jacinto. The proposed 
MCP project is subject to federal, as well as local and State, 
environmental review requirements because the RCTC proposes the use of 
federal funds from the FHWA and/or the project requires a FHWA approval 
action. Project documentation, therefore, has been prepared in 
compliance with both the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The RCTC is the 
project proponent and the lead agency under CEQA. Because of

[[Page 60749]]

FHWA funding and/or approval, FHWA is lead agency under NEPA, with the 
Caltrans acting as its liaison and providing oversight for the NEPA 
process. Some potential project impacts determined to be significant 
under CEQA may not be considered significant under NEPA.
    After comments are received from the public and reviewing agencies, 
the RCTC and the FHWA may undertake additional environmental and/or 
engineering studies. A Final EIR/EIS will include responses to comments 
received on the Draft EIR/EIS. Following preparation of the Final EIR/
EIS, if the decision is made to approve the project, a Notice of 
Determination will be published for compliance with CEQA and a Record 
of Decision will be published for compliance with NEPA.
    The MCP Alternatives evaluated in the Draft EIR/EIS include five 
Build Alternatives (4, 5, 6, 7 and 9) and two No Build Alternatives (1A 
and 1B). At its regular meeting of September 12, 2007, the RCTC Board 
approved identification of Alternative 9 with the Temescal Wash Design 
Variation (TWS DV) as the locally preferred alternative for the MCP 
project. However, the final selection of an alternative will not be 
made until after the consideration of public comments on the Draft EIR/
EIS, and before approval of the Final EIR/EIS.
    Alternative 1A represents 2035 traffic on the planned street 
network except for future improvements to Cajalco Road and Ramona 
Expressway, which would remain as they exist today. Construction of the 
MCP project would not be implemented with the No Project/No Action 
Alternative 1A. The future west-east traffic described in the study 
area would be served by the existing Cajalco Road and El Sobrante Road 
between I-15 and Interstate 215 (I-215) and by the existing Ramona 
Expressway between I-215 and SR-79. This alternative assumes 2035 land 
use conditions and implementation of planned improvements to the 
regional and local circulation system as accounted for in the adopted 
Riverside County General Plan (2003), RCTC's Measure A program, and 
other adopted plans and policies.
    Alternative 1B represents 2035 traffic levels on the planned street 
network, according to the Circulation Element of the Riverside County 
General Plan. Construction of the MCP project would not be implemented 
with No Project/No Action Alternative 1B. This alternative is the same 
as Alternative 1A but includes the implementation of Cajalco Road and 
Ramona Expressway improvements consistent with the Riverside County 
General Plan Circulation Element.
    Alternative 4 is a six-to eight-lane limited access parkway 
alternative. Alternative 4 is located south of Lake Mathews and follows 
a northerly alignment through Perris. This alternative would be located 
south of the existing Cajalco Road west of Lake Mathews Drive and 
located north of Ramona Expressway from I-215 to the Perris Drain, from 
where it follows the Perris Drain on an elevated structure southerly to 
Placentia Avenue. From that point, Alternative 4 continues east through 
the McCanna Hills, where it follows Ramona Expressway. Alternative 4 
would connect to system-to-system interchanges at I-15, I-215, and SR-
79.
    Alternative 5 is a six-to eight-lane limited access parkway 
alternative. Alternative 5 is located south of Lake Mathews and follows 
a southerly alignment through Perris. This alternative is located south 
of the existing Cajalco Road west of Lake Mathews Drive and is located 
south of Ramona Expressway from I-215 (following Rider Street and 
Placentia Avenue) to just west of Antelope Road. From that point, 
Alternative 5 continues east where it follows Ramona Expressway. 
Alternative 5 would connect to system-to-system interchanges at I-15, 
I-215, and SR-79.
    Alternative 6 involves the implementation of arterial improvements 
included in the Riverside County General Plan west of El Sobrante, 
including a six-lane arterial north of Lake Mathews and a four-lane 
limited access expressway south of Lake Mathews. East of El Sobrante, 
this alternative is the same as Alternative 4 described above, 
providing a new six-to eight-lane limited access parkway. The proposed 
arterial street improvements north and south of Lake Mathews are 
consistent with the Riverside County General Plan Circulation Element 
and generally follow the alignments shown in the General Plan.
    Alternative 7 involves the implementation of arterial improvements 
included in the Riverside County General Plan west of El Sobrante, 
including a six-lane arterial north of Lake Mathews, a four-lane 
limited-access expressway south of Lake Mathews. East of El Sobrante, 
this alternative is the same as Alternative 5 described above, 
providing a new six-to eight-lane limited access parkway. The proposed 
arterial street improvements north and south of Lake Mathews are 
consistent with the Riverside County General Plan Circulation Element 
and generally follow the alignments shown in the General Plan.
    Alternative 9 is a four-to six-lane controlled access parkway 
between I-15 and Old Elsinore Road, south of Lake Mathews and Mead 
Valley. The alternative is aligned south of Metropolitan Habitat 
Conservation Plan Reserve lands and traverses the Gavilan Hills area. 
From Old Elsinore Road to the I-215 interchange, Alternative 9 is a 
six-to eight-lane controlled access parkway. East of I-215, Alternative 
9 follows Placentia Avenue; east of Evans Road, it follows a common 
alignment with Alternatives 4-7 through McCanna Hills and along Ramona 
Expressway. Alternative 9 is a six-to eight-lane controlled-access 
parkway between I-215 and SR-79. Alternative 9 would connect to system-
to-system interchanges at I-15, I-215, and SR-79.
    The Draft EIR/EIS and technical studies are available for viewing 
at the following locations during regular business hours: (1) RCTC, 
4080 Lemon Street, 3rd Floor, Riverside, CA 92502; (2) FHWA, 650 
Capitol Mall, Suite 4-100, Sacramento, CA 95814; (3) Caltrans District 
8 Office --6th Floor, 464 W. 4th St., San Bernardino, CA 92401; (4) 
City of Corona--Public Works Department, 400 South Vicentia Avenue, 2nd 
Floor, Suite 210, Corona, CA 92882; (5) Corona Public Library, 650 S. 
Main St., Corona, CA 92882; (6) Perris Public Library, 163 E. San 
Jacinto Ave., Perris, CA 92507; (7) San Jacinto Public Library, 500 
Idyllwild Dr., San Jacinto, CA 92583; (8) Woodcrest Library, 16625 
Krameria, Riverside, CA 92504; and (9) Hemet Library, 300 E. Latham 
Avenue, Hemet, CA 92543. You may also view and comment on the Draft 
EIR/EIS at http://www.midcountyparkway.org.

    Issued on: October 2, 2008.
Nancy E. Bobb,
Director of State Programs, Major Projects Program Manager, Federal 
Highway Administration, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 4-100, Sacramento, CA 
95814.
 [FR Doc. E8-23805 Filed 10-10-08; 8:45 am]
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