[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 228 (Monday, November 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 62629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28626]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Wake and Johnston Counties, NC

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
environmental impact statement will be prepared for a proposed project 
in Wake and Johnston Counties, North Carolina.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. George Hoops, P.E., Major Projects 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 310 Bern Avenue, Suite 410, 
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-1418, Telephone: (919) 747-7022.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Title 23, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 771, Environmental Impact and Related Procedures, the 
FHWA, in cooperation with the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA), 
a division of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), 
will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) addressing the 
proposed completion of the Raleigh Outer Loop. The proposed study area 
boundary begins in Wake County at NC 55 in the vicinity of Apex and 
Holly Springs. The boundary extends southward along NC 55 and turns 
eastward to parallel NC 42, crossing into Johnston County near Benson 
Road (NC 50). The boundary turns northward near Clayton, extending to 
US 64/US 264 Bypass, in Knightdale. The study area includes 
southeastern limits of Raleigh and the southern limits of Garner and 
Cary. The proposed action is included in the 2035 Long Range 
Transportation Plan approved by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning 
Organization (CAMPO).
    This project is designated as three projects in the NCDOT State 
Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)--Projects R-2721, R-2828, and 
R-2829. These projects combine to form the southern and eastern 
portions of the Outer Loop around Raleigh and surrounding communities, 
completing the Outer Loop. The northern portion of the Outer Loop is 
open to traffic and the western portion, the Western Wake Freeway, is 
currently under construction. The southern portion of this project is 
proposed to tie into the Western Wake Freeway near Apex. The eastern 
portion of this project is proposed to tie into the northern portion of 
the Outer Loop at the US 64/US 264 Bypass in Knightdale. The EIS for 
the proposed action will consider alternatives that include improving 
existing roadways as well as alternatives that involve building a new 
location facility. Multiple alternative corridors for a new location 
facility may be evaluated. The analysis will also include a range of 
non-highway improvement alternatives, including the ``No-Build'' 
alternative (continuation of the existing condition), expanding transit 
service, transportation demand management (TDM), and transportation 
system management (TSM). As part of the EIS, NCTA will study the 
feasibility and impacts of developing the proposed project as a tolled 
facility.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies. Scoping will 
occur over a series of meetings with the agencies and citizens 
informational workshops with the public. Information on the dates, 
times, and locations of the citizens informational workshops will be 
advertised in the local news media, and newsletters will be mailed to 
those on the project mailing list. If you wish to be placed on the 
mailing list, contact Jennifer Harris at the address listed below. The 
Draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment 
prior to the public hearing.
    To ensure the full range of issues related to the proposed action 
are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and 
suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments and 
questions concerning the proposed action should be directed to the FHWA 
at the address provided above or directed to: Ms. Jennifer Harris, 
P.E., Staff Engineer, North Carolina Turnpike Authority, at 5400 
Glenwood Avenue, Suite 400, Raleigh, North Carolina 27612. Telephone: 
(919) 571-3000. E-mail: [email protected].

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation of Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)

    Issued on: November 23, 2009.
George Hoops,
 Major Projects Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Raleigh, 
North Carolina.
[FR Doc. E9-28626 Filed 11-27-09; 8:45 am]
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