[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 88 (Friday, May 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 25309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10770]



[[Page 25309]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Cook County, IL

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 (EIS) will be prepared for the 75th 
Street Corridor Improvement Project, which involves construction of new 
railroad main tracks, two new rail flyover bridges, and a new rail/
roadway grade separation structure within existing rail corridors in 
the cities of Chicago and Hometown, Cook County, Illinois.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norman R. Stoner, P.E., Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Springfield, Illinois 
62703, Phone: (217) 492-4600. George Weber, Chief, Bureau of Railroads, 
Illinois Department of Transportation, 100 W Randolph Street, Suite 6-
600, Chicago, Illinois 60601-3229, Phone: (312) 793-4222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Illinois 
Department of Transportation, Bureau of Railroads, will prepare an EIS 
on a proposal to reconfigure freight and passenger rail tracks within 
an existing approximately 12-mile corridor generally centered along 
75th Street in south Chicago. The proposed project comprises several 
elements of the overall Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation 
Efficiency Program (CREATE), a joint effort of the Illinois Department 
of Transportation, the Chicago Department of Transportation, and the 
Association of American Railroads to restructure, modernize, and expand 
freight and passenger rail facilities and highway grade separations in 
the Chicago metropolitan area. Alternative configurations of rail 
flyovers and track realignments will be considered and refined. The no-
action alternative will also be evaluated. A preferred alternative will 
be presented at a public hearing. Preliminary measures to minimize 
harm, construction cost estimates, and estimated right-of-way and 
relocation requirements will also be developed.
    The proposed action will reduce rail congestion and delays by 
eliminating conflicts between four freight railroads and two passenger 
railroads operating in the corridor, improve roadway safety by 
eliminating an existing at-grade roadway crossing, and allow passenger 
rail access from the Metra Southwest Service to the LaSalle Street 
Station, thereby reducing congestion at Union Station. The project area 
consists of urban residential and industrial land uses, so no natural 
resource impacts are anticipated. Potential impacts may include 
residential relocations, effects on community cohesion and travel 
patterns, impacts to publicly-owned parks, and impacts to properties 
potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic 
Places. There is also the potential for noise and air quality impacts.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed, and all substantive issues are identified, this 
project is being developed using the principles of Context Sensitive 
Solutions per the Illinois Department of Transportation's Policies and 
Procedures. A Stakeholder Involvement Plan (SIP) will be developed that 
will detail the public involvement activities that will be conducted as 
part of this study, and will address the Coordination Plan requirements 
of 23 U.S.C. 139(g) within the context of the NEPA process. Under the 
SIP, an interdisciplinary Project Study Group will be formed to develop 
the project, and a Community Advisory Group will be formed to provide 
input to the study process. As part of the EIS process, a scoping 
meeting for obtaining input from Resource Agencies will be held on June 
11, 2010. Public informational meetings, focus meetings with 
stakeholders, a public hearing, newsletters, a project Web site and 
interest group meetings will provide opportunities for public 
involvement. The project's Draft EIS will be available for public and 
agency review prior to the public hearing. The time and location of the 
public hearing will be announced in local newspapers. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the Draft EIS should be 
directed to FHWA or the Illinois Department of Transportation at the 
addresses provided above.

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

    Issued on: April 28, 2010.
Norman R. Stoner,
Division Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-10770 Filed 5-6-10; 8:45 am]
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