[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 167 (Monday, August 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53705-53706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21968]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice To Rescind a Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS), Ada County, ID

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Rescind notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that the Notice of Intent (NOI) published 
on January 13, 2004, at 69 FR 2040, to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for a proposed highway project in Ada County, Idaho is 
being rescinded.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Peter Hartman, Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, 3050 Lakeharbor Lane, 
Suite 126, Boise, ID 83703, Telephone: (208) 334-9180, ext. 116, or Mr. 
Wade Christiansen, District 3 Project Manager, Idaho Transportation

[[Page 53706]]

Department, District 3, P.O. Box 8028, Boise, ID 83714-8028, Telephone: 
(208) 334-8300, or Lisa Applebee, Three Cities River Crossing Project 
Manager, Ada County Highway District, 318 East 37th Street, Garden 
City, ID 83714, telephone (208) 387-6100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The FHWA, in cooperation with Ada County Highway District (ACHD) 
and the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), are rescinding the NOI 
to prepare an EIS that identifies an alignment for a transportation 
corridor that would connect State Highway 44/55 on the north with US 
20/26 on the south. The proposed highway alternatives vary from 
approximately 1.5 to 3.0 miles in length and would provide four to six 
travel lanes. This alignment includes a new bridge across the Boise 
River. The study area is located in the northwestern part of the Boise 
Metropolitan Area, and borders or passes through portions of the cities 
of Boise, Eagle and Garden City as well as Ada County.
    The NOI is being rescinded because the project scope has been 
changed and potential impacts from the new concept are not significant 
and do not warrant an EIS. Recommendations for improvements along this 
corridor are identified in the regional long-range transportation plan, 
``Communities in Motion,'' prepared by the Boise-Nampa Metropolitan 
Planning Organization, Community Planning Association of Southwest 
Idaho (COMPASS) as revised and adopted by the COMPASS board in 
September 2010. The project was initiated with several concepts derived 
from previous planning efforts. Then a wide range of route options were 
initially developed for evaluation in the Corridor Preservation Study.
    Public input, agency, and stakeholder coordination was conducted to 
solicit comments on the proposed action purpose and need, route options 
being considered and the alternative screening process. Public meetings 
were held on February 9, 2004, February 12, 2004, April 21, 2004 
November 29, 2005, and December 1, 2005.
    Six alternatives were advanced to the Draft EIS (DEIS) where more 
in-depth analysis was completed.
    The DEIS was released for public review and comment on January 17, 
2008. A Notice of Availability (NOA) was published in the Federal 
Register on January 18, 2008, at 73 FR 3464. A public hearing was held 
on February 13, 2008.
    After the public hearing and comment period, ACHD reconsidered the 
Preferred Alternative on July 21, 2010, and recommended a No-Build 
Alternative for the project. The basis for this decision centered on 
consideration of environmental and transportation planning factors in 
combination with the technical comments received on the DEIS. In 
cooperation with the FHWA and ITD, the ACHD had determined that 
improvements to existing roadways utilizing operational improvements 
that include intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technology such 
as closed caption television cameras, speed detectors, and other 
hardware and software improvements would meet project goals without 
exceeding available revenue. This alternative is anticipated to have no 
adverse impact on the human and natural environment.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action and all relevant issues are identified, comments and suggestions 
are invited from all interested parties regarding this action to 
rescind the NOI. Comments or questions concerning this proposed action 
should be directed to the ACHD at the addresses provided above. 
Comments must be received by September 28, 2011.

    Issued on: August 23, 2011.
Ghassan G. Shanine,
Assistant Division Administrator, FHWA--Idaho Division.
[FR Doc. 2011-21968 Filed 8-26-11; 8:45 am]
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