[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 193 (Thursday, October 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60726-60727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-21750]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Rescission of the Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Route 2/2A/32 Corridor Improvements Project, 
New London County, Connecticut

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of 
Transportation (CTDOT) is issuing this Notice to advise the public that 
we are rescinding the June 3, 1996, Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Route 2/2A/32 Project 
in New London County, Connecticut. We are rescinding the NOI because a 
substantial amount of time has passed since its publication and there 
is a need to re-evaluate traffic growth and congestion in the region.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy D. Jackson-Grove, Division 
Administrator, FHWA, Connecticut Division, 450 Main Street, Suite 612, 
CT 06103; Telephone: (860) 659-6703.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, as the lead Federal Agency, in 
cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), 
as the joint lead agency and local project sponsor, published an NOI in 
the Federal Register on June 3, 1996, at 61 FR 27945, to prepare an EIS 
on a proposal for transportation improvements within the Connecticut 
Route 2/2a/32 (CT 2/2A/32) corridor in the towns of Norwich, Preston, 
Ledyard, North Stonington, Stonington, Montville, New London, 
Connecticut.
    The purpose of the proposed project was to identify transportation 
improvements to relieve existing and predicted traffic congestion and 
improve safety on the Route 2 and 2A corridors, along with associated 
state routes that intersect with Route 2. The study area extended from 
Westerly, Rhode Island, northwest to Norwich, CT, and south to New 
London, CT. The Draft EIS was completed and considered a range of 
alternatives that included: (1) No Action; (2) commuter rail service 
along the New England Central Rail line combined with transit service 
(light rail or monorail) between Norwich, CT and Westerly, RI; (3) bus 
service between Norwich and Westerly along (in part) a dedicated 
busway; (4) a bypass of Route 2A; (5) widening Route 2 and upgrading 
Routes 32 and 164; (6) and a bypass of Route 2 in North Stonington. 
Each

[[Page 60727]]

alternative was evaluated for impacts to cultural and natural 
resources, socioeconomic concerns, visual and scenic resources, 
hazardous materials, existing land use, and local/regional 
transportation needs.
    The Final EIS (FEIS) identified a Preferred Alternative, which was 
a refinement of DEIS Alternative E (listed as #5 above). This included 
adding capacity to the Route 2A Bridge by adding a second, parallel, 2-
lane bridge crossing the Thames River; a bypass of Route 2A; widening 
Route 2 in Preston; and upgrading Route 2 in North Stonington. A Record 
of Decision (ROD) was not finalized and a ROD was not published in the 
Federal Register.
    The decision to rescind the NOI is based on the age of the studies 
conducted in support of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and 
the need to re-assess transportation demand within the corridor. 
Following completion of a new corridor study, FHWA and CTDOT will 
initiate new NEPA studies, as appropriate, to assess the potential 
environmental impacts of future actions that involve the study area. 
Any future project proposed within this corridor will comply with 
environmental review requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act ((NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)), FHWA environmental regulations 
(23 CFR part 771), and related authorities prior to issuance of a ROD 
or other NEPA decision, as appropriate. Comments and questions 
concerning this action should be directed to FHWA at the address 
provided 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.)
    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 23 CFR part 771.

Amy D. Jackson-Grove,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-21750 Filed 10-5-22; 8:45 am]
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