Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the El Camino Real Roadway Renewal Project, in San Mateo County, California
| Published date | 14 June 2021 |
| Record Number | 2021-12342 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Federal Highway Administration |
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 112 (Monday, June 14, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 112 (Monday, June 14, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31548-31549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12342]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for the El Camino Real Roadway Renewal Project, in San Mateo
County, California
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (Draft EIS) for the El Camino Real Roadway Renewal Project.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), on behalf of the
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), is issuing this
notice to advise the public that a Draft EIS is available for the El
Camino Real Roadway Renewal Project (ECR Project), a proposed highway
project on State Route 82 in San Mateo County, California.
DATES: This notice will be accompanied by a minimum 45-day public
comment period from June 18, 2021, to August 2, 2021. The deadline for
public comments is 5:00 p.m. (PST) on August 2, 2021. Caltrans will be
holding an online meeting on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 from 5:30 to 7:30
p.m. In addition, an on-site public meeting will be held on Friday,
July 16, 2021 at the Burlingame High School Athletic Field, 1 Mangini
Way, Burlingame, California 94010 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The link to
the online meeting will be on the project website: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/d4-san-mateo-82-el-camino-real-project or www.ElCaminoRealProject.com. Through the project website,
the public will be able to link to a downloadable version of the Draft
EIS, view ECR Project exhibits and simulations of the Build and No
Build Alternatives, and access links to previous public outreach
materials and presentations. Questions or comments during the online
meeting will not be considered public comments on the Draft EIS, but
comments will be accepted separately in writing through email at
[email protected] or USPS at the address below. Comments received
in writing during the public comment period will become part of the ECR
Project administrative record and will be addressed in the Final EIS,
scheduled for Spring 2022.
The ECR Project setting includes, but is not limited to, the
Howard-Ralston Eucalyptus Tree Rows, and other historic resources in
the project area that are on, or eligible for, the National Register of
Historic Places.
The Draft EIS will disclose the range of alternatives considered,
those that were eliminated from further study, and the Build
Alternative being considered along with the No Build Alternative. The
Draft EIS will summarize the public scoping process, a summary of the
public comments received, and
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information inclusive of those comments. The Draft EIS will disclose
potential impacts, including cumulative impacts to environmental
resources; avoidance and minimization measures to reduce potential
impacts, and proposed mitigation measures to offset environmental
impacts.
A public notice of availability for the Draft EIS will be printed
in a local newspaper, a copy of which will also be available on the
project website. In addition, notifications, such as E-blasts, will be
distributed to the public based on information collected during the
Notice of Intent (NOI) public scoping process and other outreach
efforts, including city, county, and state officials with jurisdiction
in the project area. The newspaper ad, E-blasts, and project website
will provide information on the on-site and online public meetings. The
project website is: www.ElCaminoRealProject.com or https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/d4-san-mateo-82-el-camino-real-project.
The public can submit formal comments on the ECR Project Draft EIS
through email at [email protected], or via USPS at the contact
information listed below.
To request the DEIS in alternative formats or alternative language
translation services, please call or leave a voicemail message with
Alejandro Lopez, Public Information Officer, at (510) 385-6856.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Caltrans: Contact Yolanda Rivas,
Senior Environmental Planner, Caltrans District 4, P.O. Box 23660, MS-
8B, Oakland, CA 94623-0660, telephone (510) 506-1461, or email
[email protected]. For FHWA, contact David Tedrick, telephone
(916) 498-5024, or email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective July 1, 2007, the FHWA assigned,
and Caltrans assumed, environmental responsibilities for this project
pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327. Caltrans as the assigned National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) agency, has prepared a Draft EIS on a
proposal for 3.6-mile roadway rehabilitation project in San Mateo
County, California. The project limits extend from East Santa Inez
Avenue in the City of San Mateo to Millbrae Avenue in the City of
Millbrae.
The project is needed to address the overall condition of the
existing roadway by correcting the following deficiencies: The pavement
is currently rated as poor, with moderate alligator cracking and very
poor ride quality indicating roadway structural inadequacy; water
ponding, and frequent localized flooding occurs due to uneven roadway
surfaces and inadequate or impacted drainage systems; pedestrian access
is impaired due to lack of updated curb ramps and uneven sidewalks;
pedestrian infrastructure is not compliant with state and federal
Americans with Disabilities Act requirements; existing sidewalks lack
accessible pedestrian signals (APS) systems, countdown pedestrian
systems (CPS), high-visibility striping, or current devices; and
pavement markings.
The purpose of the project is to preserve and extend the life of
the roadway and improve ride quality, improve drainage efficiency to
reduce localized flooding, improve visibility for all users, and
enhance pedestrian infrastructure by bringing it into compliance with
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Draft EIS is considering either taking no action (No Build
Alternative) on the 3.6-mile segment of El Camino Real, or proceeding
with the Build Alternative with Design Option. The Build Alternative
with Design Option would rehabilitate the roadway; upgrade roadway
drainage facilities to address localized flooding; and replace
sidewalks, install curb ramps, and upgrade traffic signals to meet ADA
requirements. The Design Option includes the possibility of keeping
utilities overhead or relocating them underground. The potential
environmental effects under either option are disclosed in the Draft
EIS. Avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures are also
discussed in the Draft EIS.
The only anticipated Federal approval includes a permit under the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Other Federal
administrative activities include coordination with the Department of
the Interior under Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act
(1966) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation under Section
106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (1966).
Since June 2019, Caltrans has been in consultation under Section
106 of the National Historic Preservation Act to evaluate potential
effects to the Howard-Ralston Eucalyptus Tree Rows, a historic property
listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and to
evaluate potential effects to other historic properties determined
eligible for the NRHP. Notifications have been sent to appropriate
State, tribal governments, local agencies, private organizations, and
citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have interest in
this proposal.
The project team anticipates reviewing all public comments received
during the public comment period. The Draft EIS, which was approved on
June 3, 2021, will be available for public and agency review and
comment prior to the public meetings to ensure that the full range of
issues related to this proposed action are addressed and all
significant issues are identified, and comments and suggestions are
received from interested parties. Caltrans will respond to all the
public comments received in writing during the public comment period in
the Final EIS, expected in Spring 2022.
Following circulation for public review and consideration of
comments received, Caltrans will issue a combined Final EIS and Record
of Decision document unless statutory criteria or practicability
considerations preclude such issuance. Comments or questions concerning
this proposed action and the Draft EIS should be directed to Caltrans
at the address indicated above for further information.
(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.)
Issued on: June 8, 2021.
Rodney Whitfield,
Director, Financial Services, Federal Highway Administration,
California Division.
[FR Doc. 2021-12342 Filed 6-11-21; 8:45 am]
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