Environmental statements; availability, etc.: Denver, Arapahoe, and Douglas Counties, CO,

[Federal Register: August 20, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 161)]

[Notices]

[Page 45584-45585]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr20au99-138]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration Federal Transit Administration

Draft Environmental Impact Statement; Denver, Arapahoe, and Douglas Counties

AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the FHWA and FTA, in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Regional Transportation District (RTD), have jointly prepared a Draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for proposed transportation improvements in the Southeast Corridor of the Denver, Colorado metropolitan area. The project is within the municipalities of Denver, Arapahoe and Douglas Counties. The Draft EIS identifies a preferred alternative and the associated environmental impacts of the proposed preferred alternative. Interested citizens are invited to review the Draft EIS and submit comments. Copies of the Draft EIS may be obtained by telephoning or writing the contact person listed below under Addresses. Public reading copies of the Draft EIS are available at the locations listed under Supplementary Information.

DATES: A 45-day public review period will begin on August 20, 1999 and conclude on October 5, 1999. Written comments on the scope of the alternatives and impacts to be considered must be received by CDOT by October 4, 1999. Public hearings to receive oral comments on the Draft EIS will be held in two locations in Denver. See Supplementary Information section for hearing dates and locations.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Draft EIS should be addressed to Jim Bumanglag, Project Manager, Colorado Department of Transportation, Southeast Corridor, 4201 East Arkansas, Denver, CO 80222. Requests for a copy of the Draft EIS may be addressed to Mr. Bumanglag at the address above. Please see Supplementary Information section for a listing of the available documents and formats in which they may be

[[Page 45585]]

obtained. Copies of the Draft EIS are also available for public inspection and review. See Supplementary Information section for locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request copies of the Draft EIS or for additional information, contact: Mr. Vincent P. Barone, FHWA Colorado Division, 555 Zang Street, Room 250, Denver, CO 80228, Telephone (303) 969-6730, extension 369; or Mr. David L. Beckhouse, FTA Region VIII, 216 16th Street Mall, Suite 650, Denver, CO 80202, Telephone (303) 844-3242

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Hearing Dates and Locations:

‹bullet› Thursday, September 9, 1999, Most Precious Blood Catholic School, 2250 South Harrison Street, Denver, CO 80237, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

‹bullet› Thursday, September 16, 1999, Calvary Baptist Church, 6500 East Girard Avenue, Denver, CO 80224, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Copies of the Draft EIS, supporting technical reports and engineering plan sheets are available in hard copy format for public inspection at:

‹bullet› CDOT Region 6 Office, 2000 South Holly Street, Denver, CO 80222, 303-757-9372

‹bullet› CDOT Environmental Services, 1325 S. Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80222, 303-757-9259

‹bullet› RTD Administrative Services, 1600 Blake Street, Denver, CO 80202, 303-299-2484

‹bullet› Denver Public Library, 10 West 14th Avenue, Denver, CO 80203, 303-640-6220

‹bullet› Castlewood Public Library, 6739 South Uinta Street, Denver, CO 80237, 303-771-3197

‹bullet› Southeast Corridor Project Office (Carter & Burgess), 216 16th Street Mall, Suite 1700, Denver CO 80202, 303-820-5278

The Draft EIS evaluated a No-Action, and a Preliminary Preferred Alternative (including transportation management solutions) in the I-25 Southeast Corridor study limits from Broadway to Lincoln Avenue, which includes I-225 from I-25 to Parker Road, and determined the estimated costs and potential impacts associated with each. CDOT was the local lead agency for the preparation of the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS satisfies the requirements of the 1999 Clean Air Act Amendments.

The FHWA, the FTA, the CDOT, the RTD and other local agencies invite interested individuals, organizations, and Federal, State and local agencies to comment on the identified preferred alternative and associated social, economic, or environmental impacts related to the alternatives.

The preferred alternative is consistent with the Southeast Corridor Major Investment Study completed in July, 1997. It begins at approximately I-25 and Broadway and proceeds south and southeast to Lincoln Avenue following the general alignment of I-25. Also included is a segment along I-225 from I-25 to Parker Road. The preferred alternative excludes any proposed roadway improvements near I-25 from 6th Avenue to approximately the Logan Street crossing including the I- 25 interchanges at Alameda, Santa Fe, and Broadway. The primary purpose of the Southeast Corridor Multi-Modal Project is to improve travel time and enhance safety along these two transportation corridors, while causing the least disruption to neighboring residents and businesses. The Southeast Corridor is the most heavily congested corridor on a daily basis, in the State of Colorado. It has been the focus of study for twenty years. These studies have consistently recommended that improvements be made to the highway system and to the provision of public transit.

The alternatives evaluated in the Draft EIS include the following:

1. The No-Action alternative served as the baseline for environmental analysis and consists of the existing transit and highway systems and all projects contained in the federally approved Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the Denver metropolitan area.

2. The Preliminary Preferred Alternative generally used the I-25 right-of-way between Broadway and Lincoln Avenue, and the I-225 right- of-way between I-25 and Parker. There are 17.9 miles of double tracked light rail transit beginning at the existing Broadway Station and ending at Lincoln Avenue on the west side of I-25. Light rail will also be added to the median of I-225, from I-25 to the existing Nine Mile Park-n-Ride. There will be thirteen stations. Improvements to I-25 and I-225 consist of one additional lane in each direction on I-25 from Logan Avenue to I-225, two additional lanes in each direction on I-25 from I-225 to C-470/E-470 and one additional lane in each direction on I-225 from I-25 to Yosemite. This alternative is designed to accommodate future transportation needs and includes improvements to the highway, transportation systems management, and pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the study area.

The FHWA, the FTA, the CDOT and the RTD evaluated all significant social, economic, and environmental impacts of the alternatives. The primary areas of examination included transit ridership, the capital outlays needed to construct the recommended alternative, the cost of operating and maintaining facilities created by the project, and the financial requirements on the funding agencies. Environmental and social impacts evaluated in the analysis include land use and neighborhood impacts, traffic and parking impacts near stations, visual impacts, hazardous material impacts, impacts on cultural and paleontological resources, and noise and vibration impacts. Impacts on natural areas, threatened and endangered species, air and water quality, and groundwater are also covered. Right-of-way impacts are also identified. Impacts were also evaluated both for the construction period and for the long-term period of operation. Measures to mitigate adverse impacts were developed.

In accordance with the Federal Transit Act, as amended, and FHWA and FTA policy, the Draft EIS was prepared with required engineering design studies necessary to complete the document. On the basis of the Draft EIS and the comments received, a preferred alternative will be selected and preparation of the Final EIS and Record of Decision will proceed.

(23 U.S.C. 315; 49 U.S.C. 107, 5301 et seq.; 49 CFR 1.48 and 1.51)

Issued on August 12, 1999. James Daves, Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Lakewood, Colorado. Louis F. Mraz, Jr., Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Region VIII, Denver, Colorado.

[FR Doc. 99-21395Filed8-19-99; 8:45 am]

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