[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 66 (Thursday, April 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 20690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8216]



[[Page 20690]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Albuquerque, New Mexico

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), USDOT.

ACTION: Rescind Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is rescinding the notice of intent to prepare an 
environmental impact statement for the proposed improvements to the 
Interstate 25 and Paseo del Norte Interchange in Albuquerque, New 
Mexico.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Heitmann, Environmental 
Specialist, Federal Highway Administration, New Mexico Division, 4001 
Office Court Drive, Suite 801, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507, Telephone 
(505) 820-2027.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New Mexico 
Department of Transportation (NMDOT), is rescinding the Notice of 
Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
proposed improvements to the Interstate 25 (I-25) and Paseo del Norte 
(PDN) Interchange in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The original project 
proposal resulted in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) with 
estimated construction costs in excess of $350 million. Given the 
circumstances of economic conditions nationally and within the state of 
New Mexico it became highly evident that the proposed alternatives 
would not be feasible.
    Based on the comments received at the public hearing, results of 
the continuing study, as well as alternative concept work performed by 
the City of Albuquerque with input from the NMDOT, a new alternative 
resulted. The new alternative with a conceptual cost of $93 million is 
contained in a much smaller footprint and addresses the level of 
service on I-25; this solution is a workable incremental approach that 
can be integrated into the region's long range plan for this sector of 
the Albuquerque Metropolitan Area.
    Project Funding is being gathered through Federal, state, and local 
sources. The New Mexico State Legislature and Governor passed and 
signed a funding bill that pursues a design-build method for the 
project. Other sources of funding include: Congestion Mitigation Air 
Quality (CMAQ) funds as well as Transportation Improvement Program 
funds from FHWA, City of Albuquerque funds, and Bernalillo County 
funds. TIGER IV grant funds from the USDOT are also being sought to 
fund the project.
    The project will proceed under a design and build procurement 
process. A consultant has been awarded the contract under the direction 
of the NMDOT. The preferred alternative and the focus of the project 
are the northbound I-25 to westbound PDN movement and the eastbound PDN 
to southbound I-25 movement as identified by the previous DEIS. These 
improvements are at the center of the proposed work and project 
development will proceed under the direction of the NMDOT. The 
preliminary engineering associated with the preferred alternative will 
be completed by the NMDOT's consultant. The following elements must be 
completed prior to procuring a Design and Build contractor: (a) 
Identify and develop the right of way needs and mapping in order for 
the NMDOT to acquire the necessary rights of way. (b) Develop and 
obtain the necessary environmental documentation; it is currently 
anticipated that a Categorical Exclusion will be completed for the 
proposed improvements. Extensive public involvement will be part of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). If necessary, an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) may be considered to complete the NEPA 
decision-making components. (c) Complete the required Interchange 
Access Change Request (IACR) to support the new interchange 
alternative.
    The new interchange improvements will have to take into account the 
following: (a) There are improvements that will be required on both PDN 
and I-25. These improvements are not independent of each other. There 
are also improvements along the northbound and/or southbound I-25 and 
at the PDN/Jefferson intersection that will need to be in place before 
any of the interchange flyovers are constructed. (b) The alternative 
must demonstrate that it minimizes the features that do not fit into 
the project design (reduce sacrificial construction or roadway features 
that would be torn down during future phases). (c) The alternative must 
demonstrate that it improves the operation of I-25 as well as PDN and 
improves traffic flow in the roadway network surrounding the project 
area.
    Finally, the project timelines indicate a preliminary engineering 
effort, including NEPA documentation, of 6-12 months. It is anticipated 
that construction would commence in June of 2013.

(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 proposed program.)

    Issued on March 26, 2012.
J. Don Martinez.
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Santa Fe, New 
Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2012-8216 Filed 4-4-12; 8:45 am]
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