[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27272-27273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11145]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Hamilton and Clermont Counties,
OH
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a
Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for
proposed highway and light rail improvements in the SR 32 corridor
between US 50 and IR 275 in Hamilton and Clermont Counties, Ohio.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark L. Vonder Embse, Major Projects
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 200 North High Street, Room
328, Columbus, Ohio 43215, Telephone: (614) 280-6854.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Ohio
Department of Transportation (ODOT), will prepare a Tier 2
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed improvements to SR 32
from US 50 in Hamilton County east to IR 275 in Clermont County. The
broader study area in the Tier 1 documentation was referred to as the
Eastern Corridor. This notice applies only to the project identified as
Segments II-III of the proposed new highway and Segment 3 of the
proposed Oasis Rail Line which would share the right-of-way with
relocated SR-32.
Tier 1 of the Eastern Corridor evaluated transportation needs and
focused on broad issues such as mode choice, general location,
preliminary costs, benefits and impacts within a study area extending
from downtown Cincinnati to western Clermont County. The analysis and
input was summarized in a Tier 1 Final Environmental Impact Statement
(FEIS) (FHWA-OH-EIS-04-02-F) dated September 30, 2005. A Tier 1 Record
of Decision issued on June 2, 2006 identified feasible multi-modal
components to be advanced by mode and segment into Tier 2 NEPA
analyses, including a new rail transit corridor composed of four
implementation segments, improved bus transit, various local network
improvements, and a new highway capacity corridor composed of five
implementation segments. In the interim, new information came to light
regarding the archaeological resources present in connection with the
Hahn Archaeological District. The discovery of this information
prompted a re-evaluation of the Tier 1 ROD to determine if the decision
contained there-in remained valid and if a Supplemental EIS should be
prepared prior to moving into a Tier 2 EIS. On February 9, 2012 FHWA
recommended advancing the project into a Tier 2 EIS as the appropriate
level of study and analysis to determine the significance of impacts to
archaeological sites. This Tier 2 EIS for the proposed Segments II-III
SR 32 project and proposed Oasis Rail Line Segment 3 will involve more
detailed engineering and environmental studies to address project-
specific impacts, costs and mitigation measures, and will follow a
framework for integrating land use, economic development, and
environmental stewardship established during Tier 1.
The purpose and need for highway capacity improvements as
established in Tier 1 is to reduce congestion, improve safety and
efficiency, provide operational capacity for bus transit, accommodate
bike and pedestrian ways, and support economic development and
community revitalization consistent with the regional land use vision
plan. The purpose and need for rail transit investments is to provide a
regional transportation alternative to driving, increase mobility for
non-drivers, support an expanded bus network, establish stations that
effectively link to bus, bike, pedestrian, and roadway systems, connect
downtown Cincinnati with outlying areas of population and employment,
support neighborhood development and revitalization consistent with the
land use vision plan, and reduce demand for new highway capacity while
providing a way to meet the future travel demand. Proposed improvements
identified during Tier 1 involve: relocation of SR 32, a new
interchange at US 50/Red Bank Road/SR 32, and planning for
(coordination with) associated Eastern Corridor multi-modal
improvements, including the proposed Oasis rail transit (a portion of
which parallels the Segment II-III corridor), a
[[Page 27273]]
multi-modal clear-span crossing of the Little Miami River (including
roadway, rail transit and bikeway) and multi-modal transit hubs at US
50 and Newtown Road. Total length is about six miles. Alternatives to
be further evaluated in Tier 2 include (1) taking no action; (2)
various interchange configuration options for US 50/Red Bank Road/SR
32; and (3) several alternatives and combinations of alternatives
through the Little Miami River floodplain and Newtown.
Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will
be sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies and to private
organizations and citizens who previously expressed or are known to
have an interest in the project. Public meetings and a public hearing
will be held in the project area. Public notice will be given of the
time and place of the meetings and hearing. A draft of the Tier 2 EIS
will be available for public and agency review and comment prior to the
public hearing.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed
action is identified and addressed, comments and suggestions are
invited from all interested parties. Comments and questions concerning
the proposed action should be directed to the FHWA at the address
provided above.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number and Title: FHWA 20.205
Highway Planning and Construction (A, B)
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48.
Issued on: April 30, 2012.
Laura S. Leffler,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Columbus, Ohio.
[FR Doc. 2012-11145 Filed 5-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P