[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 156 (Friday, August 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53538-53539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19197]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Notice To Rescind Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental
Impact Statement/Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation, MD 28/MD 198 Corridor
Study, Montgomery and Prince George's County, Maryland
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice to rescind Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement/Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration is issuing this notice to
advise the public that FHWA is rescinding its Notice of Intent to
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation
for a proposed roadway improvement project in Montgomery and Prince
George's Counties, Maryland (Federal Register Vol. 68, No. 51827; FR
Doc. 03-22037) is being withdrawn and an Environmental Assessment (EA),
in lieu of an EIS, is being prepared for this proposed project.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanette Mar, Environmental Program
Manager, Federal Highway Administration, Maryland Division, 10 South
Howard Street, Suite 2450, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, (410) 779-7152,
or email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),
in cooperation with the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA), is
advising the general public that SHA conducted studies of the potential
environmental impacts associated with the proposed roadway improvement
project in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, Maryland along the
MD 28/MD 198 Corridor between MD 97
[[Page 53539]]
(Georgia Avenue) and I-95, a distance of approximately 10.6 miles.
The purpose of the MD 28/MD 198 Corridor Improvement Study is to
improve local traffic safety and operations for motorists, bicyclists,
and pedestrians traveling along the MD 28/MD 198 corridor and across
intersecting roads, while managing access; and, preserve the rural and
suburban quality of life by addressing localized traffic issues, while
considering local planning visions and state growth policies for
communities along the corridor. MD 28 and MD 198 is experiencing peak
hour congestion in areas along portions of the corridor between I-95
and MD 97, particularly east of MD 97, in the vicinity of US 29 and
Burtonsville commercial area, and near Sweitzer Lane. Local operational
and capacity deficiencies are projected to result from planned and
future development in and around the study area. The resulting
congestion is expected to cause stop-and-go conditions along the
roadways, especially at study-area intersections projected to
experience failing conditions by 2040. The roadway segments between the
intersections will experience peak-hour capacity constraints imposed
by: Projected traffic volumes; the absence of mid-block through lanes
on two-lane roadways; the absence of storage lanes for left turns; and
the absence of deceleration lanes for right turns. Local area master
plans describe objectives for the corridor roadway that include
retaining the rural character of adjacent communities and protecting
sensitive environmental areas. Recommended features in these plans
include the construction of hiker-biker trails and sidewalks and the
addition of landscaping.
Alternatives under consideration include taking no action,
installing on-road bicycle provisions, a shared use path and segments
of sidewalk, and widening existing MD 28/MD 198 to a four- or six-lane
roadway in some sections, with various options for access management
via frontage roads or median treatments, and intersection improvements
including additional turn lanes or installing roundabouts. The EA will
be available for public and agency review and comment prior to a Public
Hearing. Public notice will be given of the availability of the EA for
review and of the time and place of this hearing. Public Informational
Workshops were held in June 2014 and March 2015 to solicit opinions and
ideas on proposed improvements from local citizens.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or
questions concerning this proposed action and the determination that an
EA is the proper environmental document should be directed to FHWA at
the address provided above.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this
program.)
Gregory Murrill,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Baltimore,
Maryland.
[FR Doc. 2016-19197 Filed 8-11-16; 8:45 am]
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