Environmental Impact Statement: Cook County, Illinois

Glenn D. Fulkerson
Federal Highway Administration
May 8, 2014

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 89 (Thursday, May 8, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 26498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-10563]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Cook County, Illinois

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
environmental impact statement will be prepared for a proposed highway 
project in Cook County, Illinois.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine A. Batey, Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, 3250 Executive Park 
Drive, Springfield, Illinois 62703, Phone: (217) 492-4600. John 
Fortmann, P.E., Deputy Director of Highways, Region One Engineer, 
District 1, Illinois Department of Transportation, 201 W. Center Court, 
Schaumburg, IL 60196-1096, Phone: (847) 705-4110.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Illinois 
Department of Transportation, will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) on a proposal to improve North Lake Shore Drive located 
in the Illinois county of Cook. The project study area encompasses 
North Lake Shore Drive from Grand Avenue to Hollywood Avenue where 
North Lake Shore Drive terminates at the intersection of Hollywood 
Avenue and Sheridan Road. The section of North Lake Shore Drive from 
Grand Avenue to Foster Avenue is designated as U.S. Route 41. North of 
Foster Avenue, North Lake Shore Drive is an unmarked State route.
    Improvements to the corridor are considered necessary due to safety 
concerns and operational issues as well as infrastructure condition. 
Alternatives that may be considered include (1) taking no action; and 
(2) a full range of multi-modal build alternatives that involve the 
reconstruction of North Lake Shore Drive.
    Improvements to North Lake Shore Drive have the potential to affect 
environmental features in the project area. Almost the entire length of 
the roadway is located within historic Lincoln Park, where no roadway 
right-of-way exists. All land beyond the backs of curbs is considered 
to be park land. Potential environmental issue areas include: parks, 
special waste sites, historic bridges, historic buildings, air quality, 
noise, natural resources, water resources and related indirect and 
cumulative impact considerations.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies. As part of 
the EIS process, a scoping meeting for obtaining input from Resource 
Agencies was held on September 19, 2013. The Illinois Department of 
Transportation's Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) process will be used 
for public involvement. A Stakeholder Involvement Plan (SIP) will be 
developed to ensure that the full range of issues related to this 
proposed project are identified and addressed. The SIP provides 
meaningful opportunities for all stakeholders to participate in 
defining transportation issues and solutions for the study area. One 
public meeting will be held in Cook County at each project milestone. 
In addition to the public meetings, a public hearing and comment period 
will be held following the release of the Draft EIS. Public notice will 
be given for the time and place of the public meetings and hearing. A 
project Web site has been established (www.northlakeshoredrive.org) as 
one element of the project public involvement process.
    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 EIS should be 
directed to the FHWA at the address provided above.

(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: May 2, 2014.
Glenn D. Fulkerson,
Assistant Division Administrator, Springfield, Illinois.
[FR Doc. 2014-10563 Filed 5-7-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P