Environmental Impact Statement: Suffolk County, New York

Robert Arnold
Federal Highway Administration
February 5, 1998

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 24 (Thursday, February 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 5994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2844]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Suffolk County, New York

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), USDOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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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 Suffolk County, New York.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Siracusa, P.E., Regional Director, New York State Department of 
Transportation, 250 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, New York, 
11788, Telephone: (516) 952-6632
  or
Harold J. Brown, Division Administrator, Federal Highway 
Administration, New York Division, Leo W. O'Brien Federal Building, 9th 
Floor, Clinton Avenue and North Pearl Street, Albany, New York, 12207, 
Telephone: (518) 431-4127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New York 
State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to improve NY Route 
25 in Suffolk County, New York. The proposed improvement would involve 
the reconstruction and widening of about 2.5 miles of the existing 
route and crossroad approaches in the Town of Smithtown and the Village 
of the Branch between NY Route 111 and NY Route 347. Improvements to 
this corridor are considered necessary to provide for the existing and 
projected traffic demand and to address existing pavement and safety 
deficiencies.
    Alternatives under consideration include: (1) Taking no action; (2) 
widening the existing mainline to provide: (a) Four lanes consisting of 
two eastbound travel lanes, one westbound travel lane, and one 
continuous center left turn lane between NY 111 and Terry Road and (b) 
three lanes consisting of one eastbound travel lane, one westbound 
travel lane, and one continuous center left turn lane between Terry 
Road and NY 347; (3) widening the existing two and three lane highway 
to a five lane section with no shoulders; (4) widening the existing two 
and three lane highway to a five lane section with shoulders. 
Incorporated into and studied with the various build alternatives will 
be design variations of grade, alignment, shoulder widths, and 
intersection configurations.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to 
provide organizations and citizens who have previously expressed 
interest in this proposal. A public hearing will be held. Public notice 
will be given of the time and place of the hearing. The draft EIS will 
be available for public and agency review and comment. No formal NEPA 
scoping meeting is planned at this time.
    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 NYSDOT or FHWA at the addresses 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)

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315, 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: January 26, 1998.
Robert Arnold,
District Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Albany, New York.
[FR Doc. 98-2844 Filed 2-4-98; 8:45 am]
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