Environmental Impact Statement: Los Angeles County, California |
|---|
|
Josué M. Yambó
Federal Highway Administration
19 October 2016
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 19, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72148-72150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25216]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Los Angeles County, California
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Amended notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FHWA, on behalf of the California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans), is issuing this amended notice to advise the
public that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be
prepared for proposed highway improvements on Interstate 605 (I-605).
The I-605 Corridor Improvement Project (Project) will consist of
improvements on the I-605 corridor from the Interstate 10 (I-10)
Interchange to the Interstate 105 (I-105) Interchange. The proposed
Project also includes improvements along State Route 60 (SR-60) from
Santa Anita Avenue to east of Turnbull Canyon Road, and on Interstate 5
(I-5) from Florence Avenue to Paramount Boulevard in the cities of
Baldwin Park, El Monte, City of Industry, Pico Rivera, South El Monte,
Whittier, Downey, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, and unincorporated Los
Angeles County. The Project limits include the I-605/I-5 and I-605/SR-
60 corridors. These corridors were previously analyzed as separate
projects; however, the Project limits along these corridors are being
combined to connect logical termini. A Project Study Report-Project
Development Support Study (PSR-PDS) for the I-605/I-5 corridor was
approved in July 2014, and a PSR-PDS for the I-605/SR-60 corridor was
approved in December 2015 (not attached).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald Kosinski, Deputy District
Director, Division of Environmental Planning, District 7, 100 South
Main Street, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 897-0703.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective July 1, 2007, the FHWA assigned,
and Caltrans assumed, environmental responsibilities for this Project
pursuant to 23 United States Code (U.S.C.) 327. Caltrans will prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Project. The
purpose of the Project is to reduce congestion, improve freeway
operations, improve and enhance safety, and improve local and system
interchange operations.
Project Description
The Project proposes widening along the southbound and northbound
I-605 corridor from the I-10 Interchange to the I-105 Interchange. The
proposed Project includes improvements along SR-60 from Santa Anita
Avenue to east of Turnbull Canyon Road, and on I-5 from Florence Avenue
to Paramount Boulevard. The study area includes the cities of Baldwin
Park, El Monte, City of Industry, Pico Rivera, South El Monte,
Whittier, Downey, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, and unincorporated Los
Angeles County. Improvements to local streets and interchanges may be
required as part of the Project including the following interchanges
that would be affected: I-605/Imperial Highway, I-605/Firestone
Boulevard, I-605/Telegraph Road, I-605/Slauson Avenue, I-605/Florence
Ave., I-605/Washington Boulevard, I-605/Whittier Boulevard, I-605/
Beverly Boulevard, I-605/Rose Hills Road, I-605/Peck Road, I-605/SR-60,
I-605/Valley Boulevard, SR-60/Peck Road, SR-60/7th Ave., I-5/Florence
Ave., I-5/Lakewood Boulevard, I-5/Paramount Blvd., and I-605/I-5
Interchanges.
The following Project alternatives are under consideration.
Alternative 1: No Build Alternative
In this alternative, there would be no reconstruction or
improvements to the
[[Page 72149]]
I-605 corridor. Within the Project limits, I-605 would continue to have
four mixed flow lanes that are 11-feet wide, with 2-foot-wide median
shoulders, plus one high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane and a 1-foot-wide
HOV buffer.
Alternative 2: Standard Alternative (Lane/Shoulder Widths)
This alternative includes adding mixed flow or HOV lanes as well as
auxiliary lanes where additional capacity is required on southbound and
northbound I-605 from I-10 to I-105, and along SR-60 from Santa Anita
Avenue to east of Turnbull Canyon Road. This Project will also be
adding one HOV lane in each direction along I-5 from Florence Avenue to
Paramount Boulevard and auxiliary lanes where necessary. These
improvements would implement standard lane widths and shoulders,
consistent with the Caltrans Highway Design Manual for the mainline
freeway, connectors, and ramps. Right-of-way (ROW) acquisitions would
be necessary to accommodate these improvements.
This alternative will have additional design variations, which
would provide optional lane use (general purpose, HOV, on and off ramp
modifications, and other operational improvements.
Alternative 3: Reduced Standard Alternative (Lane/Shoulder Widths)
Alternative 3 includes many of the design elements identified in
Alternative 2 on I-605, SR-60, and I-5 with design variations, which
would provide optimal lane use to reduced ROW impacts. This alternative
includes adding mixed flow or HOV lanes as well as auxiliary lanes,
where additional capacity is required, on southbound and northbound I-
605 from I-10 to I-105. The Project also includes adding mixed flow and
auxiliary lanes, where additional capacity is required, along SR-60
from Santa Anita Avenue to east of Turnbull Canyon Road and adding one
HOV lane in each direction on I-5 from Florence Avenue to Paramount
Boulevard.
This alternative will have additional design variations, which
provide optional lane use such as general purpose, HOV, optional on and
off ramp modifications, and other operational improvements. These
alternatives may be refined or be removed from further consideration,
as engineering and environmental analysis is conducted for the Project.
Alternative 4: Transportation Systems Management/Transportation Demand
Management (TSM/TDM)
The TSM/TDM Alternative would add transportation system and demand
management techniques to existing features within the Project limits.
Improvements that may be included as part of this alternative are
additional ramp metering, improved signal timing, increased transit
service, improved signage, development of rideshare/carpool programs,
and installation of intelligent transportation systems.
Analysis supporting the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will
determine the improvements necessary to meet the existing and future
transportation needs in the corridor.
The following permits/approvals may be required to construct the
Project:
33 U.S.C. 408 Section 408 Permit (United States (U.S.) Army
Corps of Engineers)
Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 Permit (U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers)
Section 1602 Agreement (California Department of Fish and
Wildlife)
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit
Caltrans Statewide Permit and Construction General Permit
CWA Section 401 Water Quality Certification and/or Waste
Discharge Requirement (WDR) (Regional Water Quality Control Board)
South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rules
403, 1403, and 1166
Clean Air Act, Transportation Conformity Determination (FHWA;
Caltrans)
Section 106 Compliance with National Historic Preservation Act
Section 7 Consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in
the event that Federally-listed species are affected
Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) Memorandum of Agreement
Various City Encroachment Permits
Caltrans will be holding public scoping meetings to provide an
overview of the Project, summarize the environmental process, and
receive input regarding the environmental issues and the suggested
scope and content of the EIS. These meetings will include separate
agency and public scoping. Please refer to the table below for meeting
dates and locations:
Scoping and Agency Meetings
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City Date Time Location
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Downey............................. Monday, Oct. 24, 2016. 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.... Public Scoping Meeting,
Embassy Suites Los Angeles-
Downey, Diplomat/Consulate
Room, 8425 Firestone
Blvd., Downey, CA 90241.
Santa Fe Springs................... Wednesday, Oct. 26, 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.... Agency Scoping Meeting, Gus
2016. Velasco Neighborhood
Center, 9255 South Pioneer
Blvd., Santa Fe Springs,
CA 90670.
Santa Fe Springs................... Wednesday, Oct. 26, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.... Public Scoping Meeting, Gus
2016. Velasco Neighborhood
Center, 9255 South Pioneer
Blvd., Santa Fe Springs,
CA 90670.
Norwalk............................ Thursday, Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.... Public Scoping Meeting,
2016. Norwalk Assembly of God
Church, 11129 Pioneer
Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650.
City of Industry................... Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016. 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.... Public Scoping Meeting,
Industry Hills Expo
Center, 16200 Temple
Avenue, City of Industry,
CA 91744.
South El Monte..................... Wednesday, Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.... Public Scoping Meeting,
2016. South El Monte Senior
Center, 1556 Central Ave.,
South El Monte, CA 91733.
Whittier........................... Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.... Public Scoping Meeting,
Palm Park, Palm A-B Room,
5703 Palm Ave., Whittier,
CA 90601.
Whittier........................... Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.... Agency Scoping Meeting,
Palm Park, Palm A-B Room,
5703 Palm Ave., Whittier,
CA 90601.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 72150]]
Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and Participating Agencies;
tribal governments and local agencies and private organizations and
citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have interest in
this proposal. The Draft EIS is anticipated to be available for public
and agency review and comment in mid-2019. Public meetings will be held
in study area communities during the public and agency review and
comment period. In addition, public hearings will be held for the
Project. Public notice will be given for the time and place of the
public meetings and hearings. The Draft EIS will be available for
public and agency review and comment prior to the public hearings.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed
action is addressed and all significant concerns are identified,
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties.
Comments or questions about this proposed action and the EIS should be
directed to Caltrans 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: October 11, 2016.
Josu[eacute] M. Yamb[oacute],
Senior Transportation Engineer, Project Delivery Division, Federal
Highway Administration, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 2016-25216 Filed 10-18-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P