Environmental Impact Statement: Washoe County, Nevada |
|---|
|
Susan E. Klekar
Federal Highway Administration
15 March 2017
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13920-13921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05164]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Washoe County, Nevada
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 transportation
improvements in the Interstate 80 (I-80), Interstate 580 (I-580),
United States Highway 395 (US 395) Interchange, and connecting roads in
the City of Reno and City of Sparks, Washoe County, Nevada. The I-80/I-
[[Page 13921]]
580/US 395 Interchange is known locally as the Spaghetti Bowl.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Abdelmoez Abdalla, Environmental
Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 705 N. Plaza, Suite
220, Carson City, NV 89701; Telephone: (775) 687-1231, email:
abdelmoez.abdalla@dot.gov, and Steve Cooke, Environmental Services
Chief, Nevada Department of Transportation, 1263 S. Stewart Street,
Carson City, NV 89712; Telephone (775) 888-7686, email:
scooke@dot.nv.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Nevada
Department of Transportation (NDOT), will prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to reconstruct the Spaghetti Bowl
in the cities of Reno and Sparks in Washoe County, Nevada. The proposed
project will study improvements to the Spaghetti Bowl and major street
connections on I-580/US 395 from Meadowood Mall Way Drive on the south
to Parr Avenue/Dandini Boulevard on the north and I-80 from Keystone
Avenue on the west to Pyramid Way on the east. The study includes
approximately 7.3 miles of I-580/US 395 and 4.3 miles of I-80.
The project will study the operations, capacity, and safety of the
interchange while addressing all modes of travel as appropriate.
Regionally, I-80 connects San Francisco, Sacramento, Reno and Salt Lake
City. I-580 links Carson City with Reno, and US 395 serves as an
important regional route.
The Spaghetti Bowl was originally constructed between 1969 and 1971
for a metropolitan population of about 130,000 people. The current
population of Reno and Sparks has increased to approximately 327,000
people and Washoe County's population is approximately 435,000. The
projected population growth, associated commercial development,
increased inflows and outflows of freight serving local manufacturing
and distribution centers, and increasing tourism and gaming will place
significant demand on the study area. The project will focus on short-
and long-term transportation needs of the region, specifically to
provide transportation improvements in response to regional growth to
decrease congestion, enhance mobility, and provide access to the
downtown area.
The EIS will consider the effects of the proposed project, the No
Action alternative, and other alternatives to the proposed project.
Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies; Native
American Tribes; private organizations; and citizens who have
previously expressed or are known to have interest in this project. An
agency scoping meeting will be held in Sparks, Nevada on April 12,
2017, at 1 p.m. at the Sparks Public Library. Public information
meetings will also be held on April 12, 2017, at the Sparks Public
Library and on April 13, 2017, at Wooster High School, Reno, with the
appropriate agencies and the general public. The public information
meetings will be open house format from 4-7 p.m. with a presentation at
5:30 p.m. In addition, public information meetings will be held
throughout the duration of the project and a public hearing will be
held for the draft EIS. Public notices will be given announcing the
time and place of the public meetings and the hearing. The draft 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 addressed and all significant issues are 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 or NDOT at the addresses and emails 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.)
Dated: March 8, 2017.
Susan E. Klekar,
Division Administrator, Carson City, Nevada.
[FR Doc. 2017-05164 Filed 3-14-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P