Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment for Washington, DC to Baltimore Loop Project

Gregory Murrill
Federal Highway Administration
17 June 2019

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 116 (Monday, June 17, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28126-28127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-12766]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment for 
Washington, DC to Baltimore Loop Project

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is reopening the comment period for the Environmental 
Assessment (Draft) for the Washington, DC to Baltimore Loop Project, 
which was published on April 24, 2019. The original comment period 
closed on June 10, 2019. The extension is based on concern expressed by 
stakeholders that this closing date does not provide sufficient time to 
review and provide comprehensive comments on the proposal. The FHWA 
recognizes that others interested in commenting may have similar 
concerns and agrees that the comment period should be extended.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 17, 2019.

[[Page 28127]]


ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Project Website: https://www.dcbaltimoreloop.com. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments on the website.
     Mail: Ms. Donna Buscemi, Maryland Department of 
Transportation State Highway Administration, 707 N Calvert Street, MS 
C-301, Baltimore, MD 21202. Please include ``Washington, DC to 
Baltimore Loop Project'' in your subject line.
    Electronic copies may be downloaded from the Project website and 
hard copies of the Environmental Assessment (Draft) may also be viewed 
at the following locations, by appointment only:
     FHWA Maryland Division, George H. Fallon Federal Building, 
31 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21201, (410) 962-4440.
     FHWA District of Columbia Division, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE, East Building, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Donna Buscemi, Project Sponsor 
Liaison, Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway 
Administration, Office of Planning and Preliminary Engineering, 707 N 
Calvert Street, MS C-301, Baltimore, MD 21202, (410) 545-8500.

Background

    The Washington, DC to Baltimore Loop Project is proposed, and will 
be completely funded by, The Boring Company. The purpose of the 
proposed action is to construct an alternative, high speed option for 
traveling between Washington, District of Columbia, and Baltimore, 
Maryland. The Proposed Action consists of the construction of 
approximately 35.3 miles of parallel, twin underground tunnels (Main 
Artery Tunnels) between Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD. The proposed 
project would extend beneath public right-of-way of the Route 50 and 
Baltimore-Washington Parkway, with termini at 55 New York Avenue 
Northeast in Washington, DC and Oriole Park at Camden Yards, 333 Camden 
Street, Baltimore, MD.
    Battery-powered, autonomous electric vehicles, traveling at speeds 
of up to 150 miles per hour, would transport passengers in the Main 
Artery Tunnels between the two termini. Proposed project components 
include: Two access points at the Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD 
termini; Two Main Artery Tunnels; up to 70 ventilation shafts; and 4 
launch shaft sites for tunnel boring machines, at least one of which 
would be converted into a maintenance terminal for autonomous electric 
vehicles pods.
    The Environmental Assessment (Draft) evaluates the existing 
environmental conditions within the project area, along with the 
potential environmental impacts of the No Build and Build alternatives 
for the proposed project. On April 24th at 84 FR 17231, FHWA published 
a Notice of Availability for the Environmental Assessment (Draft). The 
original comment period for the Environmental Assessment (Draft) closes 
on June 10, 2019. Stakeholders have expressed concern that this closing 
date does not provide sufficient time to review and provide 
comprehensive comments on the proposal. To allow time for these 
stakeholders and others to submit comprehensive comments, the closing 
date is extended from June 10, 2019, to July 17, 2019.

Gregory Murrill,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2019-12766 Filed 6-14-19; 8:45 am]
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