Notice of Intent To prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the State Route 67 Operational Improvements Project, in San Diego County, California

Rodney Whitfield
Federal Highway Administration
15 January 2021

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 4173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00860]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice of Intent To prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the State Route 67 Operational Improvements Project, in 
San Diego County, California

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (Draft EIS) for the State Route 67 (SR 67) Operational 
Improvements Project.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA, on behalf of the California Department of 
Transportation (Caltrans), is issuing this notice to advise the public 
that a Draft EIS will be prepared for the SR 67 operational 
improvements project (Project), a proposed highway project in San Diego 
County, California.

DATES: This notice will be accompanied by a 30-day public scoping 
comment period from Thursday, January 14, 2021, to Monday, February 15, 
2021. The deadline for public comments is 5:00 p.m. (PST) on February 
15, 2021. The Virtual scoping meeting will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 
7:30 p.m. PST on Wednesday, January 27, 2021.

ADDRESSES: https://dot.ca.gov/sr67-improvements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Caltrans: contact Shay Lynn M. 
Harrison, Chief, Environmental Analysis--Branch C, Caltrans District 
11, M.S. 242 4050 Taylor Street, San Diego, CA 92110, telephone 619-
453-8481, or email shay.lynn.harrison@dot.ca.gov. For FHWA, contact 
David Tedrick, telephone (916) 498-5024, or email 
david.tedrick@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective July 1, 2007, the FHWA assigned, 
and Caltrans assumed, environmental responsibilities for this project 
pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327. Caltrans as the assigned National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) agency, will prepare a joint 
Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) on 
a proposal for operational improvements along State Route 67 (SR 67) 
project in San Diego County, California.
    Caltrans, along with our partner the San Diego Association of 
Governments (SANDAG) are proposing operational improvements to SR 67 
with emphasis on mobility and safety for the traveling public and 
goods, utilizing various modes of travel during typical and emergency 
highway conditions including emergency access, recreational access, and 
wildlife connectivity. Within this effort, deficiencies in multimodal 
transportation and recreational and wildlife movement will be 
addressed. Multimodal transportation includes bus as well as active 
bicycle and pedestrian options. Located along SR 67 (PM R5.48/21.35) 
from Maple view Street to Highland Valley/Dye Road in the City of Poway 
and the unincorporated communities of Lakeside and Ramona in San Diego 
County, California. The preliminary six alternatives currently under 
consideration include features such as: Additional lanes; auxiliary 
lanes, sliver widening; lane reconfiguration with two-way left turn 
lanes and/or turn pockets; median improvements, possible barriers, 
possible channelizers, and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS); 
extended shoulder, bus stops; bike paths and/or lanes; pedestrian 
improvements with sidewalks, signals, and/or bridges; recreational 
access improvements with additional parking lots, scenic turnouts, an/
or paths; wildlife improvements with enhanced culverts and crossings. 
There is also the No Build alternative with no improvements proposed.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, Participating Agencies, Tribal 
governments, and local agencies, and to private organizations and 
citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have interest in 
this proposal. The Scoping period to submit comment is from January 14, 
2021 to February 15, 2021. Public scoping meeting will be held 
Virtually from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. PST on Wednesday, January 27, 
2021 from link at https://dot.ca.gov/sr67-improvements. In addition, a 
public hearing will be held once the Draft EIR/EIS is completed. Public 
notice will be given with the time and place of the meeting and 
hearing. The joint EIR/EIS will be available for public and agency 
review and comment prior to the public hearing. Comments may be 
submitted by: phone: (619) 688-4263; email: 
D11.SR67Improvements@dot.ca.gov; or letter to 4050 Taylor Street MS 
242, San Diego, CA 92110 with Attention to Debra Soifer, Associate 
Environmental Planner. Spanish translations will be available on the 
website. All comments received in Spanish will be accepted and 
translated.
    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 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: January 12, 2021.
Rodney Whitfield,
Director, Financial Services, Federal Highway Administration, 
California Division.
[FR Doc. 2021-00860 Filed 1-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-RY-P