Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the El Camino Real Roadway Renewal Project on State Route 82, in San Mateo County, California

Rodney Whitfield
Federal Highway Administration
9 December 2020

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 237 (Wednesday, December 9, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79258-79259]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27032]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the El Camino Real Roadway Renewal Project on State Route 
82, in San Mateo 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 El Camino Real Roadway Renewal 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 El Camino Real Roadway 
Renewal Project (Project), a proposed highway project on State Route 82 
in San Mateo County, California.

DATES: This notice will be accompanied by a 30-day public scoping 
comment period from Monday, November 16, 2020, to December 17, 2020. 
The deadline for public comments is 5:00 p.m. (PST) on December 17, 
2020. Because COVID-19 social distancing advisories are still in 
effect, no physical public meetings will be held during the public 
scoping comment period. However, Caltrans will be making project 
information available on the internet at www.ECRalternatives.com 
throughout the entire public comment period. A link to the above 
website is accessible through the project website at 
www.ElCaminoRealProject.com or https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/d4-san-mateo-82-el-camino-real-project. Project 
materials will be posted on the www.ECRalternatives.com website and 
will include project background, project schedule, frequently asked 
questions, archival information from prior public outreach 
presentations, the El Camino Real Task Force effort 2017-2018, newly 
developed narrated presentation slides about the ECR Project's purpose 
and need, the alternatives being considered, tree survey information, 
and information regarding the Howard-Ralston Eucalyptus Tree Rows, a 
resource on the National Register of Historic Places, and other 
historic resources in the project area. A poster gallery will also be 
available that features project alternatives and key slide content.
    The virtual public information tour will also include a virtual 
public forum for the public to share thoughts on the project material, 
the project alternatives under consideration, suggest other 
alternatives, and read what other members of the public are saying 
about the project. All comments offered through the virtual public 
forum will be moderated to maintain respectful discourse. Comments 
shared through the virtual public forum will become part of the public 
record.
    In addition, the public can submit formal scoping comments through 
the www.ECRalternatives.com website via an electronic comment 
submission form, via email at ECRproject@dot.ca.gov, or via USPS at the 
contact information listed below. In addition to email notifications, 
Caltrans has mailed notification postcards via USPS to the public, 
based on information collected from early pubic outreach efforts, and 
to city, county and state officials with jurisdiction in the project 
area. Postcards provide contact information for requesting information 
in alternative formats or alternative language translation services.
    More information can also be found at the project website at 
www.ElCaminoRealProject.com or https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/d4-san-mateo-82-el-camino-real-project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yolanda Rivas, Senior Environmental 
Planner, Caltrans District 4, P.O. Box 23660, MS-8B, Oakland, CA 94623-
0660, telephone (510) 506-1461, or email Yolanda.rivas@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 Draft EIS on a 
proposal for 3.6-mile roadway rehabilitation project in San Mateo 
County, California. The project limits extend from East Santa Inez 
Avenue in the City of San Mateo to Millbrae Avenue in the City of 
Millbrae.
    The project is needed to address the overall condition of the 
existing roadway by correcting the following deficiencies: The pavement 
is currently rated as poor, with moderate alligator cracking and very 
poor ride quality indicating roadway structural inadequacy; water 
ponding and frequent localized flooding occurs due to uneven roadway 
surfaces and inadequate or impacted drainage systems; pedestrian access 
is impaired due to lack of updated curb ramps and uneven sidewalks; 
pedestrian infrastructure is not compliant with state and federal 
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements; existing sidewalks 
lack accessible pedestrian signals systems, countdown pedestrian 
systems, high-visibility striping, or current devices; and pavement 
markings.
    The purpose of the project is to preserve and extend the life of 
the roadway and improve ride quality, improve drainage efficiency to 
reduce localized flooding, improve visibility for

[[Page 79259]]

all users, and enhance pedestrian infrastructure by bringing it into 
compliance with Title II of the ADA. Currently, the range of 
alternatives being considered includes either taking no action on the 
3.6-mile segment of El Camino Real, or proceeding with one of several 
potential build alternatives. The build alternatives would all involve 
performing roadway rehabilitation with upgrades to drainage, 
pedestrian, and roadway infrastructure to achieve the purpose and need 
of the project. The roadway rehabilitation alternatives may include the 
following: Rehabilitation while keeping utilities overhead; 
rehabilitation while relocating utilities underground; rehabilitation 
while reducing the number of travel lanes from 4 to 2 and including a 
12-foot center-turning lane while keeping utilities overhead; and 
rehabilitation while reducing the number of travel lanes from 4 to 2 
and including a 12-foot center-turning lane while relocating utilities 
underground. Varying roadway widths (ranging 44-46 feet), travel lane 
widths (ranging 10-11 feet), and sidewalk widths (ranging 4-6 feet) are 
being considered to avoid and minimize impacts to the Howard-Ralston 
Eucalyptus Tree Rows, where feasible. Avoidance and minimization 
measures will be studied and implemented depending upon the limits of 
state right of way, Caltrans' ability to meet state highway design and 
safety provisions, and/or other factors.
    The only anticipated Federal approval includes a permit under the 
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Other Federal 
administrative activities include coordination with the Department of 
the Interior under Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act 
(1966) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation under Section 
106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (1966). Notices 
describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will be sent to 
appropriate Federal cooperating and participating agencies.
    Since June 2019, Caltrans has been in consultation under Section 
106 of the National Historic Preservation Act to evaluate potential 
effects to the Howard-Ralston Eucalyptus Tree Rows, a historic property 
listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and to 
evaluate potential effects to other historic properties determined 
eligible for the NRHP. Notifications have been sent to appropriate 
State, tribal governments, local agencies, private organizations, and 
citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have interest in 
this proposal.
    The project team anticipates reviewing all public comments received 
during the public scoping period and circulating a Draft EIS. A public 
hearing will be held once the Draft EIS is completed. Public notice 
will be given of the time and place of the meeting and 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 are addressed and all significant 
issues are identified, and comments and suggestions are invited from 
all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning this proposed 
action and the Draft 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: November 19, 2020.
Rodney Whitfield,
Director, Financial Services, Federal Highway Administration, 
California Division.
[FR Doc. 2020-27032 Filed 12-8-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-RY-P