Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the El Camino Real Roadway Renewal Project, in San Mateo County, California

Rodney Whitfield
Federal Highway Administration
14 June 2021

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 112 (Monday, June 14, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31548-31549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12342]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the El Camino Real Roadway Renewal Project, in San Mateo 
County, California

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (Draft EIS) for the El Camino Real Roadway Renewal Project.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), on behalf of the 
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that a Draft EIS is available for the El 
Camino Real Roadway Renewal Project (ECR Project), a proposed highway 
project on State Route 82 in San Mateo County, California.

DATES: This notice will be accompanied by a minimum 45-day public 
comment period from June 18, 2021, to August 2, 2021. The deadline for 
public comments is 5:00 p.m. (PST) on August 2, 2021. Caltrans will be 
holding an online meeting on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 from 5:30 to 7:30 
p.m. In addition, an on-site public meeting will be held on Friday, 
July 16, 2021 at the Burlingame High School Athletic Field, 1 Mangini 
Way, Burlingame, California 94010 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The link to 
the online meeting will be on the project website: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/d4-san-mateo-82-el-camino-real-project or www.ElCaminoRealProject.com. Through the project website, 
the public will be able to link to a downloadable version of the Draft 
EIS, view ECR Project exhibits and simulations of the Build and No 
Build Alternatives, and access links to previous public outreach 
materials and presentations. Questions or comments during the online 
meeting will not be considered public comments on the Draft EIS, but 
comments will be accepted separately in writing through email at 
ECRproject@dot.ca.gov or USPS at the address below. Comments received 
in writing during the public comment period will become part of the ECR 
Project administrative record and will be addressed in the Final EIS, 
scheduled for Spring 2022.
    The ECR Project setting includes, but is not limited to, the 
Howard-Ralston Eucalyptus Tree Rows, and other historic resources in 
the project area that are on, or eligible for, the National Register of 
Historic Places.
    The Draft EIS will disclose the range of alternatives considered, 
those that were eliminated from further study, and the Build 
Alternative being considered along with the No Build Alternative. The 
Draft EIS will summarize the public scoping process, a summary of the 
public comments received, and

[[Page 31549]]

information inclusive of those comments. The Draft EIS will disclose 
potential impacts, including cumulative impacts to environmental 
resources; avoidance and minimization measures to reduce potential 
impacts, and proposed mitigation measures to offset environmental 
impacts.
    A public notice of availability for the Draft EIS will be printed 
in a local newspaper, a copy of which will also be available on the 
project website. In addition, notifications, such as E-blasts, will be 
distributed to the public based on information collected during the 
Notice of Intent (NOI) public scoping process and other outreach 
efforts, including city, county, and state officials with jurisdiction 
in the project area. The newspaper ad, E-blasts, and project website 
will provide information on the on-site and online public meetings. The 
project website is: www.ElCaminoRealProject.com or https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/d4-san-mateo-82-el-camino-real-project.
    The public can submit formal comments on the ECR Project Draft EIS 
through email at ECRproject@dot.ca.gov, or via USPS at the contact 
information listed below.
    To request the DEIS in alternative formats or alternative language 
translation services, please call or leave a voicemail message with 
Alejandro Lopez, Public Information Officer, at (510) 385-6856.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Caltrans: 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, has prepared 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 requirements; existing sidewalks lack 
accessible pedestrian signals (APS) systems, countdown pedestrian 
systems (CPS), 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 all users, and 
enhance pedestrian infrastructure by bringing it into compliance with 
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
    The Draft EIS is considering either taking no action (No Build 
Alternative) on the 3.6-mile segment of El Camino Real, or proceeding 
with the Build Alternative with Design Option. The Build Alternative 
with Design Option would rehabilitate the roadway; upgrade roadway 
drainage facilities to address localized flooding; and replace 
sidewalks, install curb ramps, and upgrade traffic signals to meet ADA 
requirements. The Design Option includes the possibility of keeping 
utilities overhead or relocating them underground. The potential 
environmental effects under either option are disclosed in the Draft 
EIS. Avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures are also 
discussed in the Draft EIS.
    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).
    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 comment period. The Draft EIS, which was approved on 
June 3, 2021, will be available for public and agency review and 
comment prior to the public meetings 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 
received from interested parties. Caltrans will respond to all the 
public comments received in writing during the public comment period in 
the Final EIS, expected in Spring 2022.
    Following circulation for public review and consideration of 
comments received, Caltrans will issue a combined Final EIS and Record 
of Decision document unless statutory criteria or practicability 
considerations preclude such issuance. Comments or questions concerning 
this proposed action and the Draft EIS should be directed to Caltrans 
at the address indicated above for further information.

(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: June 8, 2021.
Rodney Whitfield,
Director, Financial Services, Federal Highway Administration, 
California Division.
[FR Doc. 2021-12342 Filed 6-11-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-RY-P