Environmental Impact Statement: Albuquerque, New Mexico, 20690 [2012-8216]
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20690
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 66 / Thursday, April 5, 2012 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement:
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), USDOT.
ACTION: Rescind Notice of Intent.
AGENCY:
The FHWA is rescinding the
notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement for the
proposed improvements to the Interstate
25 and Paseo del Norte Interchange in
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg
Heitmann, Environmental Specialist,
Federal Highway Administration, New
Mexico Division, 4001 Office Court
Drive, Suite 801, Santa Fe, New Mexico
87507, Telephone (505) 820–2027.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
FHWA, in cooperation with the New
Mexico Department of Transportation
(NMDOT), is rescinding the Notice of
Intent to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed
improvements to the Interstate 25 (I–25)
and Paseo del Norte (PDN) Interchange
in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The
original project proposal resulted in a
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS) with estimated construction costs
in excess of $350 million. Given the
circumstances of economic conditions
nationally and within the state of New
Mexico it became highly evident that
the proposed alternatives would not be
feasible.
Based on the comments received at
the public hearing, results of the
continuing study, as well as alternative
concept work performed by the City of
Albuquerque with input from the
NMDOT, a new alternative resulted. The
new alternative with a conceptual cost
of $93 million is contained in a much
smaller footprint and addresses the level
of service on I–25; this solution is a
workable incremental approach that can
be integrated into the region’s long
range plan for this sector of the
Albuquerque Metropolitan Area.
Project Funding is being gathered
through Federal, state, and local
sources. The New Mexico State
Legislature and Governor passed and
signed a funding bill that pursues a
design-build method for the project.
Other sources of funding include:
Congestion Mitigation Air Quality
(CMAQ) funds as well as Transportation
Improvement Program funds from
FHWA, City of Albuquerque funds, and
Bernalillo County funds. TIGER IV grant
funds from the USDOT are also being
sought to fund the project.
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SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:20 Apr 04, 2012
Jkt 226001
The project will proceed under a
design and build procurement process.
A consultant has been awarded the
contract under the direction of the
NMDOT. The preferred alternative and
the focus of the project are the
northbound I–25 to westbound PDN
movement and the eastbound PDN to
southbound I–25 movement as
identified by the previous DEIS. These
improvements are at the center of the
proposed work and project development
will proceed under the direction of the
NMDOT. The preliminary engineering
associated with the preferred alternative
will be completed by the NMDOT’s
consultant. The following elements
must be completed prior to procuring a
Design and Build contractor: (a) Identify
and develop the right of way needs and
mapping in order for the NMDOT to
acquire the necessary rights of way. (b)
Develop and obtain the necessary
environmental documentation; it is
currently anticipated that a Categorical
Exclusion will be completed for the
proposed improvements. Extensive
public involvement will be part of the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA). If necessary, an Environmental
Assessment (EA) may be considered to
complete the NEPA decision-making
components. (c) Complete the required
Interchange Access Change Request
(IACR) to support the new interchange
alternative.
The new interchange improvements
will have to take into account the
following: (a) There are improvements
that will be required on both PDN and
I–25. These improvements are not
independent of each other. There are
also improvements along the
northbound and/or southbound I–25
and at the PDN/Jefferson intersection
that will need to be in place before any
of the interchange flyovers are
constructed. (b) The alternative must
demonstrate that it minimizes the
features that do not fit into the project
design (reduce sacrificial construction
or roadway features that would be torn
down during future phases). (c) The
alternative must demonstrate that it
improves the operation of I–25 as well
as PDN and improves traffic flow in the
roadway network surrounding the
project area.
Finally, the project timelines indicate
a preliminary engineering effort,
including NEPA documentation, of 6–12
months. It is anticipated that
construction would commence in June
of 2013.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning
and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372
regarding intergovernmental consultation on
PO 00000
Frm 00081
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Federal programs and activities apply to this
proposed program.)
Issued on March 26, 2012.
J. Don Martinez.
Division Administrator, Federal Highway
Administration, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2012–8216 Filed 4–4–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA–2011–0027; Notice No. 4]
Northeast Corridor Safety Committee;
Notice of Meeting
Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Announcement of the Northeast
Corridor Safety Committee (NECSC)
Meeting.
AGENCY:
FRA announces the second
meeting of the NECSC, a Federal
Advisory Committee mandated by
Section 212 of the Passenger Rail
Investment and Improvement Act of
2008 (PRIIA). The NECSC is made up of
stakeholders operating on the Northeast
Corridor (NEC), and the purpose of the
Committee is to provide annual
recommendations to the DOT Secretary.
NECSC’s meeting topics will include:
Positive Train Control update
presentations from NEC railroads,
Transportation Security Administration
NEC security initiatives, aging electric
traction infrastructure, the Americans
with Disabilities Act requirements, and
a general discussion of safety issues.
DATES: The NECSC meeting is
scheduled to commence on Thursday,
May 24, 2012, at 9 a.m., and will
adjourn by 4:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The NECSC meeting will be
held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel
Philadelphia Downtown, located at
1800 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA.
The meeting is open to the public on a
first-come, first-served basis, and is
accessible to individuals with
disabilities. Sign and oral interpretation
can be made available if requested 10
calendar days before the meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Larry Woolverton, NECSC
Administrative Officer/Coordinator,
FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Mailstop 25, Washington, DC 20590,
(202) 493–6212; or Mr. Robert Lauby,
Acting Associate Administrator for
Railroad Safety/Chief Safety Officer,
FRA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Mailstop 25, Washington, DC 20590,
(202) 493–6300.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\05APN1.SGM
05APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 66 (Thursday, April 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 20690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8216]
[[Page 20690]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Albuquerque, New Mexico
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), USDOT.
ACTION: Rescind Notice of Intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FHWA is rescinding the notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement for the proposed improvements to the
Interstate 25 and Paseo del Norte Interchange in Albuquerque, New
Mexico.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Heitmann, Environmental
Specialist, Federal Highway Administration, New Mexico Division, 4001
Office Court Drive, Suite 801, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507, Telephone
(505) 820-2027.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New Mexico
Department of Transportation (NMDOT), is rescinding the Notice of
Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the
proposed improvements to the Interstate 25 (I-25) and Paseo del Norte
(PDN) Interchange in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The original project
proposal resulted in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) with
estimated construction costs in excess of $350 million. Given the
circumstances of economic conditions nationally and within the state of
New Mexico it became highly evident that the proposed alternatives
would not be feasible.
Based on the comments received at the public hearing, results of
the continuing study, as well as alternative concept work performed by
the City of Albuquerque with input from the NMDOT, a new alternative
resulted. The new alternative with a conceptual cost of $93 million is
contained in a much smaller footprint and addresses the level of
service on I-25; this solution is a workable incremental approach that
can be integrated into the region's long range plan for this sector of
the Albuquerque Metropolitan Area.
Project Funding is being gathered through Federal, state, and local
sources. The New Mexico State Legislature and Governor passed and
signed a funding bill that pursues a design-build method for the
project. Other sources of funding include: Congestion Mitigation Air
Quality (CMAQ) funds as well as Transportation Improvement Program
funds from FHWA, City of Albuquerque funds, and Bernalillo County
funds. TIGER IV grant funds from the USDOT are also being sought to
fund the project.
The project will proceed under a design and build procurement
process. A consultant has been awarded the contract under the direction
of the NMDOT. The preferred alternative and the focus of the project
are the northbound I-25 to westbound PDN movement and the eastbound PDN
to southbound I-25 movement as identified by the previous DEIS. These
improvements are at the center of the proposed work and project
development will proceed under the direction of the NMDOT. The
preliminary engineering associated with the preferred alternative will
be completed by the NMDOT's consultant. The following elements must be
completed prior to procuring a Design and Build contractor: (a)
Identify and develop the right of way needs and mapping in order for
the NMDOT to acquire the necessary rights of way. (b) Develop and
obtain the necessary environmental documentation; it is currently
anticipated that a Categorical Exclusion will be completed for the
proposed improvements. Extensive public involvement will be part of the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). If necessary, an
Environmental Assessment (EA) may be considered to complete the NEPA
decision-making components. (c) Complete the required Interchange
Access Change Request (IACR) to support the new interchange
alternative.
The new interchange improvements will have to take into account the
following: (a) There are improvements that will be required on both PDN
and I-25. These improvements are not independent of each other. There
are also improvements along the northbound and/or southbound I-25 and
at the PDN/Jefferson intersection that will need to be in place before
any of the interchange flyovers are constructed. (b) The alternative
must demonstrate that it minimizes the features that do not fit into
the project design (reduce sacrificial construction or roadway features
that would be torn down during future phases). (c) The alternative must
demonstrate that it improves the operation of I-25 as well as PDN and
improves traffic flow in the roadway network surrounding the project
area.
Finally, the project timelines indicate a preliminary engineering
effort, including NEPA documentation, of 6-12 months. It is anticipated
that construction would commence in June of 2013.
(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 proposed program.)
Issued on March 26, 2012.
J. Don Martinez.
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Santa Fe, New
Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2012-8216 Filed 4-4-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
