Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Interstate 405 ExpressLanes Project, in Los Angeles County, California, 44132-44133 [2021-17057]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 11, 2021 / Notices
• E.O. 13122 and E.O. 13751, Invasive
Species
• Planning and Environmental
Linkages, 23 U.S.C. 168, except for
those FHWA responsibilities
associated with 23 U.S.C. 134 and 135
• Programmatic Mitigation Plans, 23
U.S.C. 169 except for those FHWA
responsibilities associated with 23
U.S.C. 134 and 135.
The MOU allows the State to act in
the place of FHWA in carrying out the
functions described above, except with
respect to government-to-government
consultations with federally recognized
Indian Tribes. The FHWA will retain
responsibility for conducting formal
government-to-government consultation
with federally recognized Indian Tribes,
which is required under some of the
above-listed laws and Executive Orders.
The State may also assist FHWA with
formal consultations, with consent of a
tribe, but FHWA remains responsible for
the consultation.
This assignment includes transfer to
the State of Nebraska the obligation to
fulfill the assigned environmental
responsibilities on any proposed
projects meeting the criteria in
Stipulation 1(B) of the MOU that were
determined to be CEs prior to the
effective date of the proposed MOU but
that have not been completed as of the
effective date of the MOU.
The FHWA will consider the
comments submitted on the proposed
first renewal MOU when making its
decision on whether to execute this
MOU. The FHWA will make the final,
executed MOU publicly available.
(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.)
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 326; 42 U.S.C.
4331, 4332; 23 CFR 771.117; 40 CFR
1507.3, 1508.4.
Joseph A. Werning,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021–17112 Filed 8–10–21; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Interstate 405 ExpressLanes
Project, in Los Angeles County,
California
Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare
a Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(Draft EIS) for the Interstate 405 (I–405)
ExpressLanes project.
AGENCY:
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 I–405 ExpressLanes
project, a proposed highway project in
Los Angeles County, California.
DATES: This notice will be accompanied
by a 30-day public scoping comment
period from Tuesday, August 3, 2021, to
Wednesday, September 1, 2021. The
deadline for comments is 5:00 p.m.
(PST) on September 1, 2021. Three
virtual public scoping meetings will be
held on:
• Saturday, August 14, 2021; 10 a.m.–
12 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 17, 2021; 6–8 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 18, 2021; 11:30
a.m.–1:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The virtual meeting link
will be made available on the project
website at www.metro.net/
405expresslanes.
SUMMARY:
For
Caltrans, contact Ronald Kosinski,
Deputy District Director, Division of
Environmental Planning, Caltrans
District 7, 100 S Main Street, MS 16A,
Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 507–4301,
or email Ron.kosinski@dot.ca.gov. For
FHWA, contact David Tedrick,
telephone (916) 498–5024, or email
David.tedrick@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective
July 1, 2007, 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 a highway
improvement project in Los Angeles
County, California.
The Project proposes to improve
traffic conditions on I–405 starting in
the south at Interstate 10 (I–10) and
terminating in the north at U.S.
Highway 101 (US–101). The proposed
Project will reduce congestion,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
PO 00000
Frm 00145
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
encourage carpooling and transit,
improve trip reliability, reduce
degradation of the carpool and generalpurpose lanes, increase person
throughput, and apply technology to
help manage traffic. The range of
improvements may include, but not be
limited to, converting existing HOV
lanes to Express Lanes or adding an
additional Express Lane in each
direction and converting existing HOV
lanes to ExpressLanes.
Currently, the following alternatives
are being considered, all approximately
10 miles in length:
• Alternative 1: The No-Build/No
Action Alternative does not include
improvements to the existing lanes
along I–405 between I–10 and US–101.
• Alternative 2: Convert Existing
HOV to One ExpressLane (Standard
Lane and Shoulder Widths). This build
alternative would convert the existing
HOV lane in each direction, along I–405
between I–10 and US–101, to an
ExpressLane. The northbound and
southbound directions of the freeway
would be restriped within the existing
footprint to accommodate one 12-foot
wide ExpressLane with a 4-foot wide
buffer separating the ExpressLane from
the 12-foot wide general-purpose lanes.
Dynamic pricing would be deployed in
the ExpressLane to ensure trip
reliability and traffic flow. Installation
of toll and communication
infrastructure and modification/
installation of overhead signs would be
required. Alternative 2 proposes to
widen the freeway, where necessary, to
accommodate an additional weave lane
at ExpressLane ingress/egress locations
and maintain stopping sight distance at
curves. Non-standard inside shoulders
would be maintained in a few locations
where constraints exist, and standard
10-foot outside shoulders would be
provided where possible. Retaining
walls would be provided where
required to minimize and avoid right-ofway (ROW) acquisition. Other
improvements include construction of
retaining walls and sound walls, utility
improvements, and drainage
improvements.
• Alternative 3: Convert Existing
HOV Lane to Two ExpressLanes (NonStandard Lane and Shoulder Widths).
This build alternative would convert the
existing HOV lane to an ExpressLane
and add a second ExpressLane in each
direction between I–10 and US–101.
The freeway would be widened and
restriped to accommodate the two
ExpressLanes with a buffer separating
the ExpressLanes from the generalpurpose lanes. Dynamic pricing would
be deployed in the ExpressLanes to
ensure trip reliability and traffic flow.
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 11, 2021 / Notices
Installation of toll and communication
infrastructure and modification/
installation of overhead signs would be
required. Alternative 3 proposes to
widen the freeway to the outside in
order to accommodate the proposed
two-lane ExpressLane facility as
described. Non-standard lanes and
shoulders would be provided to
accommodate for the addition of the
new ExpressLanes as part of Alternative
3. Retaining walls would be provided
where required to minimize and avoid
ROW acquisition. The reduction of
shoulder and lane widths allows for
accommodation of the proposed twolane ExpressLane facility without
significant proposed roadway widening.
However, in locations with the
following conditions, additional
roadway widening may be required:
• 12-foot wide weaving lane at
ExpressLane ingress/egress locations
• Widening of inside/outside shoulders
to maintain sight distance
Other improvements include
construction of retaining walls and
sound walls, utility improvements, and
drainage improvements.
• Alternative 4: Convert Existing
HOV Lane to Two ExpressLanes
(Standard Lanes and Shoulder Widths).
This build alternative would convert the
existing HOV lane, between I–10 and
US–101, to an Express Lane in each
direction, and a second Express Lane in
each direction would also be added,
while providing standard lane widths,
shoulder widths and stopping sight
distances. The freeway would be
widened and restriped to accommodate
the two ExpressLanes with a buffer
separating the ExpressLanes from the
general-purpose lanes. Dynamic pricing
would be deployed in the ExpressLanes
to ensure trip reliability and traffic flow.
Installation of toll and communication
infrastructure and modification/
installation of overhead signs would be
required. Alternative 4 proposes to
widen the freeway to the outside in
order to accommodate the proposed
standard two-lane Express Lane facility
as described. Retaining walls would be
provided where required to minimize
and avoid ROW acquisition.
Reconstruction of some existing freeway
structures would be required to
implement Alternative 4’s standard
roadway cross-section. Other
improvements include construction of
retaining walls and sound walls, utility
improvements, and drainage
improvements.
• Alternative 5: Add an Additional
HOV Lane (Non-standard Lane and
Shoulder Widths). This build alternative
would add an additional HOV lane,
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between I–10 and US–101, in each
direction. The freeway would be
widened and restriped to accommodate
the two HOV lanes with a buffer
separating the HOV lanes from the
general-purpose lanes. Alternative 5
proposes to widen the freeway to the
outside in order to accommodate the
proposed two-lane HOV facility as
described. Non-standard lanes and
shoulders would be provided in order to
accommodate for the addition of the
new HOV lane as part of Alternative 5.
Retaining walls would be provided
where required to minimize and avoid
ROW acquisition. The reduction of
shoulder and lane widths allows for
accommodation of the proposed twolane HOV facility without significant
proposed roadway widening. However,
in locations with the following
conditions, additional roadway
widening may be required:
• 12-foot wide weaving lane at HOV
ingress/egress locations
• Widening of inside/outside shoulder
to maintain sight distance
Other improvements include
construction of retaining walls and
sound walls, utility improvements, and
drainage improvements.
Anticipated Federal and State
approvals include permits under the
National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES), Clean
Water Act (CWA) Section 401 Water
Quality, CWA Section 404 Nationwide
Permit from the United States Army
Corps of Engineers (USACE), California
Fish and Game Code Section 1602 Lake
or Streambed Alteration Agreement
from the California Department of Fish
and Wildlife (CDFW), Section 7
Consultation with the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for
listed species under the Federal
Endangered Species Act (FESA), and
CDFW 2080.1 Consistency
Determination for listed species under
the California Endangered Species Act
(CESA).
Letters describing the proposed action
and soliciting comments will be sent to
appropriate Federal, State, Participating
Agencies, Tribal governments and
groups, local agencies, and to private
organizations and citizens who have
previously expressed or are known to
have interest in this proposal. The
public scoping process will officially
begin in August 2021. Virtual public
scoping meetings will be held in August
2021. Comments may be submitted
during the public scoping period via
mail, email, the project website
comment form, or the project hotline.
Submit comments by mail to the
following address: Ron Kosinski,
PO 00000
Frm 00146
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44133
Deputy District Director, Caltrans
District 7, 100 S Main Street, MS 16A,
Los Angeles, CA 90012. Submit
comments by email to 405expresslanes@
metro.net. Submit comments via
comment form on the project website at
www.metro.net/405expresslanes.
Submit oral comments by calling (213)
922–4860 to leave a voice recording. All
comments must be received no later
than September 1, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. In
addition, 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
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: August 4, 2021.
Rodney Whitfield,
Director, Financial Services, Federal Highway
Administration, California Division.
[FR Doc. 2021–17057 Filed 8–10–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–RY–P
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 11, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44132-44133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17057]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for the Interstate 405 ExpressLanes Project, in Los Angeles
County, California
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (Draft EIS) for the Interstate 405 (I-405) ExpressLanes
project.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 I-405 ExpressLanes project, a
proposed highway project in Los Angeles County, California.
DATES: This notice will be accompanied by a 30-day public scoping
comment period from Tuesday, August 3, 2021, to Wednesday, September 1,
2021. The deadline for comments is 5:00 p.m. (PST) on September 1,
2021. Three virtual public scoping meetings will be held on:
Saturday, August 14, 2021; 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Tuesday, August 17, 2021; 6-8 p.m.
Wednesday, August 18, 2021; 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The virtual meeting link will be made available on the
project website at www.metro.net/405expresslanes.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Caltrans, contact Ronald Kosinski,
Deputy District Director, Division of Environmental Planning, Caltrans
District 7, 100 S Main Street, MS 16A, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213)
507-4301, or email [email protected]. For FHWA, contact David
Tedrick, telephone (916) 498-5024, or email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective July 1, 2007, 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 a highway improvement project in Los Angeles County,
California.
The Project proposes to improve traffic conditions on I-405
starting in the south at Interstate 10 (I-10) and terminating in the
north at U.S. Highway 101 (US-101). The proposed Project will reduce
congestion, encourage carpooling and transit, improve trip reliability,
reduce degradation of the carpool and general-purpose lanes, increase
person throughput, and apply technology to help manage traffic. The
range of improvements may include, but not be limited to, converting
existing HOV lanes to Express Lanes or adding an additional Express
Lane in each direction and converting existing HOV lanes to
ExpressLanes.
Currently, the following alternatives are being considered, all
approximately 10 miles in length:
Alternative 1: The No-Build/No Action Alternative does not
include improvements to the existing lanes along I-405 between I-10 and
US-101.
Alternative 2: Convert Existing HOV to One ExpressLane
(Standard Lane and Shoulder Widths). This build alternative would
convert the existing HOV lane in each direction, along I-405 between I-
10 and US-101, to an ExpressLane. The northbound and southbound
directions of the freeway would be restriped within the existing
footprint to accommodate one 12-foot wide ExpressLane with a 4-foot
wide buffer separating the ExpressLane from the 12-foot wide general-
purpose lanes. Dynamic pricing would be deployed in the ExpressLane to
ensure trip reliability and traffic flow. Installation of toll and
communication infrastructure and modification/installation of overhead
signs would be required. Alternative 2 proposes to widen the freeway,
where necessary, to accommodate an additional weave lane at ExpressLane
ingress/egress locations and maintain stopping sight distance at
curves. Non-standard inside shoulders would be maintained in a few
locations where constraints exist, and standard 10-foot outside
shoulders would be provided where possible. Retaining walls would be
provided where required to minimize and avoid right-of-way (ROW)
acquisition. Other improvements include construction of retaining walls
and sound walls, utility improvements, and drainage improvements.
Alternative 3: Convert Existing HOV Lane to Two
ExpressLanes (Non-Standard Lane and Shoulder Widths). This build
alternative would convert the existing HOV lane to an ExpressLane and
add a second ExpressLane in each direction between I-10 and US-101. The
freeway would be widened and restriped to accommodate the two
ExpressLanes with a buffer separating the ExpressLanes from the
general-purpose lanes. Dynamic pricing would be deployed in the
ExpressLanes to ensure trip reliability and traffic flow.
[[Page 44133]]
Installation of toll and communication infrastructure and modification/
installation of overhead signs would be required. Alternative 3
proposes to widen the freeway to the outside in order to accommodate
the proposed two-lane ExpressLane facility as described. Non-standard
lanes and shoulders would be provided to accommodate for the addition
of the new ExpressLanes as part of Alternative 3. Retaining walls would
be provided where required to minimize and avoid ROW acquisition. The
reduction of shoulder and lane widths allows for accommodation of the
proposed two-lane ExpressLane facility without significant proposed
roadway widening. However, in locations with the following conditions,
additional roadway widening may be required:
12-foot wide weaving lane at ExpressLane ingress/egress
locations
Widening of inside/outside shoulders to maintain sight
distance
Other improvements include construction of retaining walls and
sound walls, utility improvements, and drainage improvements.
Alternative 4: Convert Existing HOV Lane to Two
ExpressLanes (Standard Lanes and Shoulder Widths). This build
alternative would convert the existing HOV lane, between I-10 and US-
101, to an Express Lane in each direction, and a second Express Lane in
each direction would also be added, while providing standard lane
widths, shoulder widths and stopping sight distances. The freeway would
be widened and restriped to accommodate the two ExpressLanes with a
buffer separating the ExpressLanes from the general-purpose lanes.
Dynamic pricing would be deployed in the ExpressLanes to ensure trip
reliability and traffic flow. Installation of toll and communication
infrastructure and modification/installation of overhead signs would be
required. Alternative 4 proposes to widen the freeway to the outside in
order to accommodate the proposed standard two-lane Express Lane
facility as described. Retaining walls would be provided where required
to minimize and avoid ROW acquisition. Reconstruction of some existing
freeway structures would be required to implement Alternative 4's
standard roadway cross-section. Other improvements include construction
of retaining walls and sound walls, utility improvements, and drainage
improvements.
Alternative 5: Add an Additional HOV Lane (Non-standard
Lane and Shoulder Widths). This build alternative would add an
additional HOV lane, between I-10 and US-101, in each direction. The
freeway would be widened and restriped to accommodate the two HOV lanes
with a buffer separating the HOV lanes from the general-purpose lanes.
Alternative 5 proposes to widen the freeway to the outside in order to
accommodate the proposed two-lane HOV facility as described. Non-
standard lanes and shoulders would be provided in order to accommodate
for the addition of the new HOV lane as part of Alternative 5.
Retaining walls would be provided where required to minimize and avoid
ROW acquisition. The reduction of shoulder and lane widths allows for
accommodation of the proposed two-lane HOV facility without significant
proposed roadway widening. However, in locations with the following
conditions, additional roadway widening may be required:
12-foot wide weaving lane at HOV ingress/egress locations
Widening of inside/outside shoulder to maintain sight distance
Other improvements include construction of retaining walls and
sound walls, utility improvements, and drainage improvements.
Anticipated Federal and State approvals include permits under the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), Clean Water
Act (CWA) Section 401 Water Quality, CWA Section 404 Nationwide Permit
from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), California Fish
and Game Code Section 1602 Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement from
the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Section 7
Consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
for listed species under the Federal Endangered Species Act (FESA), and
CDFW 2080.1 Consistency Determination for listed species under the
California Endangered Species Act (CESA).
Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, Participating Agencies, Tribal
governments and groups, local agencies, and to private organizations
and citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have
interest in this proposal. The public scoping process will officially
begin in August 2021. Virtual public scoping meetings will be held in
August 2021. Comments may be submitted during the public scoping period
via mail, email, the project website comment form, or the project
hotline. Submit comments by mail to the following address: Ron
Kosinski, Deputy District Director, Caltrans District 7, 100 S Main
Street, MS 16A, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Submit comments by email to
[email protected]. Submit comments via comment form on the
project website at www.metro.net/405expresslanes. Submit oral comments
by calling (213) 922-4860 to leave a voice recording. All comments must
be received no later than September 1, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. In addition, 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 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: August 4, 2021.
Rodney Whitfield,
Director, Financial Services, Federal Highway Administration,
California Division.
[FR Doc. 2021-17057 Filed 8-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-RY-P
