Federal Highway Administration 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). These actions relate to a proposed highway project, the State Route (SR) 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project, in the State of Washington. These actions provide approval for the project.

This notice rescinds the Notice of Intent for preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed highway, State Route 603/43, to provide a connection between Interstate 10 south of Kiln and Interstate 59 in the City of Picayune, Hancock and Pearl River Counties, Mississippi. The original Notice of Intent for this EIS process was published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2009.

This notice provides information regarding the FHWA's finding that a Buy America waiver is appropriate for the use of non-domestic \1/2\'' x 0.008 steel fiber with ultimate tensile strength of 290ksi for experimental use in Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) in Oregon and New York.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 39(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, Tooele Midvalley Highway, from I-80 to State Route 36 Tooele County, State of Utah. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

Section 5207 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) established the Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program (STEP). The FHWA anticipates that the STEP or a similar program to provide resources for national research on issues related to planning, environment, and realty will be included in future surface transportation legislation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, the FHWA expects to seek partnerships that can leverage limited research funding in the STEP with other stakeholders and partners in order to increase the total amount of resources available to meet the Nation's surface transportation research needs. The purpose of this notice is to announce the STEP implementation strategy for FY 2012 and to request suggested lines of research for the FY 2012 STEP via the STEP Web site at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/index.htm in anticipation of future surface transportation legislation.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared to address operational and safety issues on three sections of Trunk Highway (TH) 60.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans, that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project along State Route 15, San Diego, CA, PM: R3.8-R6.0 in the County of San Diego, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

This notice announces actions taken by FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to the I-405, Bellevue to Lynnwood Improvement Project, located in the cities of Bellevue; Kirkland, Bothell, Lynnwood, and the counties of King and Snohomish along Interstate (I)-405 in the State of Washington. These actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is incorporated in our regulations, approved by the Federal Highway Administration, and recognized as the national standard for traffic control devices used on all streets, highways, bikeways, and private roads open to public travel. The FHWA proposes to revise certain standards, guidance, options, and supporting information relating to traffic control devices in Part 1 (General) of the MUTCD. The proposed changes are intended to clarify the definition of Standard statements in the MUTCD and clarify the use of engineering judgment and studies in the application of traffic control devices.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(I)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, Idaho 16, I-84 to Idaho 44 in Ada and Canyon Counties in the State of Idaho [FHWA-ID-EIS-09-01-F, Federal Aid project number A-009(963), and Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), Key Number 009963].

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, I-5: Fern Valley Interchange in Jackson County, Oregon. This action grants approval for the project.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Tier I Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the proposed interstate conversion of U.S. Highway 41 in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Winnebago, Outagamie, and Brown Counties, Wisconsin by WisDOT in conformance with 40 CFR part 1500 and the FHWA regulations. The Project: The FHWA, in cooperation with the WisDOT, will prepare a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposal to convert U.S. Highway 41 (US 41) in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Winnebago, Outagamie, and Brown Counties, Wisconsin, approximately 142 miles in length, from a principal arterial on the National Highway System to an Interstate Highway (IH). Under Sections 1304(b) and (c) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity ActA Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) the 142-mile U.S. Highway 41 corridor between Interstate Route 94 via Interstate Route 894 and Highway 45 near Milwaukee and Interstate Route 43 near Green Bay was designated as a High Priority Corridor on the National Highway System and further, as a future part of the Interstate System. U.S. Highway 41 may be added to the Interstate System at such time as the Secretary determines that the segment meets the Interstate design standards in 23 U.S.C. 109(b). The proposed project is intended to address the requirements necessary to obtain FHWA concurrence to convert U.S. Highway 41 from a principal arterial to an Interstate Highway and officially sign the corridor as an Interstate facility. Improvements to upgrade the present US 41 corridor to interstate highway standards will be described in the Tier 1 EIS. The proposed improvements are intended to be environmentally sound. The proposed Tier 1 EIS project is intended to consider cumulative and indirect environmental impacts of the proposed IH system designation, including alternatives development and analysis. The Tier 1 environmental document will also inventory and document existing geometric, safety, operational and planning features, review existing geometric and safety standards and operational policy and standards, and determine the existing corridor's deficiencies as an Interstate facility. The Tier 1 EIS will be completed to a Record of Decision indicating a broad strategy for upgrading the existing corridor to IH standards. A scoping process will be initiated that involves all appropriate federal and state agencies. This will continue throughout the study as an ongoing process. A public information effort will be initiated in fall 2011 to include those agencies, local agencies, and private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed, or are known to have, interest in this proposal. This effort will also inform the public living in the study area. Public information meetings will be held across the study area to engage the regional community in the decision-making process and obtain public comment. In addition, public hearings will be held to present the findings of the Tier 1 EIS. Public notice will be given concerning the time and place of the informational meetings and public hearings. The Tier 1 EIS will be available for public and agency review and comment prior to the public hearings. 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 Tier 1 EIS should be directed to FHWA or the Wisconsin Department of Transportation at the addresses provided under the heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. (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.)

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA and the USACE that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to proposed highway projects, including I-69 from Evansville to Indianapolis in the Counties of Vanderburgh, Warrick, Gibson, Pike, Daviess, Greene, Monroe, Morgan, Johnson and Marion, State of Indiana, and a 13.1 mile segment of I-69 in the Counties of Warrick and Gibson, State of Indiana. These actions grant or amend licenses, permits, and approvals for the projects.

This notice announces actions taken by the USACE that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, the Monroe Connector/Bypass, from US 74 near I-485 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, to US 74 between the towns of Wingate and Marshville in Union County, North Carolina. The Monroe Connector/Bypass is also known as State Transportation Improvement Program Project R-3329/R-2559. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that we are rescinding the Notice of Intent (NOI) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for improvements that were proposed for the Highway 35 Corridor from Norfolk to South Sioux City (N35) in Nebraska [DPS-35-4(119)]. The NOI was published in the Federal Register on March 4, 2002, and the DEIS availability was published in the Federal Register on January 11, 2008. This rescission is based on a lack of available funding for the full corridor proposal, which led to a reduction in scope to focus on the area of more defined need within the Norfolk area. The reduction in scope has brought the proposed action below the threshold of an EIS.

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) as lead agencies, and in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS), announce the availability of the Final Environmental Assessment (Ea) for the Metropolitan Branch Trail Project, pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347; the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500- 1508); and the FHWA Environmental Impact and Related Procedures (23 CFR 771).

The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) has requested FHWA approval of MDTA's proposed plan to temporarily close a portion of I-395 (just south of Conway Street in Baltimore City) from approximately 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 1, 2011, until approximately 6 a.m. on Tuesday, September 6, 2011. The closure is requested to accommodate the construction and operation of the Baltimore Grand Prix (BGP), which will use the streets of downtown Baltimore as a race course. The request is based on the provisions in 23 CFR 658.11 which authorizes the deletion of segments of the federally designated routes that make up the National Network designated in Appendix A of 23 CFR Part 658 upon approval by the FHWA. The FHWA seeks comments from the general public on this request submitted by the MDTA for a deletion in accordance with section 658.11(d) for the considerations discussed in this notice.

Pursuant to 40 CFR 1508.22 and 43 TAC Sec. 2.5(e)(2), the FHWA and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) are issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared for the proposed United States (US) Highway 181 Harbor Bridge replacement/State Highway (SH) 286 (Crosstown Expressway) improvement project in Nueces County, Texas. The project and study limits include the US 181 and Beach Avenue interchange on the north and the SH 286 and Morgan Avenue interchange on the south. Areas within the city of Corpus Christi are included in the study area. The project will be developed in compliance with Section 6002 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

This notice proposes updated regulations to enhance the integration of value engineering (VE) analysis in the planning and development of highway improvement projects. The intent of these actions is to bring the FHWA's VE regulations up-to-date and consistent with prior changes in legislation and regulations.

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of a new information collection that is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Tier One Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for the Illiana Corridor Project in Will and Kankakee Counties, Illinois and Lake County, Indiana.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that 11 States have rescinded Notices of Intent (NOIs) to prepare 21 Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for proposed highway projects. The FHWA Division Offices, in consultation with the State departments of transportation (State DOTs), determined that six projects were no longer viable and have formally cancelled the projects. No further Federal resources will be expended on these projects; the environmental review process has been terminated. Seven projects have been reduced in scope or found not to have significant impacts and now meet the criteria for an Environmental Assessment (EA) or a Categorical Exclusion (CE). Six projects are currently undergoing re-scoping. After additional study, two individual projects were combined into a new single corridor project and a new EIS will be prepared.

This notice announces that the FHWA and the Utah Department of Transportation (State) plan to renew and amend an existing MOU established pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 326 under which the FHWA has assigned to the State the FHWA's responsibility for determining whether a project is categorically excluded from preparation of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (NEPA) and for carrying out certain other responsibilities for conducting environmental reviews, consultations, and related activities for Federal-aid highway projects. The proposed amendments include removal of language referring to existing programmatic agreements between the State and FHWA concerning categorical exclusions. This change is proposed to make the processing of these documents more clearly defined. The public is invited to comment on any aspect of the proposed MOU, including the scope of environmental review, consultation, and other activities which are assigned.

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on December 29, 2010. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of a new information collection that is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Registerby the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.