[Federal Register: September 7, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 173)]
[Notices]
[Page 52846]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07se06-107]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga
County, OH
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed
project in the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victoria Peters, Office Director,
Office of Engineering and Operations, Federal Highway Administration,
200 N. High Street, Room 328, Columbus, Ohio 43215, Telephone: (614)
280-6896.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Ohio
Department of Transportation (ODOT), will prepare an EIS for proposed
improvements to Interstates 71, 77 and 90, and connecting radial
freeways and local roadways, known as the Cleveland Innerbelt. The
Cleveland Innerbelt is routed across the Cuyahoga River valley and
around the south and east sides of downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The
project termini are located approximately at the merge/diverse point of
State Route 176, (the Jennings Freeway) and Interstate 71 southwest of
downtown, south of the existing Interstate 90/77 Central Interchange on
I-77 south of downtown, and east of the Interstate 90/State Route 2
interchange east of downtown along the shore of Lake Erie.
On September 18, 2001 the FHWA issued a Notice of Intent, (66 FR
49448, Sep. 27, 2001), for the Cleveland Innerbelt action, which was in
the planning phase of project development, indicating that an
Environmental Assessment or EIS would be prepared. Since 2001 project
development and public involvement activities have been ongoing. To
effectively and efficiently manage the Cleveland Innerbelt Project the
FHWA, in cooperation with the ODOT, has decided to prepare an EIS for
the proposed Project.
The purpose of the Cleveland Innerbelt Project is to improve the
physical condition of the existing bridge decks and roadway pavements,
improve the operational performance of the roadway system, improve the
safety of the roadway system, and improve the access provided by the
roadway system, while supporting community goals and objectives.
Alternatives under consideration include: (1) the no-build (Defined as:
maintaining/reconstructing the facility in kind); and (2)
rehabilitation/upgrading of the existing infrastructure combined with
construction of new facilities on modified alignment(s).
Letters describing the proposed Project and soliciting comments
will be sent to appropriate Federal, and State, agencies known to have
interest in this proposal. Moreover, public involvement activities will
continue to facilitate the further development of alternatives, and to
identify and quantify the social, economic, and environmental impacts
of the proposed Project. A public hearing will be held. Public notice
will be given of the time and place of the 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 relating to this proposed
Project are addressed, and all significant issues identified, comments
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or
questions concerning this proposed Project and the EIS should be sent
to the FHWA 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 31, 2006.
Victoria Peters,
Office Director, Office of Engineering and Operations, Federal Highway
Administration, Columbus, Ohio.
[FR Doc. E6-14814 Filed 9-6-06; 8:45 am]
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