Environmental Impact Statement: Kern County, CA

Leonard E. Brown
Federal Highway Administration
February 7, 1994

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 25 (Monday, February 7, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2631]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 7, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration

 

Environmental Impact Statement: Kern County, CA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Tier 1 
Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for a proposed 
transportation project in Kern County, California. The Tier 1 EIS is 
intended to satisfy requirements for environmental evaluation of route 
location and right-of-way acquisition for corridor protection. Prior to 
facility construction, Tier 2 project-specific environmental 
document(s) will be prepared.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Leonard E. Brown, Chief, District Operations--C, California Division 
(HC-CA), 980 9th Street, suite 400, Sacramento, California 95814-2724, 
916/551-1307.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the California 
Department of Transportation (Caltrans), will prepare a Tier 1 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to identify a route and protect a 
corridor for Route 58 between Interstate 5 and State Route 99, a 
distance of 32.2 kilometers (20 miles), in Kern County and the City of 
Bakersfield. Existing Route 58 within the project limits is a two-lane 
conventional highway from I-5 to Allen Road, a four-lane conventional 
highway from Allen Road to SR 99, and a four-lane freeway east of SR 
99. Existing development along the present roadway alignment constrains 
opportunities to upgrade to freeway standards and to accommodate 
additional travel modes. The existing facility operates at Level of 
Service (LOS) C to E, and is expected to decline to LOS D to F by year 
2010. Additional capacity is needed to meet future travel demand in the 
transportation corridor.
    Alternatives under consideration are: (1) The ``No-Project'' 
alternative; (2) a Transportation Systems Management alternative 
providing low cost, incremental improvements; (3) a Mass Transit 
Alternative providing commuter/light rail and or bus transit; (4) the 
Seventh Standard alternative, a 32.2 kilometer (20 mile) corridor 
parallel to Seventh Standard Road; (5) the Rosedale Highway 
alternative, a 29 kilometer (18 mile) corridor primarily parallel to 
and approximately 0.4 kilometer (one-fourth mile) from Rosedale 
Highway; and (6) the Kern River alternative, a 24.1 kilometer (15 mile) 
corridor north of the Kern River and Stockdale Highway. The roadway 
alternative used for route planning purposes and right-of-way corridor 
definition consists of an eight-lane freeway with an 18.3 meter (60-
foot) median and 3.1 meter (10-foot) shoulder. This corridor width 
would also accommodate a six-lane freeway with capacity for a transit 
or High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) facility. Access control and 
interchanges with existing highways and local streets are included in 
determining the corridor examined.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments were 
sent to the appropriate Federal, State and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have expressed or are known to 
have interest in this proposal. Public scoping and community 
participation meetings were held November 17, 1992 and August 12, 1993 
at Fruitvale Junior High School, 2114 Calloway Drive, Bakersfield. An 
agency scoping meeting is scheduled at the Kern County Public Services 
Building, 2700 ``M'' Street in Bakersfield at 1 p.m. February 24, 1994. 
The Public Participation Program for this study includes additional 
community information meetings and a Public Hearing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action is addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and 
suggestions are invited from all interested parties. If you have any 
information regarding cultural resources, endangered species or other 
sensitive issues which could be affected by this project, please notify 
this office. Also, please indicate if you would like to be notified at 
the completion of the above technical studies.
    Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should be directed to the FHWA at 
the address provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)

    Issued on: January 26, 1994.
Leonard E. Brown,
Chief, District Operations--C; Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 94-2631 Filed 2-4-94; 8:45 am]
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