Rescission of the Notice of Intent for an Environmental Impact Statement: Hartford County, Connecticut

Topics:  Interstate Highway System

Amy D. Jackson-Grove
Federal Highway Administration
20 April 2020

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 76 (Monday, April 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21914-21915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08273]


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 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Rescission of the Notice of Intent for an Environmental Impact 
Statement: Hartford County, Connecticut

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that we 
are rescinding the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the I-84 Hartford Project in Hartford 
County, Connecticut.

[[Page 21915]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy D. Jackson-Grove, Division 
Administrator, FHWA, Connecticut Division, 628 Hebron Avenue, Suite 
303, Glastonbury, CT 06033; Telephone: (860) 494-659-6703.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, as the lead Federal Agency, in 
cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), 
as the joint lead agency and local project sponsor, published an NOI in 
the Federal Register on September 30, 2016, at 81 FR 67421, to prepare 
an EIS on a proposal for transportation improvements on I-84 between 
Flatbush Avenue (Interchange 45) and I-91 (Interchange 53) in Hartford, 
Connecticut.
    The purpose of the proposed project, was to address structural 
deficiencies, improve traffic operations and safety, and improve 
mobility on and along the 1-84 corridor within the project limits, 
while maintaining access for the City of Hartford and adjacent 
communities. The EIS studied a reasonable range of alternatives to 
address the proposed project's purpose and need. Alternatives under 
consideration included (1) No Build Alternative; (2) Elevated Highway 
Alternative (3) Lowered Highway Alternative and (4) Tunneled Highway 
Alternative. An internet website was established to provide information 
on the proposed project and can be accessed at http://www.i84hartford.com. Numerous Public Informational, Agency and Project 
Advisory Committee Meetings were held over the course of the project 
but a draft EIS was not completed or released.
    The FHWA is rescinding the NOI because the local sponsor has chosen 
to pursue a larger scale study looking at mobility in the Hartford area 
and intends to utilize the Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) 
process to identify possible future projects. The new study, to be 
called the Greater Hartford Mobility Study, will be initiated to 
identify and prioritize possible projects, based on regional purpose 
and needs. The FHWA and CTDOT will initiate new NEPA studies, as 
appropriate, to assess the potential environmental impacts of future 
actions that involve the study area. Comments and questions concerning 
this action should be directed to FHWA at the address provided.

(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.)

Amy D. Jackson-Grove,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-08273 Filed 4-17-20; 8:45 am]
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