Environmental Impact Statement: San Diego County, CA

Cindy Vigue
Federal Highway Administration
22 November 2010

[Federal Register: November 22, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 224)]
[Notices]               
[Page 71179-71180]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22no10-117]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

 
Environmental Impact Statement: San Diego County, CA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA, on behalf of the California Department of 
Transportation (Caltrans), is issuing this notice to advise the public 
that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared

[[Page 71180]]

for a proposed highway project in San Diego County, California.

DATES: Public Scoping Meeting: January 12, 2011; 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Sherman Heights Community Center, 2258 Island Avenue, San 
Diego, California 92102.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Hovey, Environmental Analysis 
Branch Chief, California Department of Transportation, District 11--
Environmental Division, MS 242, 4050 Taylor Street, San Diego, CA 
92110, Regular Office Hours 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Telephone number 619-688-
0240, e-mail Kevin.Hovey@dot.ca.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective July 1, 2007, the Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA) assigned, and Caltrans assumed environmental 
responsibilities for this project pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327. Caltrans 
as the delegated National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) agency will 
prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on a proposal for a 
highway project in San Diego County, California.
    The project is approximately three miles in length and its project 
limits are post miles (PM) 1.4 to 4.4 along SR-94, PM 12.95 to 13.51 
along Interstate 805 (I-805), and PM R0.655 to R3.4 along State Route 
15 (SR-15). The proposed action includes the addition of two dedicated 
HOV/BRT lanes and, depending on the alternative, the following 
additional improvements: Relocating left-hand connectors; constructing 
new interchanges and improvements along the existing connectors; 
removal, replacement, and relocation of bridge overcrossings; and 
drainage modifications within the project corridor. Retaining/Sound 
walls would also be added and new right-of-way (ROW) would be required.
    Two build alternatives and one no build alternatives are under 
consideration. The No Build Alternative assumes that no improvements 
would be made along the SR-94 project corridor and that conditions 
would remain the same. No HOV/BRT lanes would be constructed, and no 
other freeway improvements would be made. Maintaining existing 
conditions would not manage the available capacity on SR-94 and would 
not facilitate the use of HOV/BRT.
    Alternative 1 would provide a HOV/BRT lane in each direction of SR-
94 between I-5 and I-805. These lanes would be constructed in the 
median of SR 94. The HOV/BRT lanes also include direct connectors at I-
805 in the north-west and east-south directions and at SR-15 in the 
south-west and east-north directions. This alternative would remove the 
left hand branch connectors at the SR-94/SR-15 interchange and replace 
them with right hand branch connectors. The estimated capital cost of 
this alternative is 465 million dollars.
    Alternative 2 would provide a HOV/BRT lane in each direction on SR-
94 between I-5 and I-805. These lanes would be constructed in the 
median of SR 94. The HOV/BRT lanes also include direct connectors at I-
805 in the north-west and east-south directions, and at I-15 in the 
south-west and east-north directions. The I-805/SR-94 HOV/BRT connector 
would stay elevated over SR-15 and 32nd Street and touchdown west of 
30th Street. The existing left hand branch connectors at SR-15 would be 
left in place. The estimated capital cost of this alternative is 452 
million dollars.
    This project will be subject to the Section 6002 Environmental 
Review process and potential final approvals for the proposed project 
include, but are not limited to, consultation with the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service under Section 7 of the Federal Endangered Species Act; 
conformance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act; conformance with 
Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966; 
conformance under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act; and conformance of the Clean Air Act.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, Participating Agencies, and 
local agencies, and to private organizations and citizens who have 
previously expressed or are known to have interest in this proposal. A 
public scoping meeting will be held at the Sherman Heights Community 
Center in San Diego, California on January 12, 2011 from 5 p.m. to 8 
p.m. In addition, a public hearing will be held. Public notice will be 
given of the time and place of the meeting and hearing. The Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement 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: November 16, 2010.
Cindy Vigue,
Director, State Programs, Federal Highway Administration, Sacramento, 
California.
[FR Doc. 2010-29338 Filed 11-19-10; 8:45 am]
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