FRA Finding of No Significant Impact 

City of Decatur Brush College Road - Faries Parkway Grade Separation Project 

Federal Railroad Administration 

Finding of No Significant Impacts (FONSI) 

For 

City of Decatur Brush College Road - Faries Parkway Grade Separation Project 

In 2014, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), in coordination with the Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA), prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the City of Decatur Brush 

College Road - Faries Parkway Grade Separation Project (Project)1

 to evaluate potential impacts to the 

human and natural environment, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 

FHWA issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Project’s EA on October 2, 2014, and 

subsequently approved two NEPA re-evaluations for the Project on February 4, 2019, and July 19, 2023. 

The City of Decatur (Grantee) received Congressionally-directed funding under the Federal Railroad 

Administration (FRA) Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements 

(CRISI) Program for final design activities. Subsequently, FRA selected the Grantee to receive additional 

funding under the FY 2022 Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Program for final design activities and 

construction of the Project. 

The Project includes improvements to a 1.21-mile section of Brush College Road in Decatur, Illinois. 

Major project components include adding two lanes to Brush College Road between Williams Street and 

Faries Parkway, replacing the existing underpass at the Norfolk Southern (NS) railroad yard with an 

overpass, constructing a grade separated interchange at Faries Parkway to include a crossing of the 

existing NS rail line at that intersection, adding additional turn lanes at the Williams Street intersection, 

and adding traffic signal and turn lanes at the entrance to the Archer Daniels Midland Company James 

Randall Research Center. 

Pursuant to 40 CFR § 1506.3(c), FRA reviewed the FHWA environmental documentation and concluded 

FRA’s federal action, as described above, is substantially the same as the action evaluated in FHWA’s EA 

(October 2014) and subsequent NEPA re-evaluations (February 4, 2019, and July 19, 2023). 

Pursuant to 40 CFR § 1506.3(a), FRA determined the FHWA documentation is sufficient and meets the 

standards for an adequate EA under NEPA (42 U.S.C. §§ 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental 

Quality NEPA implementing regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and the FHWA/FTA/FRA joint 

regulations implementing NEPA (23 CFR Part 771). 

Pursuant to 36 CFR § 800.2(a)(2), FRA designated FHWA the lead Federal agency for compliance with 

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 306108) and its implementing 

regulations (36 CFR part 800) (Section 106). The FHWA environmental documentation concluded that 

the Project will not result in adverse effects to historic properties. In addition, the FHWA environmental 

documentation supports the conclusion under Section 4(f) of the United States Department of 

Transportation Act (49 USC § 303) and the FHWA/FTA/FRA joint implementing regulations (23 CFR part 

1 For clarification purposes, the referenced 2014 EA prepared by FHWA is titled Brush College Road (FAU7448) from William Street to Faries 

Parkway, City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois. 
FRA Finding of No Significant Impact

City of Decatur Brush College Road - Faries Parkway Grade Separation Project

774) (Section 4(f)) that the Project would result in a de minimis finding for the acquisition of 

approximately 5,218 square feet of ROW from a parking lot owned by the Decatur Park District, to 

include a construction easement of 2,978 square feet.

FRA has carefully considered the Project record and is adopting and incorporating by reference FHWA’s 

EA and NEPA re-evaluations. Based on the analysis therein, FRA has determined the Project would have 

no foreseeable significant impact on the quality of the human or natural environment provided it is 

implemented in accordance with the environmental commitments identified in FHWA’s EA and adopted 

by FRA in Attachment A. FRA, relying on FHWA’s evaluation as the lead Federal agency, has also 

satisfied requirements under Section 106, Section 4(f) and related laws. 

 

Stephanie B. Perez, PG Date

Chief, Environmental Review Division

Office of Environmental Program Management

Federal Railroad Administration

 

ephanie B. Perez, PG 

October 19, 2023
Attachment A: Environmental Commitments 

FRA Finding of No Significant Impact

City of Decatur Brush College Road - Faries Parkway Grade 

Separation Project October 19, 2023 

Environmental Commitments 

Access Road:

• Grantee will adhere to the environmental commitments outlined in the 2014 FHWA

Environmental Assessment regarding the construction of a new access road.

Tree Removal: 

• Grantee will conduct tree removal and replacement in accordance with IDOT Departmental

Policy D&E- 18 Preservation and Replacement of Trees.

Permits/Certifications Required

Grantee will obtain the following required permits: 

• Construction storm water permit under Section 402 of the Clean Water Act; obtained from the

Illinois EPA.

• Nationwide permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for intermittent stream crossings;

corresponding blanket 401 permit from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

• Notification of demolition and renovation permit from the Illinois EPA.

• If the Project requires the removal of underground storage tanks (USTs), a removal permit must

be obtained from the State Office of the Fire Marshall.