Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 25 / Tuesday, February 7, 1995 / Notices 7265

recommendation, while deferring the

selection of specific route and station

location until the next stage of study,

preliminary engineering. The

Alternative 12 concept included:

—17 miles of busway or special lanes

for carpools and buses parallel to IH

94 between downtown Milwaukee

and the City of Waukesha,

—16 miles of light rail transit extending

from Glendale through downtown

Milwaukee to the County Grounds in

western Milwaukee County, and a

—30% increase in metro area bus

service split equally between

Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties.

While Alternative 12 appeared to be

the concept that best addressed the

needs of the corridor, there were issues

and concerns about specific route

options for light rail and the busway. It

became apparent that more detailed

work would be required on the exact

alignments of light rail transit and

special lanes as well as their benefits,

costs, and impacts before a locally

preferred alternative could be

recommended.

Concurrent with the AA/EIS study,

the WisDOT was evaluating alternatives

for modernization of the IH 94 corridor

in Waukesha and Milwaukee Counties,

including reconstruction of the Zoo,

Stadium, and Marquette interchanges.

The IH 94 modernization studies were

considered as part of the No Build

scenario in the AA/EIS. However, the IH

94 modernization studies had to

consider how transit alternatives

presented in the AA/EIS would affect

design alternatives.

In order to be consistent with recent

rule changes to 23 CFR part 450, the

FTA, FHWA, WisDOT and the

Southeastern Wisconsin Regional

Planning Commission (the metropolitan

planning organization, or MPO, for the

region) agreed that the IH 94

modernization studies and the EastWest Corridor transit studies be

combined in a Draft EIS and Major

Investment Study (DEIS/MIS).

The DEIS/MIS will address issues

concerning specific route options,

alignments, and location of special lanes

for potential transit facilities and will

also define and evaluate IH 94 highway

improvements. The scope of work and

alternatives proposed for evaluation in

the DEIS/MIS are consistent with the

Wisconsin Department of

Transportation’s recently endorsed

Translinks 21 statewide transportation

plan as well as the Southeastern

Wisconsin Regional Planning

Commission’s Regional Transportation

System Plan, adopted on December 7,

1994.

Among the alternatives that the DEIS/

MIS will evaluate are the No-Action and

Transportation System Management

(TSM) alternatives; light rail transit,

freeway modernization, with and

without special lanes for buses and

carpools; and combinations of freeway

modernization and fixed transit

alternatives. Any new prudent and

feasible alternatives generated through

the Scoping process will also be

considered.

Scoping will be accomplished

through correspondence with interested

persons, organizations, and federal, state

and local agencies and two public

Scoping meetings. Written comments on

the scope of alternatives and the type of

impacts to be considered should be sent

to WisDOT by March 16, 1995.

FHWA, FTA and WisDOT invite

interested individuals, organizations,

and federal, state and local agencies to

participate in defining the alternatives

to be evaluated in the MIS/EIS and

identifying any significant social,

economic, or environmental issues

related to the alternatives.

An information packet describing the

purpose of the project, the proposed

alternatives, the impact areas to be

evaluated, the citizen involvement

program, and the preliminary project

schedule is being mailed to affected

federal, state and local agencies and to

interested parties on record. Others may

request the Scoping materials by

contacting Mr. James Beckwith at the

address listed above.

Scoping comments may be made

verbally at any of the public Scoping

meetings or in writing. Scoping

comments should focus on identifying

specific social, economic or

environmental impacts to be evaluated

and suggesting alternatives which are

less costly or less environmentally

damaging while achieving similar

transportation objectives. Scoping is not

the approprite time to indicate a

preference for a particular alternative.

Comments on preferences should be

communicated after the DEIS/MIS has

been completed. If you wish to be

placed on the mailing list to receive

further information as the project

develops, contact Mr. James Beckwith at

the address listed above.

Probable Effects

FHWA, FTA and WisDOT plan to

evaluate in the EIS all significant social,

economic and environmental impacts of

the alternatives. Among the primary

issues are transportation service

changes, including transit cost, service,

patronage change, and its financial

implications; the effect on traffic

movement and railroad operations;

community impacts, including land use

planning and zoning compatibility,

neighborhood compatibility, local and

regional economic change, aesthetics,

and utility relocation; cultural resource

impacts, including effects on historic,

archeological, and park resources; and

natural resource impacts, including air

quality, noise and vibration, removal of

pre-existing hazardous wastes, and

effects on water resources and quality,

natural features, and ecosystems. The

proposed impact assessment and its

evaluation criteria will take into account

both positive and negative impacts

direct and indirect impacts, short-term

(construction) and long-term (operation)

impacts, and site-specific and corridorwide impacts. Evaluation criteria will be

consistent with the applicable Federal,

State of Wisconsin, and local standards,

criteria, regulations, and policies.

Mitigation measures will be explored for

any adverse impacts that are identified

as part of the analysis.

FHWA/FTA Procedures

In accordance with the Federal Aid

Highway Act and FHWA policy, and the

Federal Transit Act, as amended, and

FTA policy, the DEIS/MIS will be

prepared in conjunction with an

analysis of alternatives and initial

Preliminary Engineering. After its

publication, the DEIS/MIS will be

available for public and agency review

and comment, and a public hearing will

be held. On the basis of the DEIS/MIS

and the comments received, WisDOT

will select a locally preferred alternative

for its major investment strategy. The

Regional Transportation System Plan

and Transportation Improvement

Program will be revised to incorporate

the selected strategy. Detailed

Preliminary Engineering and

preparation of a Final EIS will be

completed following FHWA and FTA

approval.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning

and Construction; 20.500, Federal Transit

Capital Improvement Grants; and 20.507,

Federal Transit Capital Operating Assistance

Formula Grants. The regulations

implementing Executive Order 12372

regarding intergovernmental consultation on

Federal programs and activities apply to this

program.

Issued on: January 27, 1995.

Richard Schimelfenyg,

Statewide Projects Engineer, FHWA.

[FR Doc. 95–2882 Filed 2–6–95; 8:45 am]

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