[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 115 (Thursday, June 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 32412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15022]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Cambria County, PA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed 
transportation improvement project on S.R. 0056 (Route 56) in 
Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David W. Cough, P.E., Director of 
Operations, Federal Highway Administration, Pennsylvania Division 
Office, 228 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101-1720, (717) 221-3411 or 
Vincent S. Greenland, P.E., Project Manager, Pennsylvania Department of 
Transportation, District 9-0, 1620 North Juniata Street, Hollidaysburg, 
Pennsylvania 16648, (814) 696-7179.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the 
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT), will prepare an 
EIS to identify and evaluate transportation improvements to Route 56 
through the West End of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Included in the 
overall project will be the development of a reasonable range of 
alternatives that meet the project need and supporting environmental 
documentation and analysis to recommend a preferred alternative for 
implementation. An extensive public outreach/involvement program has 
been developed specifically for this project.
    Based on preliminary traffic studies performed as part of the Route 
56 West End Traffic Study in 1998, improvements to the highway system 
through Johnstown's West End are necessary to improve traffic 
conditions. Identified project needs included safety, geometric 
deficiencies, deficient operational characteristics including poor 
access and traffic flow with heavy truck volumes, and transportation 
factors limiting economic vitality.
    Possible alternatives to the project include: No build; 
transportation system management (TSM); relocation alternative to the 
east through Minersville and around Coopersdale connecting to S.R. 
0403; relocation alternative to the east through Minersville and around 
Coopersdale crossing over 403 and the Conemaugh River prior to 
connecting back to Route 56 north of Oakhurst; partial relocation 
alternative that crosses the Conemaugh River north of Fairfield Avenue, 
follows S.R. 403 through Coopersdale and then crosses back over the 
Conemaugh River prior to connecting back to Route 56 north of Oakhurst; 
partial relocation alternative that runs along the Norfolk Southern 
railroad tracks and the Conemaugh River east of Morrelville and 
Oakhurst connecting back to Route 56 north of Oakhurst; relocation 
alternative to the east through Minersville that crosses the Conemaugh 
River southwest of Coopersdale and runs along the Norfolk Southern 
railroad tracks and the Conemaugh River east of Morrelville and 
Oakhurst connecting back to Route 56 north of Oakhurst; a relocation 
alternative that entails a combination of the alternatives described 
above; and two additional relocation alternatives yet to be defined. 
These alternatives will be the basis for a recommendation of an 
alternative to be carried forward for detailed environmental and 
engineering studies in the EIS. Incorporated into and studied with the 
various alternatives will be design variations of grade and alignment.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate federal, state, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are 
known to have interest in this project. Public involvement and agency 
coordination will be maintained throughout the development of the EIS.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to the proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues are identified, 
comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. 
Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS 
should be directed to PENNDOT at the address posted 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.)

James A. Cheatham,
FHWA Division Administrator, Harrisburg, PA.
[FR Doc. 01-15022 Filed 6-13-01; 8:45 am]
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