3298 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 1995 / Notices

and will be updated appropriately as

statewide and MPO plans are updated.

Inclusion in the TIPs: The bicycle and

pedestrian element of the transportation

plan should be implemented by

including identified projects in the TIP

in accordance with priorities

established by MPO’s, States, and transit

operators, and in accordance with 23

CFR Part 450, sections 216 and 324.

5. Evaluation of progress: Using the

performance measures developed

previously, regularly determine progress

in reaching the identified vision and

goals. Appropriate changes to either the

vision and goals or to the strategies and

proposed projects should be made.

6. Public Involvement: As required by

the ISTEA and the FHWA/FTA joint

planning regulations published on

October 28, 1993, public involvement is

essential in the development of

transportation plans and programs

including the bicycle and pedestrian

components. Public involvement should

include, to the extent possible, input

from individuals who will be affected

by the transportation plan and

programs. This involvement must meet

the requirements for statewide planning

spelled out in the regulations in 23 CFR

450.212, and those for MPO planning

spelled out in 23 CFR 450.316(b). Any

subsequent policy statements and

guidance provided by the FHWA and

FTA also needs to be considered.

The regulations require that State

departments of transportation and

MPO’s have public involvement

processes which are followed in

preparing transportation plans and

programs. Bicycle and pedestrian

groups should be aware of the

opportunity to participate in the

development of these public

involvement processes and to comment

on them before they are adopted. This

is in addition to the opportunity to

participate according to the public

involvement processes in the

development of transportation plans

and programs. Public involvement will

occur at key decision points as

described in the public involvement

procedures for the planning process.

7. Transportation Conformity

Requirements for Air Quality: Per 40

CFR Parts 51 and 93, bicycle and

pedestrian facilities are exempt from

transportation conformity requirements.

Their inclusion as part of a larger

project that does not meet the

conformity requirements could result in

delay while the requirements for the

larger project are satisfied.

Trails funded through the National

Recreational Trails Fund Act (NRTFA)

that may have an air quality impact in

air quality nonattainment areas must be

analyzed to determine if they conform

with the State Implementation Plan

(SIP). Such projects must be included in

the transportation plan and TIP. To be

eligible for Federal funding or approval,

such projects must come from a

conforming plan and TIP and may not

cause or contribute to a new or existing

violation of the air quality standards. In

air quality nonattainment areas only

projects from a conforming TIP shall be

included on the STIP. The following

kinds of projects are determined to have

no significant air quality impact:

Projects funded under the following

paragraphs of Section 1302(e)(1) of the

ISTEA: (A), (B), and (E); (F) except for

facilities that may cause air quality

impacts such as parking facilities; and

(C), (D), and (G–K) for nonmotorized

trails.

The following kinds of projects must

be analyzed for air quality impact: All

motorized recreational trail projects in

nonattainment areas; and provision of

parking facilities.

Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; Sec. 1024, 1025,

1033, 1302 of Pub. L. 102–240, 105 Stat.

1914, 1955, 1962, 1975, 2064; 49 CFR 1.48.

Issued on: January 6, 1995.

Rodney E. Slater

Federal Highway Administrator.

[FR Doc. 95–889 Filed 1–12–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–22–P

Environmental Impact Statement; City

of Houghton, Houghton County,

Michigan

AGENCY: Federal Highway

Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this

notice to advise the public that an

Environmental Impact Statement will be

prepared for the proposed

improvements to US–41 (College

Avenue) from Vivian Street westerly to

Franklin Square in the City of

Houghton, Houghton County, Michigan.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Norman Stoner, District Engineer,

Federal Highway Administration, 315

W. Allegan Street, Room 207, Lansing,

Michigan 48933, Telephone (517) 377–

1880 or Mr. Ronald Kinney, Manager,

Environmental Section, Bureau of

Transportation Planning, Michigan

Department of Transportation, P.O. Box

30050, Lansing, Michigan 48909,

Telephone (517) 335–2621.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

FHWA, in cooperation with the

Michigan Department of Transportation,

(MDOT), is preparing an Environmental

Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed

reconstruction of US–41 from Vivian

Street westerly to Franklin Square, City

of Houghton, Houghton County,

Michigan. The proposed project is

approximately 0.8 kilometers (0.5 miles)

in length, and is needed to

accommodate current and future traffic

volumes and to improve the operating

conditions and safety of the traveling

public. The present facility consists of

two 4.6 meter (15 foot) lanes with curb

and gutter through a mostly residential

area. The speed limit along College

Avenue is 55 kph (35 mph).

The alternatives under consideration

include (1) No Action, (2) Three Lane

Alternative, (3) Four Lane Alternative,

(4) Five Lane Alternative, (5) South

Boulevard, and (6) One-way Pair

Alternative, which requires construction

of a new westbound roadway along the

side of the bluff north of College

Avenue.

Letters describing the proposed action

and soliciting comments have been sent

to appropriate Federal, State, and local

agencies with scoping information

attached. Letters have also been sent to

organizations and citizens who have

previously expressed interest or are

known to have interest in this proposal

to provide them the opportunity to

comment. A public information meeting

was held on August 13, 1992, to provide

the public an opportunity to discuss the

proposed action. A public hearing will

also be held. Public notice will be given

of the time and place of the hearing. The

Draft EIS will be available for public

and agency review and comment prior

to the public hearing. No formal agency

scoping meeting is planned at this time.

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 the FHWA at the address

provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Number 20.205, Highway Research,

Planning and Construction. The regulations

implementing Executive Order 12372

regarding intergovernmental consultation on

Federal programs and activities apply to this

program.)

A. George Ostensen,

Division Administrator, Lansing, Michigan.

[FR Doc. 95–888 Filed 1–12–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–22–M