[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34924-34925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16752]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Environmental Impact Statement, St. Paul, MN

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration.

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 the possible 
reconstruction of Ayd Mill Road, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Lohr, Federal Highway 
Administration, Suite 490 Metro Square Building, 121 East Seventh 
Place, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101, Telephone (612) 290-3241; or Michael 
C. Klassen, Project Manager, St. Paul Department of Public Works, 800 
City Hall Annex, 25 West 4th Street, St. Paul, MN 55101, Telephone 
(612) 266-6209.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Minnesota 
Department of Transportation and the City of St. Paul, will prepare an 
EIS on a proposal for the improvement of Ayd Mill Road. Ayd Mill Road 
is located in the southwestern portion of the City of St. Paul and runs 
in a northwesterly direction from I-35E near Jefferson Avenue to the 
intersection of Selby Avenue and Pascal Street. The total length of the 
project is approximately 1.8 miles.
    A direct connection between I-35E and the south end of Ayd Mill 
Road was postponed in the early 1980's until a connection to I-94 on 
the north had been studied. An Ayd Mill Road Task Force, comprised of 
neighborhood representatives and the City Planning Commission, 
concluded in 1988 that issues in the Ayd Mill Road corridor were 
serious enough to warrant further study in an EIS.
    An EIS Scoping Process was initiated in 1993. Working with the 
organizations they represent, Task Force members developed and 
evaluated ten major alternatives, each with sub-alternatives. In May 
1996, the St. Paul City Council determined that seven alternatives will 
be carried forward in the Draft EIS. The alternatives to be studied in 
the Draft EIS include:

<bullet> No Build

[[Page 34925]]

<bullet> Transportation Systems Management Plan and Travel Demand 
Management (TSM/TDM)
<bullet> Replace Ayd Mill Road with a Linear Park
<bullet> Two-lane City Street (35 mph) on the Hybrid alignment with a 
direct connection to I-35E on the south and a split diamond interchange 
with I-94
<bullet> Four-lane roadway (40 mph) on the Hybrid alignment with a 
direct connection to I-35E on the south and a split diamond interchange 
with I-94
<bullet> Four-lane expressway (45 mph) on the Railroad Spur alignment 
with a direct connection to I-35E on the south and a freeway-to-freeway 
interchange with I-94
<bullet> Limited access freeway (45 mph) on the Railroad Spur alignment 
with a direct connection to I-35E on the south and a freeway-to-freeway 
interchange with I-94
<bullet> High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes as sub-alternatives for the 
last four alternatives

    The Ayd Mill Road Scoping Document and Draft Scoping Decision 
Document was published February 6, 1995. A Public Scoping meeting was 
held March 2, 1995 to receive comments. After a delay due to 
administrative matters, the Ayd Mill Road Scoping Decision Document was 
published May 13, 1996. Copies of both documents were distributed to 
agencies, interested persons, elected and appointed officials and 
libraries. A press release was published to inform citizens of the 
documents' availability.
    Coordination has been initiated and will continue with appropriate 
Federal, State and local agencies, and private organizations and 
citizens who have previously expressed or are known to have an interest 
in this project. A formal public hearing will be held in the project 
area following release of the Draft EIS. Public notice will be given 
for 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.
    To ensure that all significant issues relating to this proposed 
action are addressed, comments and suggestions are invited from all 
interested parties. Comments or questions concerning this proposed 
project and the EIS should be directed to the City of St. Paul at the 
address provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 10.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

    Issued on: June 13, 1996.
Alan J. Friesen,
Engineering and Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-16752 Filed 7-2-96; 8:45 am]
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