[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 124 (Tuesday, June 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31336-31337]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-15402]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Hunterdon County, NJ

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Cancellation of the notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: This notice rescinds the previous Notice of Intent (NOI) 
published on November 24, 2006 (71 FR 67955) to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed South Branch 
Parkway project in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger S. Lall, Director of 
Engineering, Federal Highway Administration, New Jersey Division 
Office, 840 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 310, West Trenton, New Jersey 
08628; Telephone: (609) 637-4200 or Elkins Green, Director, Division of 
Environmental Resources, New Jersey Department of Transportation, 1035 
Parkway Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey 08625; Telephone: (609) 530-8075.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New Jersey 
Department of Transportation (NJDOT), is rescinding the NOI to prepare 
an EIS for a project that had been proposed to construct the South 
Branch Parkway in Raritan Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, 
Federal Project No. HPP-0037(130).
    The proposed action included the construction of a limited access 
highway on new location for a distance of approximately 3.7 miles; 
extending from a proposed intersection at

[[Page 31337]]

Voorhees Corner Road and Route 31, northward to a proposed intersection 
at a point approximately 0.5 mile north of the existing intersection of 
Route 31 and Bartles Corner Road. This project had multiple purposes 
including:

Providing an alternative to Route 31 for north-south travel through the 
Flemington-Raritan area,
Reducing local and regional traffic congestion on existing Route 31,
Providing the initial investment in a long-term Integrated Land Use and 
Transportation Plan that would enhance the overall connectivity with 
the local roadway network, leading to a more balanced transportation 
network and land use pattern in the corridor.

    The NOI is being rescinded because NJDOT has conducted further 
analysis and has determined that key elements of the purpose and need 
can be met by making improvements to existing Route 31 rather than 
pursuing construction of the South Branch Parkway. There has been a 
change in the planned approach to this project, which calls for 
immediate improvements to Route 31. Traffic studies conducted after the 
completion of recently constructed improvements to Route 31 beyond the 
immediate project area, have determined that these improvements, in 
conjunction with the future improvements to Route 31, will relieve 
current congestion on Route 31. Depending on the extent of development 
in the corridor, future improvements may be needed of the South Branch 
Parkway. The Department has determined that a substantial investment of 
resources is not warranted at this time when a less costly option is 
available that also has a potential for significantly less of an impact 
to the environment.
    The FHWA, in cooperation with NJDOT will suspend the environmental 
analyses and EIS for the South Branch Parkway. Improvement to reduce 
local and regional traffic congestion on Route 31 will be further 
analyzed. Coordination with the public will continue during project 
development.

(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.)

    Issued on June 24, 2009.
Roger S. Lall,
Director of Engineering.
[FR Doc. E9-15402 Filed 6-29-09; 8:45 am]
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