82 FR 13920 - Environmental Impact Statement: Washoe County, Nevada

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 49 (March 15, 2017)

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement will be prepared for transportation improvements in the Interstate 80 (I-80), Interstate 580 (I-580), United States Highway 395 (US 395) Interchange, and connecting roads in the City of Reno and City of Sparks, Washoe County, Nevada. The I-80/I- 580/US 395 Interchange is known locally as the Spaghetti Bowl.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13920-13921]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05164]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Washoe County, Nevada

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 transportation 
improvements in the Interstate 80 (I-80), Interstate 580 (I-580), 
United States Highway 395 (US 395) Interchange, and connecting roads in 
the City of Reno and City of Sparks, Washoe County, Nevada. The I-80/I-

[[Page 13921]]

580/US 395 Interchange is known locally as the Spaghetti Bowl.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Abdelmoez Abdalla, Environmental 
Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, 705 N. Plaza, Suite 
220, Carson City, NV 89701; Telephone: (775) 687-1231, email: 
[email protected], and Steve Cooke, Environmental Services 
Chief, Nevada Department of Transportation, 1263 S. Stewart Street, 
Carson City, NV 89712; Telephone (775) 888-7686, email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Nevada 
Department of Transportation (NDOT), will prepare an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to reconstruct the Spaghetti Bowl 
in the cities of Reno and Sparks in Washoe County, Nevada. The proposed 
project will study improvements to the Spaghetti Bowl and major street 
connections on I-580/US 395 from Meadowood Mall Way Drive on the south 
to Parr Avenue/Dandini Boulevard on the north and I-80 from Keystone 
Avenue on the west to Pyramid Way on the east. The study includes 
approximately 7.3 miles of I-580/US 395 and 4.3 miles of I-80.
    The project will study the operations, capacity, and safety of the 
interchange while addressing all modes of travel as appropriate. 
Regionally, I-80 connects San Francisco, Sacramento, Reno and Salt Lake 
City. I-580 links Carson City with Reno, and US 395 serves as an 
important regional route.
    The Spaghetti Bowl was originally constructed between 1969 and 1971 
for a metropolitan population of about 130,000 people. The current 
population of Reno and Sparks has increased to approximately 327,000 
people and Washoe County's population is approximately 435,000. The 
projected population growth, associated commercial development, 
increased inflows and outflows of freight serving local manufacturing 
and distribution centers, and increasing tourism and gaming will place 
significant demand on the study area. The project will focus on short- 
and long-term transportation needs of the region, specifically to 
provide transportation improvements in response to regional growth to 
decrease congestion, enhance mobility, and provide access to the 
downtown area.
    The EIS will consider the effects of the proposed project, the No 
Action alternative, and other alternatives to the proposed project.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies; Native 
American Tribes; private organizations; and citizens who have 
previously expressed or are known to have interest in this project. An 
agency scoping meeting will be held in Sparks, Nevada on April 12, 
2017, at 1 p.m. at the Sparks Public Library. Public information 
meetings will also be held on April 12, 2017, at the Sparks Public 
Library and on April 13, 2017, at Wooster High School, Reno, with the 
appropriate agencies and the general public. The public information 
meetings will be open house format from 4-7 p.m. with a presentation at 
5:30 p.m. In addition, public information meetings will be held 
throughout the duration of the project and a public hearing will be 
held for the draft EIS. Public notices will be given announcing the 
time and place of the public meetings and the hearing. The draft EIS 
will be available for public and agency review and comment prior to the 
public hearing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action is 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 the FHWA or NDOT at the addresses and emails provided 
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.)

    Dated: March 8, 2017.
Susan E. Klekar,
Division Administrator, Carson City, Nevada.
[FR Doc. 2017-05164 Filed 3-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P