Environmental Impact Statement: SR 20 (Sharpes Corner to SR 536) Skagit County, WA

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48889-48890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23249]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: SR 20 (Sharpes Corner to SR 536) 
Skagit County, WA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent and notice of scoping.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
environmental impact statement will be prepared to evaluate potential 
solutions to identify safety problems and traffic congestions along SR 
20 in Skagit County, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene Fong, Federal Highway 
Administration, 711 South Capital Way, Suite 501, Olympia, Washington 
98501, Telephone: (360) 753-9480; or John Okamoto, Washington State 
Department of Transportation, Northwest Region,

[[Page 48890]]

PO Box 330310, Seattle, WA 98133-9710.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Washington 
State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on alternative solutions that can 
reduce the accident rate and provide capacity to meet current and 
future needs along a 7-mile stretch of the State Route 20 corridor near 
Anacortes. The SR EIS is a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
``pilot'' project, intended to evaluate and improve the application of 
the NEPA process. The ``pilot'' process was developed cooperatively by 
Washington State and Federal agencies, and is jointly sponsored by FHWA 
and WSDOT.
    This segment of SR 20 includes two designated ``high accident 
corridors,'' due to the number and severity of accidents that have 
occurred at intersections. The predominant accident types are rear-end 
collisions and entering-at-angle accidents.
    The accident rate is made worse by increasing traffic volumes. 
Travel demand forecasts indicate continued traffic growth over the next 
20 years. Forecasts indicate that traffic growth may increase travel 
time along portions of this segment of SR 20.
    Solutions are needed to reduce the rate of fatal accidents and to 
provide for the projected traffic demand. While alternative have not 
been identified, preliminary alternatives that could meet the need and 
may be considered in the EIS include: taking no action; traffic 
calming; transportation demand management; transportation system 
management; eliminating left turns; transit improvements and/or 
improved transit access; improvement of alternative modes of travel; 
improved freight movement by truck and/or rail; additional traffic 
signals; modified signage; grade separation at intersections; and/or 
added lanes or frontage roads. Combinations of these solutions are 
possible. The list of alternatives to be addressed in the EIS will be 
finalized after taking scoping comments into account.

Scoping

    Letters soliciting comments on the scope of the EIS and describing 
the purpose, need, and potential alternatives 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 proposal. Two meetings will be held to 
identify the scope of issues to be addressed, the significant issues, 
and the alternatives. The meeting will be conducted on October 6, 1999, 
at, Anacortes City Hall Chambers in Anacortes, Washington. The first 
meeting from 9 a.m. to noon will be conducted to focus on input from 
governmental agencies and tribes. The second, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., 
will be conducted primarily for the public. Written scoping comments 
may be submitted to the FHWA or WSDOT at the address provided above.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues are identified, 
comments, and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. 
Comments or questions concerning this action and the EIS should be 
directed to FHWA or WSDOT at the address 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)

    Issued on: August 27, 1999.
Donald A. Petersen,
Transportation and Environmental Engineer, Olympia, Washington.
[FR Doc. 99-23249 Filed 9-7-99; 8:45 am]
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