Notice2022-21750
Rescission of the Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Route 2/2A/32 Corridor Improvements Project, New London County, Connecticut
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 6, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Highway Administration
Abstract
The FHWA, in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is issuing this Notice to advise the public that we are rescinding the June 3, 1996, Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Route 2/2A/32 Project in New London County, Connecticut. We are rescinding the NOI because a substantial amount of time has passed since its publication and there is a need to re-evaluate traffic growth and congestion in the region.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 193 (Thursday, October 6, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 193 (Thursday, October 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60726-60727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-21750]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Rescission of the Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement for the Route 2/2A/32 Corridor Improvements Project,
New London County, Connecticut
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of
Transportation (CTDOT) is issuing this Notice to advise the public that
we are rescinding the June 3, 1996, Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Route 2/2A/32 Project
in New London County, Connecticut. We are rescinding the NOI because a
substantial amount of time has passed since its publication and there
is a need to re-evaluate traffic growth and congestion in the region.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy D. Jackson-Grove, Division
Administrator, FHWA, Connecticut Division, 450 Main Street, Suite 612,
CT 06103; Telephone: (860) 659-6703.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, as the lead Federal Agency, in
cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT),
as the joint lead agency and local project sponsor, published an NOI in
the Federal Register on June 3, 1996, at 61 FR 27945, to prepare an EIS
on a proposal for transportation improvements within the Connecticut
Route 2/2a/32 (CT 2/2A/32) corridor in the towns of Norwich, Preston,
Ledyard, North Stonington, Stonington, Montville, New London,
Connecticut.
The purpose of the proposed project was to identify transportation
improvements to relieve existing and predicted traffic congestion and
improve safety on the Route 2 and 2A corridors, along with associated
state routes that intersect with Route 2. The study area extended from
Westerly, Rhode Island, northwest to Norwich, CT, and south to New
London, CT. The Draft EIS was completed and considered a range of
alternatives that included: (1) No Action; (2) commuter rail service
along the New England Central Rail line combined with transit service
(light rail or monorail) between Norwich, CT and Westerly, RI; (3) bus
service between Norwich and Westerly along (in part) a dedicated
busway; (4) a bypass of Route 2A; (5) widening Route 2 and upgrading
Routes 32 and 164; (6) and a bypass of Route 2 in North Stonington.
Each
[[Page 60727]]
alternative was evaluated for impacts to cultural and natural
resources, socioeconomic concerns, visual and scenic resources,
hazardous materials, existing land use, and local/regional
transportation needs.
The Final EIS (FEIS) identified a Preferred Alternative, which was
a refinement of DEIS Alternative E (listed as #5 above). This included
adding capacity to the Route 2A Bridge by adding a second, parallel, 2-
lane bridge crossing the Thames River; a bypass of Route 2A; widening
Route 2 in Preston; and upgrading Route 2 in North Stonington. A Record
of Decision (ROD) was not finalized and a ROD was not published in the
Federal Register.
The decision to rescind the NOI is based on the age of the studies
conducted in support of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and
the need to re-assess transportation demand within the corridor.
Following completion of a new corridor study, FHWA and CTDOT will
initiate new NEPA studies, as appropriate, to assess the potential
environmental impacts of future actions that involve the study area.
Any future project proposed within this corridor will comply with
environmental review requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act ((NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)), FHWA environmental regulations
(23 CFR part 771), and related authorities prior to issuance of a ROD
or other NEPA decision, as appropriate. Comments and questions
concerning this action should be directed to FHWA 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.)
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 23 CFR part 771.
Amy D. Jackson-Grove,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2022-21750 Filed 10-5-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
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