Transcript U.S. 33 Northern Connector Alternative Goshen High School Auditorium, Goshen, IN Thursday, March 20, 2014

U.S. 33 Northern Connector
Alternative
Goshen High School Auditorium, Goshen, IN
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Welcome
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Rickie Clark, INDOT Office of Public Involvement
Purpose/explanation of public hearing
Public hearing format
Visit our sign-in table
Informational handouts
Submitting public comments for hearings
transcript
Project display area
INDOT Profile
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Six district offices
3,525 employees
$1 billion/annual capital
expenditures
28,400 total roadway lane miles
5,300 INDOT-owned bridges
Assists 42 railroads in planning &
development of more than 3,880
miles of active rail lines
Supports 69 Indiana State Aviation
System Plan airports
Welcome
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Introduction of INDOT project officials
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Project Management
Design
Real Estate
Public Involvement
DLZ – Project Design and Environmental
Team
City of Goshen
Elkhart County
Recognition of elected public officials
Public Hearing
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Sign-in at attendance table to be added to
project mailing list.
A public hearing notice was mailed to
known property owners within project
area.
Announcement of this hearing was posted
to INDOT website. A media release was
also issued.
Legal notice publishing:
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Goshen News – March 3 and 12
El Puente – March 4 and 18
Project Stakeholders
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Indiana Department of Transportation
Indiana Division Federal Highway Administration
Elkhart County
City of Goshen
Local communities
Elected public officials
Community residents and citizens
Commuters
Trucking industry
Schools
Emergency services
Project Development Process
Engineering
Assessment
Project
purpose &
need
Develop
project
alternatives
Screen
project
alternatives
Additional
work on
project
alternatives
& design
Release
Environmental
document &
preliminary
design
Public
Hearing to
solicit public
comment
We Are
Here
Right-of-Way
Construction
Environmental Document
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Requirement of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
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Requires INDOT to analyze and evaluate the impacts
of a proposed project to the natural and socioeconomic environments
Impacts are described in environmental document
Environmental document was released for public
involvement in February 2014
Environmental Document
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Development of document begins once purpose
and need for the project has been clearly
identified
Develop a number of possible alternatives
including a “Do Nothing” alternative as a
baseline for comparison
Screen alternatives to identify a preferred
alternative
Solicit public comment on environmental
document and preliminary design plan
Solicit, address and fully consider public
comments as part of decision making process
Environmental Document
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Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act
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Historic properties include the National Register-listed
Goshen Historic District, properties in the District
determined individually eligible for National Register
listing, and one property outside the District
determined individually eligible.
It was determined that the North Connector –
Overpass alternative resulted in the greatest benefit
to the District as a whole, by removing U.S. 33 (high
traffic, high % trucks, noise) from the heart of the
District.
Environmental Document
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Section 106 Finding of Adverse Effect relating to
the project’s effects on the District and the
properties determined eligible. Adverse effects
relate to removal (demolition) of contributing
properties, and visual, auditory and proximity
impacts.
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been
executed which lists the following measures to
minimize harm, that will be incorporated into the
design:
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Photographic documentation of the area within the District to be altered
(complete).
Continued consultation regarding the design and visual appearance of
MSE retaining walls and the project’s landscaping design (on-going).
Environmental Documentation
Elements of the Environmental
Documentation
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Real Estate
Community Impacts
Air Quality
Wetlands and Waterways
Noise
Floodplains
Farmland
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Endangered Species
Hazardous Materials
Environmental Justice
Historic/Archaeological
Sole Source Aquifer
Cultural Resources
Environmental Documentation
INDOT Fort Wayne District Office
Planning & Programming Department
5333 Hatfield Road
Fort Wayne, (866) 227-3555
http://www.in.gov/indot/2703.htm
INDOT Office of Public Involvement
Indiana Government Center North, Room N642
100 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, (317) 232-6601
Goshen Public Library
601 South 5th Street
Goshen, (574) 533-9531
U.S. 33 Northern Connector
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Purpose
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Increase capacity and safety conditions for motorists
and pedestrians along U.S. 33, within the project
limits.
Need
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Level of Service “D” is minimum acceptable. U.S. 33 is
currently operating at Level of Service “F”.
Increased traffic volumes are contributing to
congestion and more frequent crashes.
Project History
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1998 Engineer’s Report
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Added travel lanes along existing U.S. 33
Widen existing U.S. 33 to the North, with railroad
grade separation
One way pair with Jefferson Street
New North Connector (with or without grade
separation at S.R. 4)
Continued engineering assessment, public
input, Section 106 (impact to historic
structures/areas) resulted in the
development of additional project
alternatives
Project Alternatives Considered
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Improvements along existing U.S. 33 alignment
with addition of a center median
Improvements along existing U.S. 33 alignment
with addition of an overpass or underpass of the
Norfolk Southern Railroad Spur at 9th Street
North Connector Roadway with grade separated
overpasses of the Norfolk Southern Railroad
Spur at 9th Street and S.R. 4 (Lincoln Ave.) and
Cottage Ave.
One way pair on existing U.S. 33 alignment
along Madison Street & Jefferson Street
Preferred Alternative
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Northern Connector Alternative
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Overpass alternative, between Monroe Street and S.R. 15 (Main
Street)
Approximately 1 mile of two-lane roadway on new alignment
A portion of the alternative is on elevated roadway
South terminus along U.S. 33 is just north of Sander Ave.
North terminus along Pike Street is the Main Street intersection
Overpasses – Cottage Ave., Lincoln Ave., and the Norfolk
Southern Marion Branch Railroad Spur which runs north-south
along east side of 9th Street
Preferred Alternative
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Improvements to U.S. 33 intersections
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Potential connector roadways to provide links
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Clinton Street with 7th Street
Washington Street with 10th Street
Potential roadway closures at 5th Street and 9th Street
railroad crossings
Elevated roadway section
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Main Street – traffic signal
5th Street/Pike Street – right in/right out
Madison Street – traffic signal
Monroe Street – traffic signal
Between 10th Street and 7th Street
Multi-use trail proposed along new roadway at ground level
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South west side between 5th Street and Madison Street
Preferred Alternative
Preferred Alternative
US 33 – At Grade Section
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12 foot travel lane in each direction
12 foot left turn lane at major intersections
Concrete curb and gutter
5 foot wide buffer strip
10 foot multi-use trail proposed along new roadway
Preferred Alternative
US 33 – Elevated Section
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12 foot travel lane in each direction
8 foot wide shoulders
Retaining walls and barrier railing
10 foot multi-use trail along elevated roadway at grade
Preferred Alternative
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Storm inlets will be added along the roadway to
collect drainage.
The west half of the project will be connected to
storm sewer that runs west to the Elkhart River.
The east half of the project will be connected to
storm sewer that will run to a storm basin at the
east end of the project.
Since the majority of the relocated roadway is
separated from existing U.S. 33, traffic will
continue to travel along the existing U.S. 33 until
the new roadway is constructed.
Real Estate Acquisition Process
Real Estate Acquisition Process
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"Uniform Act of 1970"
 All federal, state and local governments must
comply
 Requires an offer for just compensation
Acquisition Process
 Appraisals
 Review appraisals
 Negotiations
Real Estate Acquisition
Residential
Commercial
Railroad
School
City of Goshen
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5.9 Acres
3.0 Acres
2.0 Acres
4.0 Acres
10.7 Acres
Approximately 26 acres of new permanent right
of way
Displacement of 31 residential buildings
Five business relocations
Project Schedule
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Public Hearing: March 2014
Environmental Document Finalized: 2014
Preliminary Design Plan refinement: 2014
Real Estate Acquisition Activities: 2014 2015
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Appraising
Negotiations/Buying
Utilities coordination/relocation
Construction: 2016 - 2017
Feedback
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INDOT would like to hear from you
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Talk with INDOT project team members
Comment sheet in information packet
E-mail or mail comments to INDOT
Sign-in to be added to project mailing list
Visit INDOT Fort Wayne District page at
www.in.gov/indot/2703.htm
All comments are very appreciated and will be given
full consideration by project team.
Public Involvement Team
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Rickie Clark
INDOT Office of Public Involvement
(317) 232-6601
[email protected]
Toni Mayo
Fort Wayne District Communications Director
(866) 227-3555
[email protected]
Submit Public Comments
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Submit public comments using the options
described in 1st page of information packet:
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Public Comment Form
Via e-mail
Participating during public comment session via microphone
Verbal comments recorded and transcribed for inclusion into
public hearings transcript
INDOT respectfully requests comments be
submitted by Friday, April 11, 2014.
All comments submitted will become part of
public record, entered into transcript, reviewed,
evaluated and given full consideration during
decision making process.
Next Steps
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Public and project stakeholder input
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INDOT review and evaluation
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All comments are given full consideration during decision-making
process
INDOT requests approval of proposed Northern Connector
alternative from Federal Highway Administration
Communicate a decision
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Submit comments via options described on 1st page of
information packet
INDOT will notify persons on mailing list of decision
Work through local media outlets & paid legal notice
Make project documents accessible via repositories
Questions? Contact Public Involvement Team
Thank You
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Please visit with INDOT project officials
following the public comment session
Project Open House
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Project maps, displays, real estate acquisition table,
INDOT project officials and informal Q & A
Public Comment Session