Appendix D Community Involvement
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1 Appendix D 2 Community Involvement PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PLAN I-515/CHARLESTON BOULEVARD ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT LAS VEGAS, NEVADA September 2016 I-515/Charleston Boulevard Environmental Assessment Project Overview In 2013, the City of Las Vegas conducted a feasibility study for improvements to the I-515/Charleston Boulevard Interchange. The intent was to study and document alternative improvements that would provide significant traffic operations, congestion mitigation, and safety benefits. The study was completed in the summer of 2015, and the result provided two alternatives for improvement: reconstruct the interchange to a diverging diamond, or widen Charleston Boulevard to accommodate triple left turns to I-515. A separate planning study initiated by NDOT in 2015 to identify improvements that could be made to the I-515 corridor identified that the addition of auxiliary lanes (one in each direction) to I-515 between Charleston Boulevard to Eastern Avenue would have benefits not only for I-515, but also for the Charleston Interchange. Beginning in September 2016, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), initiated the preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) to further define the purpose and need for the project, refine and further develop potential alternatives that would best satisfy the purpose and need, assess the potential environmental impacts of the project, and develop mitigation for any potential impacts. 1 I-515/Charleston Boulevard Environmental Assessment Generally, the project limits are on I-515 from Eastern Avenue (east side of interchange) to Wyoming Avenue, plus Charleston Boulevard from Honolulu Street to Lamb Boulevard. The scope of work may consist of adding one auxiliary lane in each direction along I-515 from Eastern Avenue to Charleston Boulevard and reconstructing the existing Charleston Interchange for improved operational efficiency. The project will also include new sidewalk and ADA improvements along Charleston Boulevard, drainage improvements, existing pavement rehabilitation, widening of Charleston Boulevard, lighting, signals, and landscape and aesthetic improvements. Schedule The EA completion is anticipated within 18 months of Notice to Proceed. Key Audiences General public NDOT City of Las Vegas Clark County RTC of Southern Nevada Federal Highway Administration Local businesses Law enforcement agencies Emergency service providers Local media resources Communication Goal Create a comprehensive plan for effective communication and involvement of project stakeholders and the public. Objectives/Tasks 1. Coordinate all activities with NDOT, the City of Las Vegas, Clark County, and Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) management and project personnel, and the project team. 2. Determine details on the timing and most appropriate mediums, forums, and methods for gathering and disseminating information to stakeholders, the public, and the news media. 3. Support stakeholder/third party meetings with project materials as needed. Note: EA stakeholder list to be provided by NDOT; project team to supplement with input from local elected officials. Plan, advertise, and conduct two public meetings in compliance with federal and NDOT requirements. Notifications as follows: a. R-J ad: 15 days prior to meeting; the day prior to meeting; and day of meeting. b. Advertise at least once in one minority newspaper such as El Tiempo, Spanish news. 2 I-515/Charleston Boulevard Environmental Assessment c. Letter/mailer: two weeks prior to meeting (English and Spanish). d. E-blast as required, per NDOT direction. 4. Create supportive materials for public meetings (handouts, display boards, presentations, and meeting reports including official record via court reporter). Materials can also be used—at NDOT’s discretion—for NDOT-hosted and maintained website landing page. 5. Provide Spanish translations (in person at public meetings and on hardcopy comment forms and welcome letter). Deliverables 1. Mailing database for public meetings. 2. Public meeting presentation (2). 3. Public meeting materials. a. Notices/advertisements (mailer and newspaper, English and Spanish). b. Handouts (welcome letter and comment forms in English and Spanish). c. Display boards. d. Reports. 4. Support for NDOT-maintained website content. Reference Materials Project schedule Feasibility study Corridor EIS Previous fact sheet Other items via ProjectWise 3 PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING SUMMARY I-515/CHARLESTON BOULEVARD ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT LAS VEGAS, NEVADA September 22, 2016 I-515/Charleston Boulevard Environmental Assessment Contents Meeting Overview Logistics Notifications Meeting Materials and Activities Multicultural Outreach Transcript ____________________________________ Meeting Sign-in Sheet Intent to Study Letter and Public Meeting Notice Meeting Handouts Transcript and Comment Forms 1 I-515/Charleston Boulevard Environmental Assessment Meeting Overview Beginning in September 2016, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), initiated the preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) to further define the purpose and need for this project, refine and further develop potential alternatives that would best satisfy the purpose and need, assess the potential environmental impacts of the project, and develop mitigation for any potential impacts. Generally, the project limits are on I-515 from Eastern Avenue (east side of interchange) to Wyoming Avenue, plus Charleston Boulevard from Honolulu Street to Lamb Boulevard. In support of this effort and part of a tailored public involvement (PI) plan (attached to this document), a public meeting was planned and conducted to engage and educate stakeholders, nearby residents, business owners, and the traveling public about the I-515/Charleston Boulevard Environmental Assessment. During the public meeting, the project team shared existing conditions, described potential improvements, and solicited public comments and input. In coordination with NDOT, the public information (PI) team arranged meeting logistics, designed and distributed meeting notifications, designed and produced meeting materials including handouts, fact sheet, and display boards, arranged and staffed the welcome table, provided meeting supplies, took photographs, assisted attendees, provided Spanish translation services and documented the proceedings with a court reporter. Specifics and copies of all materials can be found below and attached. 2 I-515/Charleston Boulevard Environmental Assessment Logistics The public information team, in coordination with the project team and the NDOT public hearings officer, identified September 22, 2016, as an appropriate date for the public meeting. The team recommended the East Las Vegas Community Center as a central location for the meeting; the facility is within the project area and is easily accessible by the public. The team reserved the ballroom on the meeting date, and the meeting was arranged, publicized, and held on September 22 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a project presentation at 5:30 p.m. Approximately 40 people attended the meeting. Sign-in sheets for the meeting were designed and produced by the PI team. Copies of sign-in sheets are attached to this document. Notifications 1. Advertisements The team created and coordinated the publication of three advertisements in the main news section of the Las Vegas Review Journal, on the following dates: 9/8, 9/21, and 9/22. We also provided a Spanish-language version of the advertisement for El Tiempo, a local Spanish- language newspaper (published on 9/2). Both advertisements are shown below for reference. 2. Mailers. The team created an extensive mailing list, based on NDOT’s stakeholder list and a GIS-driven database produced from the project area shown below. Owners and residents were included in the mailing list, as were local stakeholders, whose information was recommended by elected officials and public agencies. The list, attached to this document, was used to mail two, two-sided documents to addresses: an Intent to Study Letter, in English and Spanish, and the public meeting notice, in English and Spanish. The Intent to Study Letter and meeting notice (thumbnails shown below), are also attached to this document in their final formats. 3 I-515/Charleston Boulevard Environmental Assessment The PI staff worked in conjunction with Julie Maxey, NDOT Public Hearings Officer, to publicize the meeting with an official notice on the NDOT website on the Department’s “Meetings” page: http://www.nevadadot.com/Meetings/. NDOT also sent the notice to its statewide distribution list: Clark County RTCSNV City Henderson Clark County Libraries Grant Sawyer Building (Gov. Office) Las Vegas Capital Building (Gov. Office Carson City) NDOT Office District I NDOT Office District II NDOT Office District III Nevada Lands Office, this includes the following State agency distribution; Distribution: - 99ABW Nellis - Division of Emergency Management - Intermountain Range Adele M. Basham - NDEP Alan Jenne - Department of Wildlife, Elko Alisanne Maffei - Department of Administration 4 I-515/Charleston Boulevard Environmental Assessment Alysa Keller - Legislative Counsel Bureau Angela Dykema - Nevada State Energy Office Anna Higgins - Nevada Division of Forestry Bette Hartnett - State Energy Office Bill Thompson - Department of Transportation, Aviation Birgit Henson - NDEP Bob Turner - Nellis AFB Brenda