I-69 Ohio River Crossing DEIS, Appendix C-5 RCAC Meeting Records
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I-69 Ohio River Crossing Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement APPENDIX C-5 River Cities Advisory Committee (RCAC) Meeting Records Page RCAC Membership List ............................................................................................... 1 Meeting Summary April 13, 2017 ................................................................................ 4 Meeting Summary July 19, 2017 ................................................................................ 36 Meeting Summary September 19, 2017 .................................................................... 68 Meeting Summary January 31, 2018 ......................................................................... 80 Meeting Summary June 26, 2018 ............................................................................. 103 Surveys ........................................................................................................................ 131 Comment Letter October 5, 2017 ............................................................................. 137 Clarification Note for Central Alternative 1: Central Alternatives 1A and 1B as described in the DEIS are physically the same alternative. The only difference between them is that Central Alternative 1A would include tolls on both the new I-69 bridge and on the US 41 bridge. Central Alternative 1B would only include tolls on the new I-69 bridge. Any reference in this document to Central Alternative 1 applies to both Central Alternative 1A and Central Alternative 1B. Appendices MEMORANDUM To: Project Team From: Public Involvement Team Date: June 20, 2018 Subject: River Cities Advisory Committee (RCAC) – Membership List City of Evansville Steve Schaefer, Deputy Mayor City of Henderson William “Buzzy” Newman, City Manager Henderson County Bill Hubiak, Henderson County Engineer Vanderburgh County Bruce Ungethiem, County Commissioner Warrick County Bobby Howard, Highway Director Angel Mounds State Historic Site Mike Linderman, Site Director Audubon State Park Mark Kellen, Park Manager Community Action Program of Evansville (CAPE) Gale Brocksmith, Director of Planning and Corporate Affairs Community Baptist Church Dr. Tim Hobbs, Pastor Congregations Acting for Justice and Empowerment (CAJE) Amy DeVries, Lead Organizer pg. 1 MEMORANDUM – RCAC Membership List – September 22, 2017 Deaconess Health System Jared Florence, Vice President, Business Development Ellis Park Race Course Jeff Hall, Mutuel Manager and Ellis Park Leadership Team Evansville Audubon Society Niles Rosenquist, Treasurer Evansville Bicycle Club Diane Bies, President Evansville – Vanderburgh School Corporation Dr. Bryan Perry, Asst. Superintendent of Human Resources Gibbs Die Casting/Koch Enterprises Robert (Bob) Koch II, Chairman Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville Ellen Horan, President Henderson City-County Planning Commission Brian Bishop, Executive Director Henderson Community College Dr. Kris Williams, President Henderson County Schools Marganna Stanley, Superintendent HOLA Evansville Daniela Vidal, President Housing Authority of Henderson Bobbie Jarrett, Executive Director Indiana Motor Truck Association Gary Langston, President Kentucky Trucking Association Guy Young, President and CEO pg. 2 MEMORANDUM – RCAC Membership List – September 22, 2017 Kyndle Tony Iriti, CEO Latino Chamber Alliance Brant Flores, Chairman Methodist Hospital Jack Hogan, Vice President of Ancillary Services Metropolitan Evansville Transit System (METS) Todd Robertson, Evansville Dept. of Transportation and Services, Executive Director Metro Planning Organization (MPO) Pam Drach, Deputy Director NAACP, Evansville chapter Rev. Gerald Arnold, President NAACP, Henderson chapter Deborah Jackson Hoda, President Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce Tara Barney, President and CEO United Neighborhoods of Evansville (UNOE) Chris Cooke, Board Member University of Evansville Shane Davidson, Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing University of Southern Indiana Mark Bernhard, Associate Provost Outreach and Engagement US 41 Business Owner Jeff Troxel Valley Watch John Blair, President pg. 3 MEETINGȱSUMMARYȱ Date:ȱ ȱ Aprilȱ13,ȱ2017ȱȱ Time:ȱ ȱ 2:30ȱtoȱ4ȱp.m.ȱCTȱ Meeting:ȱ RiverȱCitiesȱAdvisoryȱCommitteeȱMeetingȱ#1ȱ Location:ȱ CentralȱLibrary,ȱEvansville,ȱIN 1. Welcome x TheȱRiverȱCitiesȱAdvisoryȱCommitteeȱwasȱassembledȱbecauseȱIndianaȱandȱKentucky areȱreinitiatingȱaȱstudyȱofȱtheȱIȬ69ȱcorridor.ȱTheȱrequiredȱfederalȱenvironmental review,ȱunderȱofȱtheȱNationalȱEnvironmentalȱPolicyȱActȱ(NEPA),ȱisȱbeginningȱand willȱtakeȱtwoȱtoȱthreeȱyears. x Theȱfindingsȱwillȱidentifyȱroute,ȱbridgeȱlocationȱandȱrequirements,ȱandȱfinancing solutions.ȱTheȱoutcomeȱisȱaȱRecordȱofȱDecisionȱfromȱtheȱFederalȱHighway Administration,ȱwhichȱisȱexpectedȱinȱlateȱ2019 2. IntroductionȱofȱProjectȱTeamȱ&ȱRCACȱmembers x ProjectȱTeamȱ–ȱSeveralȱrepresentativesȱofȱtheȱProjectȱTeam,ȱFHWA,ȱINDOTȱand KYTCȱwereȱpresent x Membersȱ–ȱTwentyȬsevenȱbusinessȱandȱcommunityȱleadersȱfromȱEvansvilleȱandȱ Hendersonȱattendedȱtheȱmeetingǯȱȱȱȱȱ£ǯ 3. RoleȱofȱtheȱRCACȱ(RiverȱCitiesȱAdvisoryȱCommittee) x We’veȱassembledȱaȱdiverseȱgroupȱofȱengagedȱvoicesȱrepresentingȱbothȱsidesȱofȱthe river,ȱincludingȱrepresentativesȱof: o Government o Business o Environmentalȱinterests o Education o Environmentalȱjusticeȱcommunities (continuedȱonȱnextȱpage)ȱ x HavingȱregularȱRCACȱmeetingsȱwillȱassureȱconsistent,ȱtwoȬwayȱcommunication.ȱ ThisȱforumȱallowsȱtheȱProjectȱTeamȱtoȱgainȱaȱbetterȱunderstandingȱofȱstakeholderȱ issuesȱandȱanȱopportunityȱtoȱhearȱdifferingȱviews.ȱRCACȱmeetingsȱprovideȱanȱ opportunityȱforȱcollaborativeȱproblemȱsolving,ȱandȱaȱchanceȱtoȱbuildȱunderstandingȱ andȱsupportȱthroughoutȱtheȱproject.ȱ x Weȱplanȱtoȱmeetȱfiveȱtoȱsixȱtimesȱduringȱtheȱnextȱthreeȱyears,ȱatȱkeyȱmilestonesȱinȱtheȱ NEPAȱstudy.ȱȱ ȱ 4. Projectȱoverviewȱȱ x OurȱProposedȱPurposeȱandȱNeed:ȱ o CompleteȱtheȱIȬ69ȱconnectionȱbetweenȱIndianaȱandȱKentuckyȱ o DevelopȱaȱsolutionȱtoȱaddressȱlongȬtermȱcrossȬriverȱmobilityȱ o ProvideȱaȱcrossȬriverȱconnectionȱtoȱreduceȱcongestionȱandȱdelayȱ o ImproveȱsafetyȱforȱcrossȬriverȱtrafficȱ ȱ x TheȱIȬ69ȱcrossingȱisȱaȱmissingȱinterstateȱlinkȱȱ o Modernȱinterstateȱcrossingȱisȱneededȱtoȱmeetȱcurrentȱandȱfutureȱtrafficȱdemandsȱ o Improvedȱtransportationȱsystemȱleadsȱtoȱincreasedȱeconomicȱopportunitiesȱ o BothȱstatesȱareȱcurrentlyȱmoreȱcostȬconsciousȱthanȱweȱwereȱinȱ2004ȱduringȱtheȱ DEIS.ȱ ȱ x What’sȱdifferentȱthisȱtimeȱaroundȱ–ȱBackȱinȱ2004,ȱwhenȱtheȱDraftȱEnvironmentalȱ ImpactȱStatementȱ(DEIS)ȱwasȱpublished,ȱitȱstalledȱbecauseȱthereȱwasȱnoȱidentifiedȱ fundingȱsource.ȱ o Sinceȱthen,ȱIndianaȱandȱKentuckyȱhaveȱcommittedȱtoȱfundingȱandȱcompletingȱ moreȱthanȱ260ȱmilesȱtoȱinterstateȱstandardsȱfromȱMayfield,ȱKY,ȱtoȱMartinsville,ȱ IN.ȱTheȱProjectȱTeamȱisȱincludingȱfinancialȱfeasibilityȱinȱthisȱstudy,ȱandȱtollingȱ willȱbeȱstudiedȱasȱpartȱofȱaȱfundingȱsolution.ȱ Bothȱstatesȱalsoȱhaveȱaȱsuccessȱstoryȱthatȱisȱsomewhatȱsimilarȱtoȱthisȱproject.ȱForȱtheȱ OhioȱRiverȱBridgesȱprojectȱinȱLouisville,ȱtheȱalternativeȱidentifiedȱinȱtheȱFEISȱwasȱ $4.1ȱbillion.ȱHowever,ȱthroughȱinnovativeȱdesignȱandȱfinancing,ȱtheȱendȱcostȱwasȱ reducedȱtoȱ$2.3ȱbillion.ȱ (continuedȱonȱnextȱpage)ȱȱ x FixȱForȱ41ȱ–ȱThere’sȱaȱ3.8ȬmileȱprojectȱonȱtheȱdualȱbridgesȱthatȱbeginsȱMayȱ5.ȱThisȱisȱ notȱpartȱofȱtheȱIȬ69ȱORXȱproject.ȱȱ o Thisȱ$25ȱmillionȱwillȱrehabilitateȱsevenȱUSȱ41ȱbridge,ȱpavementȱrepairȱandȱbridgeȱ deckȱoverlay.ȱOnlyȱtheȱsouthboundȱbridgeȱwillȱbeȱcompletelyȱresurfaced.ȱ o Itȱbeginsȱthisȱspringȱandȱcontinuesȱthroughȱsummerȱ2019.ȱ o Websiteȱlinkȱwww.in.gov/indot/3459.htmȱȱ ȱ 5. NationalȱEnvironmentalȱPolicyȱActȱȱ(NEPA)ȱ x We’reȱgoingȱtoȱbuildȱonȱtheȱworkȱdoneȱinȱtheȱpreviousȱstudies,ȱbutȱwe’llȱtakeȱaȱfreshȱ lookȱatȱthatȱdata.ȱSinceȱtheȱapproachȱinȱ2004ȱwasn’tȱaffordable,ȱwe’llȱconsiderȱ alternativeȱwaysȱtoȱdevelopȱandȱfinanceȱtheȱproject.ȱ ȱ x Broadȱalternativesȱ o Westȱcorridorsȱ–ȱTheseȱcorridorsȱfollowȱexitingȱUSȱ41ȱalignmentȱacrossȱtheȱriver.ȱ TheȱdifferenceȱisȱwhereȱtheyȱwouldȱgoȱwithinȱtheȱcommercialȱstretchȱofȱUSȱ41.ȱ Corridorȱ2ȱgoesȱrightȱalongȱexistingȱUSȱ41.ȱCorridorȱ1,ȱwhichȱwasȱlookedȱatȱinȱ theȱ2014ȱstudy,ȱwouldȱshiftȱitȱaȱlittleȱtoȱtheȱwest.ȱUSȱ41ȱwouldȱremainȱalongȱtheȱ commercialȱstripȱtoȱprovideȱlocalȱaccess.ȱ o Centralȱcorridorsȱ–ȱ2014ȱfeasibilityȱstudy.ȱIȬ69ȱtoȱeastȱofȱtheȱUSȱ41ȱinterchange.ȱ Corridorȱ1ȱisȱaȱlittleȱshorterȱandȱtiesȱinȱbetweenȱZionȱRoadȱandȱUSȱ60.ȱȱCorridorȱ2ȱ continuesȱfurtherȱsouthȱtoȱtheȱHendersonȱBypassȱandȱKYȱ136.ȱȱ o Eastȱcorridorȱ–ȱConnectȱtoȱSRȱ662,ȱheadȱsouthȱandȱcrossȱtheȱriverȱjustȱeastȱofȱ AngelȱMounts.ȱTieȱintoȱwhereȱcentralȱcorridorȱ2ȱwouldȱbe.ȱTheseȱhaven’tȱbeenȱ designed;ȱtheseȱareȱourȱstartingȱpointsȱforȱourȱstudies.ȱ ȱ x Weȱneedȱtoȱknowȱifȱthereȱareȱotherȱcorridorsȱtoȱconsider.ȱWe’llȱprovideȱdataȱlaterȱtoȱ helpȱanalyzeȱtheȱcorridors.ȱ ȱ x USȱ41ȱtwinȱbridgesȱ–ȱ(slideȱ20)ȱ–ȱTheȱcurrentȱbridgesȱareȱold;ȱtheyȱareȱsafe,ȱbutȱtheȱ costȱofȱmaintainingȱthoseȱstructuresȱwillȱbecomeȱincreasinglyȱexpensive.ȱTheȱexistingȱ lanesȱareȱmoreȱnarrowȱandȱthereȱisȱnoȱshoulder.ȱIȬ69ȱORXȱwillȱaddressȱwhatȱtoȱdoȱtoȱ theseȱbridges.ȱAllȱoptionsȱforȱoneȱorȱtwoȱbridgesȱareȱcurrentlyȱbeingȱconsidered.ȱ (continuedȱonȱnextȱpage)ȱ x Factorsȱwe’llȱconsiderȱincludeȱcost,ȱtheȱpublic’sȱopinion,ȱdesignȱissues,ȱtrafficȱ demands.ȱȱ o WeȱwillȱplaceȱaȱspecialȱeffortȱonȱensuringȱthatȱimpactsȱtoȱminorityȱandȱlowȬ incomeȱgroupsȱareȱconsideredȱcarefully.ȱȱ o WeȱareȱformingȱanȱEnvironmentalȱJusticeȱSubcommitteeȱandȱwe’dȱlikeȱforȱ severalȱmembersȱofȱtheȱRCACȱtoȱjoinȱthatȱgroup.ȱPleaseȱseeȱanyȱofȱusȱafterȱtheȱ meetingȱtoȱsignȱup,ȱorȱtoȱsuggestȱsomeoneȱinȱyourȱcommunityȱwhoȱmightȱmakeȱaȱ