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Record of Decision Sterling Highway Milepost 45–60 Project State Project No: 53014 Federal Project Number: STP-F-021-2(15) Appendix A: Responses to Comments on the Final EIS May 2018 This page intentionally left blank. ID: 1321 Source: Web Date Submitted: 3/11/2018 Name: Janet Yaeger Organization: I am greatly distressed to read that the route selected in the draft EIS, G South, has been rejected. Although expensive, G South involved the least redirection of the highway and had the lead impact on the wilderness character, recreational opportunities and wildlife that are the reasons people choose to live on, and visit, the Kenai Peninsula. I believe that the Juneau Creek alternative makes a poor sacrifice in valuing money over that which is beyond value and irreplaceable once lost: the wild character of this amazing place. In addition, the Juneau Creek alternative destroys a vital migration corridor for brown bears (and other wildlife), which are already under siege from habitat loss in the area. I strongly disagree with this decision and urge you to go back to the original preferred alternative, G South. RESPONSE: While less expensive, the Juneau Creek Alternative was not selected based on costs. DOT&PF and FHWA selected the Juneau Creek Alternative because it has the least overall harm of any of the alternatives. The values associated with the Kenai River were given greater weight based on input from the public and agencies. The G South Alternative would require a new bridge over the Kenai River and routes highway traffic close to the river for a greater length compared to the Juneau Creek Alternative— these are among the reasons DOT&PF and FHWA did not select the G South Alternative in the Record of Decision (ROD). Section 4.8 of the Final EIS describes the analysis undertaken to arrive at the decision to select the Juneau Creek Alternative in the ROD as the alternative with the least overall harm. ID: 1322 Source: Web Date Submitted: 3/11/2018 Name: Marvin Ebnet Organization: I am absolutely in FULL support of the Juneau Creek bypass. It is the cheapest, can be built with little effect to normal traffic, and it simply makes sense to move it away from the river and NOT have to build any bridges. I think cooper landing can actually become a more desirable quaint area to stop for those that wish to, it can become a mecca of sorts. The State and Agencies simply need to 'bite the bullet' and DEAL with the necessary paperwork associated with the 33 acre wilderness designation in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Do your JOB and do the right thing. YES on Juneau Creek RESPONSE: Section 4.8 of the Final EIS describes the analysis undertaken to arrive at the decision to select the Juneau Creek Alternative in the ROD as the alternative with the least overall harm. ID: 1331 Source: Web Date Submitted: 3/12/2018 Name: Robert Estes Organization: This highway re-routing should have been completed 20 years ago RESPONSE: Comment noted. Sterling Highway Milepost 45-60 Project ROD Page 1 Appendix A ID: 1332 Source: Web Date Submitted: 3/12/2018 Name: Candie Graham Organization: I am only a part-timer to Cooper Landing but I like this route. It seems the best that can be done to protect the river through this precarious area of the Sterling Highway and will hopefully put the dangerous navigation behind us and offer an alternate route should there be an accident that prevents normal passage otherwise. The Juneau Creek route looks to afford the locals some respite from the constant drone of traffic on their roads and allow them to more safely navigate through their daily lives while driving from one place to the next. It should also open up the “Old Seward Highway” to become a more walk- able, usable span of the roadway, it would be nice to see the property owners through this area able to take advantage of the situation to where they could create a true off the highway river destination. RESPONSE: DOT&PF and FHWA selected the Juneau Creek Alternative, in part due to the reasons you mention. Section 4.8 of the Final EIS describes the analysis undertaken to arrive at the decision to select the Juneau Creek Alternative in the ROD as the alternative with the least overall harm. ID: 1337 Source: Email Date Submitted: 3/13/2018 Name: Scott Williams Organization: Thank you, Kelly. We look forward to the ROD on the preferred alternative “Juneau Creek” soon. Scott Williams Sent from my iPhone RESPONSE: Comment noted. ID: 1340 Source: Web Date Submitted: 3/13/2018 Name: Bill Tappan Organization: I am personally very pleased to see the federal and state highway agencies have decided to listen to those most affected by this project; those of us here on the Kenai Peninsula. Your decision to now go with the Juneau Creek Alternative demonstrates your willingness to listen to public comments and see the sound reasoning behind selecting this alignment. Keeping traffic, especially commercial traffic, away from the river should help protect the resource from future spills of fuel into the river. It is my understanding that the project will cost approximately $54 million less given no new bridge will be part of the project; great idea, saving money. Sterling Highway Milepost 45-60 Project ROD Page 2 Appendix A After 35-years of planning and studies after studies, there may be a light at the end of this tunnel after all. So, when will you start/complete construction? Congratulations. Bill Tappan RESPONSE: DOT&PF and FHWA selected the Juneau Creek Alternative, in part due to the reasons you mention. Section 4.8 of the Final EIS describes the analysis undertaken to arrive at the decision to select the Juneau Creek Alternative in the ROD as the alternative with the least overall harm. Construction is anticipated to occur in 2020–2025 depending on available funding. ID: 1342 Source: Web Date Submitted: 3/15/2018 Name: Michael Velikanje Organization: It's about time...it was need 20 years ago. This project was being discussed when I lived in Moose Pass Ak between 1985 and 1994 and it wasn't a new discussion then. RESPONSE: Comment noted. ID: 1343 Source: Web Date Submitted: 3/15/2018 Name: Tom McReynolds Organization: The best choice so far on this one! Looking forward to it starting! RESPONSE: Comment noted. ID: 1346 Source: Email Date Submitted: 3/16/2018 Name: Steve Foster Organization: Mr. Brian Elliott, I just wanted to voice my support for the decision to choose the Juneau Creek Alternative route for this project. I was born on the Kenai Peninsula in 1957 and I am looking forward to a safer route through the Cooper Landing area. Thank you, Steve Foster RESPONSE: Comment noted. Sterling Highway Milepost 45-60 Project ROD Page 3 Appendix A ID: 1347 Source: Web Date Submitted: 3/16/2018 Name: Gerry Guay Organization: I like the route, as it should reduce congestion along the river, significantly removing truck traffic and give the public wishing to move quickly between Anchorage and Soldotna a better option. This also should improve the River experience for those wanting to fish, but will also turn Coopers Landing into a ghost town. RESPONSE: DOT&PF and FHWA selected the Juneau Creek Alternative, in part due to the reasons you mention. Section 4.8 of the Final EIS in describes the analysis undertaken to arrive at the decision to select the Juneau Creek Alternative in the ROD as the alternative with the least overall harm. What is planned for road development across the avalance chute around mile 46? In the wake of the tragic accident in Miami, can we put in a long bridge which will be safe? How willl the improved traffic flow impact the intersection with the Seward Highway on high use weekends? RESPONSE: The issue of avalanches has been considered in the Final EIS. The road is proposed on the same alignment across the avalanche chute you cite. During the design phase of the project, DOT&PF will examine the avalanche chute and consider if additional design changes are warranted. The bridge across the Juneau Creek Canyon will be designed to meet current design standards. Structural and geotechnical engineers have considered the proposed location and believe that several bridge types will be technically feasible for that location. For more information, see the Preliminary Bridge Structures Technical Report, available on the project web site at: http://sterlinghighway.net/Documents/Preliminary%20Bridge%20Structures%20Tech%20REPORT%20(Fin al%209-8-11).pdf Traffic at the junction of the Seward and Sterling Highways will be unchanged as a result of this project. ID: 1349 Source: Web Date Submitted: 3/16/2018 Name: Carol Griswold Organization: I realize that this is a tough problem and there are no perfect solutions. I am glad to see the highway moved away from the Kenai River as much as possible. I do wonder about the steep grade noted for much of the road. Will this pose difficulties for vehicles, especially semi-trucks and possibly lead to more accidents? RESPONSE: The grade of the road has been designed to be within acceptable limits for a Principal Rural Arterial that is part of the National Highway System (NHS). Crash analysis done for the project (Appendix A, Crash Analysis, of the Final EIS) shows a substantial improvement for the Juneau Creek Alternative as compared to the No Build Alternative. Sterling Highway Milepost 45-60 Project ROD Page 4 Appendix A Will large mammals use the overpass? Will there be fencing to force use of either the overpass or underpass? Otherwise, why would mammals choose to use them over just crossing the highway? RESPONSE: The wildlife crossings are proposed to be in locations where project biologists anticipate large mammals will use them.

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