Collins Road NE (Highway 100) City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa (301446-01) IA DOT Project Number STP-U-1187(670)--70-57 CONTENTS 1.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION........................................................................5 1.1 Project Location.....................................................................................................5 2.0 PROJECT HISTORY ........................................................................................................8 3.0 PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION......................................................................10 3.1 Purpose of the Proposed Action..........................................................................10 3.2 Need for Proposed Action ...................................................................................10 4.0 ALTERNATIVES .............................................................................................................12 4.1 Range of Alternatives Considered.......................................................................12 4.2 Description of Alternatives Considered ...............................................................12 4.2.1 Six-Lane Constant Median Width Alternative .............................................12 4.2.2 Noelridge Park Avoidance Alternative ........................................................13 4.2.3 Grade-Separated Intersections Alternative ................................................13 4.2.4 No Build Alternative ....................................................................................13 4.3 Alternatives Eliminated from Further Consideration............................................14 4.3.1 Noelridge Park Avoidance Alternative ........................................................14 4.3.2 Grade-Separated Intersections Alternative ................................................14 4.4 Alternatives Carried Forward...............................................................................15 4.4.1 Build Alternative..........................................................................................15 5.0 IMPACTS ........................................................................................................................19 5.1 Social and Economic Impacts .............................................................................19 5.2 Land Use .............................................................................................................21 5.3 Cemeteries ..........................................................................................................22 5.4 Public Lands and Recreational Facilities.............................................................23 5.5 Right-Of-Way/Displacements ..............................................................................25 5.6 Cultural Resources..............................................................................................28 5.6.1 Archaeological Resources..........................................................................28 5.6.2 Historic Resources .....................................................................................28 5.7 Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Public Transportation...................................................29 5.8 Utilities.................................................................................................................30 5.9 Air Quality............................................................................................................32 5.10 Mobile Source Air Toxics (MSAT) .......................................................................33 5.11 Water Resources.................................................................................................37 5.12 Floodplains ..........................................................................................................41 5.13 Wetlands and Waters of the U.S. ........................................................................41 5.14 Noise Impacts......................................................................................................43 5.15 Regulated Materials ............................................................................................47 5.16 Visual Impacts .....................................................................................................49 5.17 Construction Impacts and Traffic Maintenance ...................................................50 5.18 Indirect Impacts ...................................................................................................52 5.19 Cumulative Impacts.............................................................................................53 5.20 Summary of Impacts ...........................................................................................57 6.0 CONCLUSION AND DISPOSITION................................................................................69 Environmental Assessment 2 October 2008 Collins Road NE (Highway 100) City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa (301446-01) IA DOT Project Number STP-U-1187(670)--70-57 7.0 COMMENTS AND COORDINATION..............................................................................70 7.1 Agency Coordination ...........................................................................................70 7.2 Public Involvement ..............................................................................................70 7.3 Tribal Coordination ..............................................................................................70 8.0 REFERENCES................................................................................................................71 APPENDIX A Build Alternative and Tower Anchor Avoidance Sub-Alternative APPENDIX B Typical Cross Sections APPENDIX C Draft Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation and Draft Memorandum of Agreement APPENDIX D Agency Comment Letters Environmental Assessment 3 October 2008 Collins Road NE (Highway 100) City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa (301446-01) IA DOT Project Number STP-U-1187(670)--70-57 FIGURES Figure 1-1 Regional Map ........................................................................................................6 Figure 1-2 Project Study Area ................................................................................................ 7 Figure 4-1a Build Alternative (West)....................................................................................... 16 Figure 4-1b Build Alternative (East)........................................................................................ 17 Figure 4-1c Tower Anchor Avoidance Sub-Alternative........................................................... 18 Figure 5-1 Existing Land Use ............................................................................................... 58 Figure 5-2 Existing Park Features ........................................................................................ 59 Figure 5-3 Potential Impacts to Noelridge Park .................................................................... 60 Figure 5-4a Potential Displacements and Impacted Parcels (West)....................................... 61 Figure 5-4b Potential Displacements and Impacted Parcels (Central) ................................... 62 Figure 5-4c Potential Displacements and Impacted Parcels (East)........................................ 63 Figure 5-4d Potential Displacements and Impacted Parcels (Tower Anchor Avoidance Sub Alternative)................................................................................................... 64 Figure 5-5a Existing Utilities (West)........................................................................................ 65 Figure 5-5b Existing Utilities (East)......................................................................................... 66 Figure 5-6a Wetlands, Noise, and Regulated Materials (West).............................................. 67 Figure 5-6b Wetlands, Noise, and Regulated Materials (East)............................................... 68 TABLES Table 5-1 Resource Areas Not Discussed .......................................................................... 19 Table 5-2 Population Demographics Comparison............................................................... 20 Table 5-3 Bus Routes Using or Crossing Collins Road....................................................... 30 Table 5-4 Drainage Problems and Recommendations........................................................ 38 Table 5-5 Private Re-Development Sites Incorporating On-Site Stormwater Management ....................................................................................................... 39 Table 5-6 Potential Build Alternative Wetland Impacts........................................................ 42 Table 5-7 Noise Abatement Criteria .................................................................................... 44 Table 5-8 Noise Modeling Results....................................................................................... 45 Table 5-9 Regulated/Hazardous Material Sites................................................................... 47 Table 5-10 Summary of Impacts ........................................................................................... 57 Table 7-1 Agencies Contacted During Early Coordination Process .................................... 70 DIAGRAMS Diagram 5-1 Common Measured Indoor and Outdoor Sound Levels...................................... 43 Environmental Assessment 4 October 2008 Collins Road NE (Highway 100) City