Finding of No Significant Impact Shiloh Road Corridor May 2007 STPU 1031(2) Control Number 4666 Shiloh Road Corridor Finding of No Significant Impact STPU 1031(2) CN 4666 May 2007 Table of Contents 1.0 Coordination Process.................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Press Release and Advertising....................................................................................... 1 1.2 Availability of EA.......................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Public Hearing and Comments ...................................................................................... 2 1.4 Other Federal Requirements ......................................................................................... 8 1.5 Availability of FONSI .................................................................................................... 8 2.0 Clarifications to the EA ................................................................................................. 8 2.1 Summary .................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................11 2.3 Alternatives................................................................................................................12 2.4 Impacts .....................................................................................................................12 3.0 Response to Comments and Questions on the EA and Nationwide Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluations.................................................................................................................15 4.0 Summary of Impacts and Mitigation .............................................................................15 4.1 Summary of Impacts...................................................................................................15 4.2 Summary of Mitigation ................................................................................................21 5.0 Selection of Preferred Alternative .................................................................................28 List of Tables Table 1. Summary of Estimated Potential Impacts ............................................................. 16 Table 2. Summary of Mitigation for the Selected Alternative............................................... 21 Appendices Appendix A: Public Hearing Transcript Public Hearing Sign-In Sheets Comments Received During the Public Comment Period and MDT’s Responses Appendix B: Publicity for Public Hearing – Advertisement, Press Release, Newsletter Distribution List – Federal, State, and Local Entities and Public Locations Receiving EA Appendix C: Environmental Assessment Montana Department of Transportation TOC i Intentional Blank Page Shiloh Road Corridor Finding of No Significant Impact STPU 1031(2) CN 4666 May 2007 1.0 Coordination Process The proposed action has been coordinated with the appropriate federal, state, and local agencies to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). The Notice of Availability for the Shiloh Road Corridor Environmental Assessment (EA) and Nationwide Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluations was publicized in several area newspapers and broadcast media, as well as in a project newsletter. Information was also provided on the public hearing for the project. 1.1 Press Release and Advertising A press release was distributed to the following locations on January 5 and 22, 2007: KTVQ-TV KFBB KULR KBLG KHMT-TV KULR-8 KRKX KMHK Billings Gazette KRZN KMZK Billings Outpost KYYA KURL Billings Times KBUL KRZN 2 KCTR KSVI-TV Display ads were placed in the Billings Gazette on January 21, 2007 and February 4, 2007. Copies of the advertising notice and press release are contained in Appendix B. In addition, a newsletter announcing the public hearing and the availability of the EA is included in Appendix B. The public comment period began on January 8, 2007 and ended on February 12, 2007. 1.2 Availability of EA Copies of the EA were available for review beginning January 8, 2007 at the following locations: MDT Billings District Offices, 424 Morey Street, Billings City of Billings, Planning and Community Service Dept., 510 N. Broadway, Billings MSU Billings Library, 1500 University Drive, Billings Will James Middle School, 1200 30th Street West, Billings Copies of the EA were available upon request from the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), and the EA was also available on the MDT website (http://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/eis_ea.shtml). State and federal agencies and local entities were provided with a copy of the EA. The distribution list is included in Appendix B. A complete version of the EA is included in Appendix C. Montana Department of Transportation Page 1 Shiloh Road Corridor Finding of No Significant Impact STPU 1031(2) CN 4666 May 2007 1.3 Public Hearing and Comments The Public Hearing for the EA occurred on Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at Faith Evangelical Church, 3145 Sweetwater Drive, Billings from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The event included an open house, presentation with question and answer period, and the formal Public Hearing. The Public Hearing was attended by 102 people. Copies of the sign-in sheet and the transcript are contained in Appendix A. Fifteen individuals offered comments at the public hearing. These comments and MDT responses are provided in Appendix A. MDT received written comments from two representatives of federal and local agencies as well as 35 individuals during the public comment period. The verbal comments received during the Public Hearing and written comments received during the public comment period are provided in Appendix A, along with responses from MDT. A number of the comments submitted stated support for the Preferred Alternative. Some of these comments specified additional roadway capacity, pedestrian and bicycle amenities, and roundabouts to improve traffic flow and aesthetics as reasons for supporting the Preferred Alternative. The comments indicating concerns with the Preferred Alternative focused on the following main issues: 1) traffic safety and operations at roundabouts, including lack of driver familiarity with roundabouts, 2) pedestrian/bicycle access and safety, 3) landscaping and 4) noise. Traffic Safety and Operations at Roundabouts Traffic safety and operations at roundabouts, including lack of driver familiarity with roundabouts, was a public concern. Based on these concerns, commenters suggested changing the Preferred Alternative to include traffic signals rather than roundabouts. As discussed in the EA, roundabouts have been selected over traffic signals because, for this corridor, roundabouts provide potentially greater reduction in crash rates and severity and better level-of-service (LOS). Statistics available for roundabouts constructed across the United States, including multi-lane roundabouts, indicate a reduced frequency of crashes and crash severity when compared to signalized and all-way stop controlled intersections. The LOS of the roundabouts at the eight intersections for the project are predicted to operate at an overall LOS C or better in both the morning and evening peak hours, which would be an improvement over the No Build Alternative conditions and slightly better than the traffic signal alternatives. There was a concern that drivers not familiar with roundabouts would be confused and cause accidents, or avoid the roundabouts. As with all roadway projects, there will be a comprehensive signing and striping plan to clearly inform the driver of how to maneuver through the modern roundabouts. To address the lack of driver familiarity with roundabouts, MDT will provide a public information program describing roundabouts. As part of this program, MDT’s website will provide basic information regarding roundabouts, including why MDT wants to utilize roundabouts and how pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists can safely maneuver through them. MDT’s public information program may also include informational brochures to be placed at the Airport, Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center, local businesses, and area hotels. These measures will help to improve drivers’ understanding of modern roundabouts and minimize confusion for drivers unfamiliar with roundabouts. Montana Department of Transportation Page 2 Shiloh Road Corridor Finding of No Significant Impact STPU 1031(2) CN 4666 May 2007 Pedestrian/Bicycle Access and Safety The ability of pedestrians and bicyclists to cross Shiloh Road and cross streets at major intersections was also a concern of the public. Some members of the public expressed the desire to provide additional grade-separated pedestrian/bicycle crossings in the corridor. The Heritage Trail Plan proposed grade-separated pedestrian/bicycle crossings at the proposed Hogan’s Slough multi-use trail, the proposed primary bikeway at Monad Road, and the proposed secondary bikeway at Howard Avenue, which traverses the MSU Billings College of Technology campus. MDT determined that grade-separated crossings at these locations were not feasible for the following reasons. At the Hogan’s Slough multi-use trail, a pedestrian/bicycle crossing under Shiloh Road must be kept above Hogan’s Slough water surface elevation because of potential flooding risks. This would require elevating the