ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND PROPOSED SECTION 4(F) DETERMINATION I-205 Toll Project

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND PROPOSED SECTION 4(F) DETERMINATION I-205 Toll Project The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is issuing this notice to inform the public that the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the I-205 Toll Project (Project) is available for review and comment. The EA was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as amended, the Council on Environmental Quality NEPA Regulations set forth in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1500 to 1508, and FHWA Regulations contained in 23 CFR Part 771. The EA discloses the potential effects of the Project on communities and the environment. ODOT and FHWA are seeking public comment on the EA and the proposed Section 4(f) determination for the Project, which is included in the EA. Public comments on the EA and Section 4(f) de minimis determination will be accepted during a 45-day comment period, ending at 4 p.m. on April 7, 2023. The Project proposes to implement tolls on the I-205 Abernethy Bridge and Tualatin River Bridges to raise revenue for construction of planned improvements on I-205 in Clackamas County, West Linn, and Oregon City, Oregon, and to manage congestion. Planned improvements include adding a third travel lane in each direction of I-205 between the Stafford Road interchange and OR 43 interchange, constructing a northbound auxiliary lane on I-205 between OR 99E and OR 213, and seismic upgrades to or reconstruction of eight bridges along the 7-mile segment of I-205 between Stafford Road and OR 213. The EA evaluates a Build Alternative and a No Build Alternative for potential environmental and community impacts and identifies mitigation measures that could prevent or minimize adverse impacts of the Build Alternative. Replacement of the I-205 bridges over the Tualatin River would temporarily affect access to an approximately 0.1-mile portion of the 38.5-mile Tualatin River Water Trail (TRWT). The TRWT is a protected resource under Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966, which requires FHWA to address the effects of its projects on historic sites and publicly owned parks, recreation areas, and wildlife and waterfowl refuges. The temporary closure of the TRWT for construction would not adversely affect the activities, features, or attributes that qualify the TRWT for protection under Section 4(f); therefore, FHWA has determined that the Project would have a de minimis impact to the TWRT as defined in 23 CFR 774.17. Details of the proposed Section 4(f) de minimis determination are included in the EA. The 45day public review and comment period for the EA also serves as the public review and comment period for the proposed Section 4(f) de minimis determination. The EA and all associated documents are available at: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/tolling/Pages/I-205-Toll-Project-Environmental-Assessment.aspx. Print copies of the EA are available for viewing at the following locations: Oregon City Public Library, 606 John Adams Street, Oregon City, OR 97045; West Linn Public Library, 1595 Burns Street, West Linn, OR 97068; Tualatin Public Library, 18878 SW Martinazzi Avenue, Tualatin, OR 97062; and Canby Public Library, 220 NE 2nd Avenue, Canby, OR 97013. A printed copy of the EA is available for purchase for the cost of printing and mailing by calling 503-837-3536. For more information, visit the project website at https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/tolling/Pages/I 205-Tolling.aspx or contact Mandy Putney, ODOT Urban Mobility Office, 18277 SW Boones Ferry Road, Tualatin, OR 97224; Thomas Parker, FHWA Oregon Division, 530 Center Street NE, Suite 420, Salem, OR 97301. Public comments on the EA and Section 4(f) de minimis determination will be accepted during the comment period as follows: Written comments can be submitted by email to I205TollEA@odot.oregon.gov or by postal mail to: ODOT Urban Mobility Office, Attn: Mandy Putney, 18277 SW Boones Ferry Road, Tualatin, OR 97224. Comments can also be submitted in writing through a form accessible via the Project website at https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/tolling/Pages/I 205-Tolling.aspx ODOT and FHWA will host a public hearing to allow the public to submit comments orally. Details on the public hearing date, time, and location can be accessed online at: https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/tolling/Pages/I 205-Tolling.aspx Comments may also be submitted by leaving a voice message on the I-205 Toll Project’s comment line at 503-837-3536 during the comment period. Except for voice messages and oral testimony at the public hearing, which will be transcribed, comments must be submitted in writing. Comments received are part of the public record and are therefore subject to public disclosure upon request. All comments received or postmarked by April 7, 2023, will be considered by ODOT and FHWA in preparing a decision document and will inform FHWA’s decision under NEPA. Notice issued by Mandy Putney, ODOT Urban Mobility Office, Tualatin, Oregon. Published Feb. 21, 2023, Business Tribune, and Feb. 22, 2023, Oregon City News & Clackamas Review, Canby Herald, Lake Oswego Review and West Linn Tidings. OC/CLK/CH/LOR/WLT274336

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