Findings [44 Pa.B. 2963]
[Saturday, May 17, 2014]Under section 2002(b) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 512(b)) establishing the Department of Transportation (Department), the Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration, as delegated by the Secretary of Transportation, makes the following written findings:
The Department is planning the projects listed as follows. Environmental and Section 4(f) Documentation have been developed for the projects identified as follows to evaluate the potential environmental impacts caused by these projects. The Section 4(f) documents also serve as the Section 2002 Evaluation. The approved documents are available in the CE Expert System at http://www.dotdom2.state.pa.us/ceea/ceeamain.nsf. The environmental, economic, social and other effects of the proposed projects have been considered. Based upon studies, there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of the Section 2002 resources for the proposed projects identified as follows and all reasonable steps have been taken to minimize the effects.
• SR 22, Section 44B, SR 22 over Yellow Spring Run—Catherine Township, Blair County
Project Description: The project will include the replacement of the structure carrying SR 22 over Yellow Spring Run.
Environmental Documents: Level 1b ED, approved on January 29, 2014, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimis Use/Section 2002 No Adverse Use Historic Properties Checklist, approved on January 17, 2014.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: The project will include impacts to the National Register-(NR) eligible Maxwell Kinkead Property. Overall, there will be 0.583 acre of new permanent right-of-way (ROW) taken from the NR-eligible property, which is 307 acres in total. In addition, there will be approximately 0.083 acre of temporary acquisition.
• SR 164, Section 02S—Portage Borough, Cambria County
Project Description: The project will improve turning radii at the SR 2012 and SR 164 intersection in Portage Borough due to damage to the sidewalk and pavement from truck turning movements.
Environmental Documents: BRPA CE, approved on August 27, 2013, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimis Use/Section 2002 No Adverse Use—Historic Properties Checklist and Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimis Use/Section 2002 No Adverse Use—Public Parks, Recreation Areas, Wildlife and/or Waterfowl Refuges, State Forest Land and State Game Land were both approved on August 16, 2013.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: The project will include impacts to the NR-listed Portage Historic District. Overall, there will be 28 square feet of permanent ROW taken from the NR-eligible property. The project will also include 17 square feet of permanent impacts to the Portage Borough Community Beautification property. The total acreage of the property is 9,840 square feet.
• SR 0322, Section 13M—City of Franklin and the Borough of Sugarcreek, Venango County
Project Description: This project consists of addressing the roadway deficiencies through a reconstruction of 13th Street (SR 0322) from Liberty Street to the bridge approach near Franklin Avenue. The remainder of the project includes a mill and overlay from the bridge approach near Howard Street to segment 0240/0000 and completion as needed of drainage, signing, ADA ramps and guiderail updates. Signal upgrades at the intersection of 13th Street, Grant Street, Rocky Grove Avenue (SR 417) and Meadville Pike (SR 4003) will also be completed.
Environmental Documents: BRPA CE, approved on January 15, 2014, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimus Use document, approved on January 7, 2014.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: Approximately two blocks of the mill and overlay portion of the project are located within the Franklin Historic District. Work will be completed within the existing ROW and will result in no adverse effects on the historic district.
• SR 403, Section 09B, Cherry Run Culvert—City of Johnstown, Cambria County
Project Description: The project will involve the replacement of the existing Cherry Run Culvert, which carries Cherry Run beneath SR 403 near the intersection with a city street, Edmonds Place. The downstream (east) side of the culvert opens into a United States Army Corps of Engineers floodwall surrounding the Stonycreek River.
Environmental Documents: Level 1b CE, approved on October 7, 2013, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimis Use/Section 2002 No Adverse Use Historic Properties Checklist, approved on September 6, 2013.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: The NR- eligible Johnstown Local Flood Protection Project is located along the Stonycreek River, which will be impacted as part of the culvert replacement activities. Approximately 40,000 square feet of the floodwall will be replaced in-kind (concrete).
• SR 0422, Section 472—Cherryhill and Pine Townships, Indiana County
Project Description: This project consists of roadway widening and the addition of a 12-foot turning lane on SR 0422 to increase efficiency of traffic flow along the corridor. The turning lane will accommodate movements from SR 0422 to SR 0259.
Environmental Documents: Level 1b CE, approved on January 7, 2014, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimus Use document, approved on November 5, 2013.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: The widening of SR 0422 will require a permanent ROW acquisition totaling 0.60 acre from Yellow Creek State Park. This take will result in no adverse effect to the Park or its attributes.
• SR 0441, Section 012—Columbia Borough and West Hempfield Township, Lancaster County
Project Description: The project consists of the relocation of SR 0441 (from SR 0441, SR 0030 Interchange to SR 0441, Bridge Street, Chestnut Street Intersection) and local improvements to Front Street (SR 441), Cedar Street, Bridge Street and the U.S. 30 Eastbound on-ramp.
Environmental Documents: Level 2 CE, approved on January 10, 2014, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimus Use document, approved on December 21, 2009.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: The relocation of SR 0441 will require temporary and permanent ROW acquisitions. The Columbia Historic District is on the NR of Historic Places. A temporary easement of 0.16 acre and a permanent ROW acquisition of 0.44 acre will be taken from the Columbia Historic District. A temporary easement of 0.04 acre and a permanent ROW acquisition of 0.45 acre will be taken from the Pennsylvania Railroad/Atglen and Susquehanna Branch. A permanent ROW acquisition of 0.02 acre will be taken from the Reading and Columbia/Philadelphia and Reading Railroads. The temporary takes of 0.20 and permanent takes of 0.91 acre will result in no adverse effects on the historic resources.
• SR 0522, Section P10 (Multiple Bridge Project): SR 3014—Bratton Township, Mifflin County
Project Description: This project consists of the rehabilitation of the existing SR 3014 over the Juniata River.
Environmental Documents: BRPA CE, approved on February 5, 2014, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimus Use document, approved on March 28, 2013.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: The Fish and Boat Commission has designated the Juniata River a Water Trail, which is viewed by the Federal Highway Administration as Section 4(f) resource. This bridge rehabilitation does not require any temporary or permanent ROW acquisition and the water trail is to remain open for boating and fishing throughout the project construction and afterwards resulting in no adverse effects on the Section 4(f) resource.
• SR 0611, Section CWR—Williams Township, Forks, and Lower Mount Bethel Townships, Northampton County
Project Description: This project consists of the removal of an existing rock slope along SR 0611 and replacing it with a soldier pile wall. The soldier pile wall will stretch for approximately 173 feet along the embankment of the canal and SR 0611 in Williams Township, Northampton County.
Environmental Documents: Level 2 CE, approved on March 12, 2014, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimus Use document, approved on January 14, 2014.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: Through Northampton County, SR 0611 runs parallel with the Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal, a registered National Historic Landmark. The project site is adjacent to the Theodore Roosevelt Recreational Area, which is a part of the Delaware Canal State Park. The eastern slope of SR 0611 is shared by the western prism wall of the canal. This project will stabilize a section of the prism wall of the canal as well as maintain a safe roadway for the travelling public. Approximately 800 feet of the Towpath Trail as well as the same length of the Delaware Canal will not be usable during the construction phase because of temporary staging areas and access to do the work. One parking area will also be inaccessible during construction. There will be no adverse effects to the canal or recreational area as a result of this project.
• SR 1027, Section 550—Polk Township, Jefferson County
Project Description: This project consists of a replacement of the SR 1027 Egypt Road Bridge over North Fork Creek on a new alignment that will improve the horizontal and vertical geometry of the roadway approaches.
Environmental Documents: Level 1b CE, approved on February 18, 2014, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimus Use document, approved on February 14, 2014.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: The realignment and replacement of SR 1027 will require 0.654 acre of permanent ROW acquisition from State Game Lands #54. Upon vacating the existing ROW occupied by the existing bridge and roadway approaches, 0.373 acre of land will be returned to the Game Commission for use as a designated parking area. All disturbed areas will be graded, seeded and mulched in accordance with PennDOT Publication 408 and a contract special provision requiring the utilization of a Game Commission Seeding Plan. A contract special provision will ensure all rip-rap and stone used for the stabilization of stream banks, road shoulders and the constructed Game Land #54 parking area is limestone. The ROW takes and mitigation measures will result in no adverse effects on the resources.
• SR 2007, Section A01—Gregg Township, Centre County
Project Description: This project consists of a bridge replacement for the SR 2017 Brush Mountain Road Bridge over an unnamed tributary to Penns Creek.
Environmental Documents: BRPA CE, approved on December 9, 2013, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimus Use document, approved on December 9, 2013.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: The replacement of the Brush Mountain Road Bridge will result in 0.037 acre of permanent ROW acquisition and 0.249 acre of temporary construction easements from the Penns Valley/Brush Valley Rural Historic District. These ROW takes will result in no adverse effects on the historic resources.
• Osterburg Covered Bridge over Bobs Creek—East St. Clair Township, Bedford County
Project Description: The project will address structural deficiencies to preserve the historical integrity of the Osterburg Covered Bridge and provide safe pedestrian access across Bobs Creek.
Environmental Documents: BRPA CE, approved on January 17, 2014, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimis Use/Section 2002 No Adverse Use Historic Properties Checklist, approved on January 16, 2014.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: The proposed project would include rehabilitation of the historic Osterburg Covered Bridge to preserve the historic integrity of the bridge.
R. SCOTT CHRISTIE, PE,
Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-1062. Filed for public inspection May 16, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]
