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US 14/WIS 11 (Janesville - US 14/I-43) - Environmental documents

Data gathering | Purpose/need statement | Finding of Independent Utility | Environmental process

The following document(s) are in Adobe PDF format.
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Data gathering

Initial phase of the study, data was gathered about a variety of issues in the study area:

• Existing traffic volumes
• Crash rates
• Historical and archaeological sites
• Potential hazardous materials sites
• Areas of prime farmland
• Info. on other natural and cultural resources in the project area.

Results of data gathering

• Map - Natural and cultural resources (655 KB)
• Traffic summary
• Map - Traffic volumes (630 KB)
• Crash data
• Map - Crash rates 2001-2004 (1.3 MB)
• Traffic count maps by county

Purpose and need statement

A project purpose and need statement was developed in coordination with local officials and state and federal agencies.

• Purpose and need (west segment) summary
• Purpose and need (west segment) complete (1.5 MB)

Finding of Independent Utility

Executive summary

Finding of Independent Utility (complete) (12.6 MB)

In order to split the study into west and east components, documentation was required to demonstrate that each study:

• Connects logical termini
• Have independent utility
• Not restrict consideration of alternatives

Environmental process

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires an EIS for all major Federal actions that significantly affect the quality of the human environment. An EIS is the decision document for a major highway project like US 14/WIS 11. The EIS pulls together community and agency interests and recommends a future course of action.

EIS main parts:

• Purpose and need for the proposed action
• Alternatives
• Environmental consequences

Note - EIS will be completed for west segment only. East segment alternative analysis and EIS preparation will begin at a later date; after west segment EIS is complete.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

First version is a Draft EIS (DEIS). DEIS discusses the 'no-build' alternative and a range of reasonable 'build' alternatives along with their impacts.

Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)

Second version is a Final EIS (FEIS). FEIS documents the recommended alternative and reasons for its selection.

Record of Decision (ROD)

ROD is final approval that is needed before an action analyzed in EIS may be implemented. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is lead agency and an EIS is prepared according to their guidelines.

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Last modified: May 21, 2012