| RELEASE: CONTACT: |
IMMEDIATE Sandy Myers 540-332-9201 Stauntoninfo@Virginia.DOT.org Eric Gorton 540-332-9264 |
STAN-84 April 21, 2004 |
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY TO MOVE FORWARD FOR HARRISONBURG SOUTHEAST CONNECTOR
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration are moving forward with work on the proposed Harrisonburg Southeast Connector Location Study. The agencies are studying the project due to its inclusion in the Virginia Transportation Act of 2000 and local transportation plans.
An early step in this process will involve identifying the transportation problems in the study area, which is between Interstate 81 near Mount Crawford and Route 33. VDOT will use the long-range plan currently being developed by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Metropolitan Planning Organization to help define these problems. Transportation solutions that address these problems will then be developed. Options under consideration will include a new highway, improvements to existing roads, a no-build or do-nothing alternative, and public transit.
As part of the study, VDOT will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and has contracted with Parsons Transportation Group of Fairfax to help with this effort. The study will document environmental resources and study the effects of different transportation options on those resources. Examples of these resources include historic properties, farmland, communities, water resources and wildlife. Once completed, a Draft EIS will be made available to the public at a public hearing. Following the hearing, the Commonwealth Transportation Board will adopt an alternative. The process is completed when the Federal Highway Administration issues a Record of Decision.
VDOT will hold a number of public meetings and a formal public hearing during the course of the study to ensure the views of citizens are considered. The first of these meetings is scheduled for summer 2004. Also, a project-specific Web site ( Harrisonburg Southeast Connector ) has been created to help the public keep informed of the study and announce upcoming public meetings. The Web site has a feature to collect public comments on the project. Citizens can also provide comments by contacting Jim Clarke, VDOTs Project Manager, at 804-371-6845.
Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.
An early step in this process will involve identifying the transportation problems in the study area, which is between Interstate 81 near Mount Crawford and Route 33. VDOT will use the long-range plan currently being developed by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Metropolitan Planning Organization to help define these problems. Transportation solutions that address these problems will then be developed. Options under consideration will include a new highway, improvements to existing roads, a no-build or do-nothing alternative, and public transit.
As part of the study, VDOT will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and has contracted with Parsons Transportation Group of Fairfax to help with this effort. The study will document environmental resources and study the effects of different transportation options on those resources. Examples of these resources include historic properties, farmland, communities, water resources and wildlife. Once completed, a Draft EIS will be made available to the public at a public hearing. Following the hearing, the Commonwealth Transportation Board will adopt an alternative. The process is completed when the Federal Highway Administration issues a Record of Decision.
VDOT will hold a number of public meetings and a formal public hearing during the course of the study to ensure the views of citizens are considered. The first of these meetings is scheduled for summer 2004. Also, a project-specific Web site ( Harrisonburg Southeast Connector ) has been created to help the public keep informed of the study and announce upcoming public meetings. The Web site has a feature to collect public comments on the project. Citizens can also provide comments by contacting Jim Clarke, VDOTs Project Manager, at 804-371-6845.
Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.
Page last modified: April 21, 2004
