The
I-471/KY 8 Interchange
Justification Project is being undertaken by the Kentucky Transportation
Cabinet
to examine Justifications to the interchange to reduce traffic delays on
southbound I-471 at the KY 8 exit ramps and improve safety for
southbound and
exiting traffic.
Based
on the nature
of the Project, a purpose and need statement for the Project is
prepared to
comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and to guide
preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA).
The EA evaluates all major federal
projects
affecting the human and natural environments.
The purpose and need statement
identifies the problems to be addressed
and presents objectives for solutions.
The purpose and need statement is the
beginning point for assessment and
provides the foundation for successful evaluation and comparison of
alternative
designs.
The Purpose and Need for the project is to
improve safety and reduce traffic delay at
the I-471 / KY 8 Interchange in Kentucky
by correcting deficiencies that cause and contribute to KY 8 exit
queues that
occur in the southbound I-471 lanes on the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge
over the Ohio River. Also, to improve capacity
and quality of
travel at interchange ramp termini intersections and adjacent outfall
streets
thereby enhancing accessibility to existing commercial and residential
districts and improving economic development opportunities, taking into
consideration the planned development of the riverfront district
between the Licking River
in Newport
and Berry
Street
in Bellevue. In addition, the
transportation
infrastructure improvements must be sensitive to the integrity of
cultural
historic districts and other environmental areas of concern.
The Scope of the
Project is to conduct preliminary
engineering studies to identify appropriate typical sections, line and
grade,
cost estimates, and to prepare the Environmental Assessment to comply
with
federal regulations governing federally-funded transportation projects.
Typical sections
are cross section plans showing the
roadway, the number of lanes, lane and median widths, and roadsides
including
shoulders, curbs, or sidewalks.
Line and grade
plans show the exact location of the roadway
and the curves and slopes that must be planned for in the alignment.
An environmental
assessment is required to be developed for
federally-funded Projects to assess the potential effects of the
typical
sections and line and grade on the human and natural environments
present in
the Project area. Elements
of the
Assessment include examinations of:
- Natural
aquatic and terrestrial habitat
- Social
and economic characteristics of the Project area
- Noise
levels
- Air
quality
- Hazardous
materials and underground storage tanks
- Archaeology
- Cultural
resources (historic elements).
The Environmental
Assessment is examined by the Department
of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration to make a final
decision on
the Project alternative recommended for implementation and to establish
a
location for the Project. After
the
Environmental Assessment is approved, impacts to the project area and
corresponding mitigation measures are summarized by a Finding of No
Significant
Impact (FONSI) or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). After
reaching this
milestone federal funds can be released for Project implementation.
Project
goals are:
- Prepare an
Interchange Justification Study
to evaluate traffic, geometrics, and land use issues associated with
providing
a reconstructed interchange to the Interstate Highway System. The Report is to be
submitted to the Federal
Highway Administration for approval of modified access to I-471 at KY 8.
- Conduct Phase I
preliminary engineering
studies to identify appropriate designs, alignments, and cost
estimates for
I-471/KY 8 interchange Justifications
- Develop the
appropriate environmental
document for approval. See
explanation of the Environmental Assessment above.
Public
input will be
solicited at Public Involvement Meetings. Conceptual
alternative designs
will be developed. These designs will be compared and evaluated to
reduce their
number under consideration from eight to four to two
and finally to a Preferred Alternative. The environmental
process will investigate impacts and mitigation potential for the
Alternatives
after which a Public Hearing will be held. From all this, the goal is
to reach
consensus between the community and the design agency on what is the
best
solution to the problem.
