U.S. 33 Northern Connector Alternative

Goshen High School Auditorium, Goshen, IN

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Welcome Rickie Clark, INDOT Office of Public

Involvement Purpose/explanation of public hearing Public hearing format Visit our sign-in table Informational handouts Submitting public comments for hearings

transcript Project display area

Six district offices 3,525 employees $1 billion/annual capital

expenditures 28,400 total roadway lane

miles 5,300 INDOT-owned bridges Assists 42 railroads in

planning & development of more than 3,880 miles of active rail lines

Supports 69 Indiana State Aviation System Plan airports

INDOT Profile

Welcome Introduction of INDOT project officials

Project Management Design Real Estate Public Involvement

DLZ – Project Design and Environmental Team

City of Goshen Elkhart County Recognition of elected public officials

Public Hearing Sign-in at attendance table to be

added to project mailing list. A public hearing notice was mailed to

known property owners within project area.

Announcement of this hearing was posted to INDOT website. A media release was also issued.

Legal notice publishing: Goshen News – March 3 and 12 El Puente – March 4 and 18

Project Stakeholders Indiana Department of Transportation Indiana Division Federal Highway

Administration Elkhart County City of Goshen Local communities Elected public officials Community residents and citizens Commuters Trucking industry Schools Emergency services

We Are Here

Engineering

Assessment

Project purpose &

need

Develop project

alternatives

Screen project

alternatives

Additional work on project

alternatives & design

Release Environmental document & preliminary

design

Public Hearing to

solicit public comment

Right-of-Way

Construction

Project Development Process

Environmental Document Requirement of the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Requires INDOT to analyze and evaluate the

impacts of a proposed project to the natural and socio-economic environments

Impacts are described in environmental document

Environmental document was released for public involvement in February 2014

Environmental Document Development of document begins once

purpose and need for the project has been clearly identified

Develop a number of possible alternatives including a “Do Nothing” alternative as a baseline for comparison

Screen alternatives to identify a preferred alternative

Solicit public comment on environmental document and preliminary design plan

Solicit, address and fully consider public comments as part of decision making process

Environmental Document Section 106 of the National Historic

Preservation Act Historic properties include the National

Register-listed Goshen Historic District, properties in the District determined individually eligible for National Register listing, and one property outside the District determined individually eligible.

It was determined that the North Connector – Overpass alternative resulted in the greatest benefit to the District as a whole, by removing U.S. 33 (high traffic, high % trucks, noise) from the heart of the District.

Environmental Document Section 106 Finding of Adverse Effect

relating to the project’s effects on the District and the properties determined eligible. Adverse effects relate to removal (demolition) of contributing properties, and visual, auditory and proximity impacts.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been executed which lists the following measures to minimize harm, that will be incorporated into the design:

Photographic documentation of the area within the District to be altered (complete).

Continued consultation regarding the design and visual appearance of MSE retaining walls and the project’s landscaping design (on-going).

Elements of the Environmental Documentation

Real Estate Community Impacts Air Quality Wetlands and

Waterways Noise

Floodplains Farmland

Endangered Species Hazardous Materials

Environmental Justice Historic/Archaeological

Sole Source Aquifer

Cultural Resources

Environmental Documentation

Environmental DocumentationINDOT Fort Wayne District OfficePlanning & Programming Department5333 Hatfield Road Fort Wayne, (866) 227-3555http://www.in.gov/indot/2703.htm INDOT Office of Public InvolvementIndiana Government Center North, Room N642100 North Senate AvenueIndianapolis, (317) 232-6601

Goshen Public Library 601 South 5th Street Goshen, (574) 533-9531

U.S. 33 Northern Connector Purpose

Increase capacity and safety conditions for motorists and pedestrians along U.S. 33, within the project limits.

Need Level of Service “D” is minimum acceptable.

U.S. 33 is currently operating at Level of Service “F”.

Increased traffic volumes are contributing to congestion and more frequent crashes.

Project History 1998 Engineer’s Report

Added travel lanes along existing U.S. 33 Widen existing U.S. 33 to the North, with

railroad grade separation One way pair with Jefferson Street New North Connector (with or without grade

separation at S.R. 4) Continued engineering assessment,

public input, Section 106 (impact to historic structures/areas) resulted in the development of additional project alternatives

Project Alternatives Considered Improvements along existing U.S. 33

alignment with addition of a center median

Improvements along existing U.S. 33 alignment with addition of an overpass or underpass of the Norfolk Southern Railroad Spur at 9th Street

North Connector Roadway with grade separated overpasses of the Norfolk Southern Railroad Spur at 9th Street and S.R. 4 (Lincoln Ave.) and Cottage Ave.

One way pair on existing U.S. 33 alignment along Madison Street & Jefferson Street

Preferred Alternative Northern Connector Alternative

Overpass alternative, between Monroe Street and S.R. 15 (Main Street)

Approximately 1 mile of two-lane roadway on new alignment

A portion of the alternative is on elevated roadway South terminus along U.S. 33 is just north of Sander Ave. North terminus along Pike Street is the Main Street

intersection Overpasses – Cottage Ave., Lincoln Ave., and the Norfolk

Southern Marion Branch Railroad Spur which runs north-south along east side of 9th Street

Preferred Alternative Improvements to U.S. 33 intersections

Main Street – traffic signal 5th Street/Pike Street – right in/right out Madison Street – traffic signal Monroe Street – traffic signal

Potential connector roadways to provide links Clinton Street with 7th Street Washington Street with 10th Street

Potential roadway closures at 5th Street and 9th Street railroad crossings

Elevated roadway section Between 10th Street and 7th Street

Multi-use trail proposed along new roadway at ground level

South west side between 5th Street and Madison Street

Preferred Alternative

Preferred Alternative

12 foot travel lane in each direction 12 foot left turn lane at major intersections Concrete curb and gutter 5 foot wide buffer strip 10 foot multi-use trail proposed along new roadway

US 33 – At Grade Section

Preferred Alternative

US 33 – Elevated Section 12 foot travel lane in each direction

8 foot wide shoulders Retaining walls and barrier railing 10 foot multi-use trail along elevated roadway at grade

Preferred Alternative Storm inlets will be added along the

roadway to collect drainage. The west half of the project will be

connected to storm sewer that runs west to the Elkhart River.

The east half of the project will be connected to storm sewer that will run to a storm basin at the east end of the project.

Since the majority of the relocated roadway is separated from existing U.S. 33, traffic will continue to travel along the existing U.S. 33 until the new roadway is constructed.

Real Estate Acquisition Process

Real Estate Acquisition Process "Uniform Act of 1970"

All federal, state and local governments must comply

Requires an offer for just compensation Acquisition Process

Appraisals Review appraisals Negotiations

Real Estate Acquisition Residential 5.9 Acres Commercial 3.0 AcresRailroad 2.0 AcresSchool 4.0 Acres City of Goshen 10.7 Acres

Approximately 26 acres of new permanent right of way

Displacement of 31 residential buildings Five business relocations

Project Schedule Public Hearing: March 2014 Environmental Document Finalized:

2014 Preliminary Design Plan refinement:

2014 Real Estate Acquisition Activities:

2014 - 2015 Appraising Negotiations/Buying Utilities coordination/relocation

Construction: 2016 - 2017

Feedback INDOT would like to hear from you

Talk with INDOT project team members Comment sheet in information packet E-mail or mail comments to INDOT Sign-in to be added to project mailing list Visit INDOT Fort Wayne District page at

www.in.gov/indot/2703.htm All comments are very appreciated and will be

given full consideration by project team.

Public Involvement Team Rickie Clark

INDOT Office of Public Involvement (317) 232-6601 rclark@indot.in.gov

Toni MayoFort Wayne District Communications Director (866) 227-3555 Neinformation@indot.in.gov

Submit Public Comments Submit public comments using the options

described in 1st page of information packet: Public Comment Form Via e-mail Participating during public comment session via

microphone Verbal comments recorded and transcribed for inclusion

into public hearings transcript INDOT respectfully requests comments be

submitted by Friday, April 11, 2014. All comments submitted will become part of

public record, entered into transcript, reviewed, evaluated and given full consideration during decision making process.

Next Steps Public and project stakeholder input

Submit comments via options described on 1st page of information packet

INDOT review and evaluation All comments are given full consideration during

decision-making process INDOT requests approval of proposed Northern

Connector alternative from Federal Highway Administration

Communicate a decision INDOT will notify persons on mailing list of decision Work through local media outlets & paid legal notice Make project documents accessible via repositories

Questions? Contact Public Involvement Team

Thank You Please visit with INDOT project

officials following the public comment session

Project Open House Project maps, displays, real estate acquisition

table, INDOT project officials and informal Q & A

Public Comment Session