US 160 Environmental Impact Study

Proposed Project

The proposed project is located in La Plata County, Colorado. The project length on US 160 would be 16.2 miles, extending from milepost (MP) 88.0, located east of Durango , to MP 104.2, located east of Bayfield. The project length on US 550 would be 1.2 miles, extending from MP 16.6, located at the US 160/US 550 (south) intersection, to MP 15.4, located south of the US 550/County Road (CR) 220 intersection.

>On US 160, the proposed project would extend the existing four-lane highway from Grandview east to Bayfield where it would transition to a two-lane highway. Beyond MP 104.2 the roadway provides sufficient capacity and accident data do not dictate the need for capacity and safety improvements by 2025. In Gem Village , from MP 100 to MP 101, US 160 will be realigned to the south. From the west project limit to the proposed US 160/US 550 (south) intersection, a westbound auxiliary lane and an eastbound climbing lane would be required. In addition, the project would realign approximately 1.2 miles of US 550 south of US 160. The realigned portion of US 550 would be improved to a four-lane highway.

The proposed project would include reconstruction of the US 160/US 550 (south) intersection as an interchange. A grade separation of this intersection would provide the best option to address the reconnection of US 160 and US 550 due to terrain and traffic volume . The proposed project would also include reconstruction of the US 160 intersections with CR 233 (west) and State Highway (SH) 172/CR 234 as interchanges. The US 160 intersections with CR 233 (east), CR 232 (west), and CR 232 (east) would be eliminated, with CR 233 passing beneath US 160. The realigned CR 222/CR 223 (west) intersection with US 160 would be signalized. Improvements would be made to the existing US 160/CR 501 intersection. Numerous direct access points to US 160 for businesses, neighborhoods, and facilities would be consolidated or improved to provide access control.

US 160 EIS

Project Schedule

The Public comment period for the US 160 FEIS began on May 26, 2006 and continued through June 26, 2006.

EIS Process

For major transportation projects, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that a range of alternatives be considered and that their environmental impacts be analyzed. This type of study is required prior to the commitment of federal funds to any major project, or prior to any action taken by a federal agency that might cause a significant impact on the environment. The Federal Highway Administration is the lead Federal agency on the US 160 Environmental Impact Statement. Basic steps in this process include:

  • Scoping: A public process to help define the purpose and need for the proposed action or project and to identify environmental issues that need to be studied.
  • Data Collection: Collecting transportation, environmental and land use data. This step will also include developing a tool for predicting future (year 2025) travel.
  • Development of Alternatives: Identifying a wide range of highway, transit and other types of alternatives, then narrowing these to the reasonable range of alternatives for detailed study. This will include a "No-Action" Alternative.
  • Analysis of Alternatives: Transportation, social, economic and environmental impacts of a reasonable range of alternatives are studied in detail and comparisons are made.
  • Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS): A printed report for public review and comment is prepared documenting the need for the project, describing alternative courses of action, analyzing likely impacts from each alternative, and describing any steps to be taken to avoid impacts or minimize harm to the environment.
  • Public and Agency Review of the DEIS.
  • Preparation of a Final Environmental Impact Statement: Documents preferred alternatives and provides response to comments that were made on the DEIS.
  • Record of Decision: Documents the decision and commits to mitigation of impacts by the lead federal agencies.

The DEIS evaluates the impacts of various actions to the following resources and cultural features:

  • Air quality
  • Archaeological properties
  • Economics Energy
  • Farmlands Floodplains
  • Geology
  • Hazardous materials
  • Historic properties
  • Land use
  • Noise
  • Noxious Weeds
  • Paleontological resources
  • Parks, historic properties and wildlife refuges
  • Pedestrians and bicyclists
  • Recreation
  • Relocation/right of way
  • Social, economic and environmental impacts to low income or minority populations
  • Soils
  • Threatened or endangered species
  • Transportation
  • Vegetation
  • Visual quality
  • Water quality/water resources
  • Wetlands
  • Wildlife and fisheries

The analysis of direct impacts will include those associated with construction processes and operations. Not only will the direct impacts of proposed actions be studied, but also cumulative and indirect impacts and effects.

Final EIS

Title Page Appendix D - General Correspondence
Table of Contents Appendix E - Historical Preservation Correspondence
Chapter 1 - Purpose and Need & Chapter 1 Figures Addendum to Appendix E - Historic Preservation Correspondence
Chapter 2 - Alternatives & Chapter 2 Figures Appendix F - Form AD-1006
Chapter 3 - Affected Environment & Chapter 3 Figures Appendix G - DEIS Public Hearing
Chapter 4 - Environmental Consequences & Chapter 4 Figures Appendix H - BA, BE, and Biological Opinion
Chapter 5 - Final Section 4(f) Evaluation & Chapter 5 Figures Appendix I - Air Quality
Chapter 6 - Public Involvement & Agency Coordination Signature Page
Chapter 7 - List of Preparers & Reviewers Disclosure
Chapter 8 - References Executive Summary
Appendix A - Traffic Report
Appendix B - Traffic Noise Analysis
Appendix C - Welands Analysis

Public Involvement

Copies of the Final EIS may be viewed at the following locations:

Durango Public Library
1188 2nd Avenue
Durango, CO 81301
970-375-3380

USFS/BLM Public Lands Center
15 Burnett Court
Durango, CO 81301
970-247-4874

Bayfield Library
15 East Mill Street
Bayfield, CO 81122
970-884-2222

The Public comment period for the US 160 FEIS began on May 26, 2006 and continued through June 26, 2006.

EIS Process

For major transportation projects, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that a range of alternatives be considered and that their environmental impacts be analyzed. This type of study is required prior to the commitment of federal funds to any major project, or prior to any action taken by a federal agency that might cause a significant impact on the environment. The Federal Highway Administration is the lead Federal agency on the US 160 Environmental Impact Statement. Basic steps in this process include:

  • Scoping: A public process to help define the purpose and need for the proposed action or project and to identify environmental issues that need to be studied.
  • Data Collection: Collecting transportation, environmental and land use data. This step will also include developing a tool for predicting future (year 2025) travel.
  • Development of Alternatives: Identifying a wide range of highway, transit and other types of alternatives, then narrowing these to the reasonable range of alternatives for detailed study. This will include a "No-Action" Alternative.
  • Analysis of Alternatives: Transportation, social, economic and environmental impacts of a reasonable range of alternatives are studied in detail and comparisons are made.
  • Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS): A printed report for public review and comment is prepared documenting the need for the project, describing alternative courses of action, analyzing likely impacts from each alternative, and describing any steps to be taken to avoid impacts or minimize harm to the environment.
  • Public and Agency Review of the DEIS.
  • Preparation of a Final Environmental Impact Statement: Documents preferred alternatives and provides response to comments that were made on the DEIS.
  • Record of Decision: Documents the decision and commits to mitigation of impacts by the lead federal agencies.

The DEIS evaluates the impacts of various actions to the following resources and cultural features:

  • Air quality
  • Archaeological properties
  • Economics Energy
  • Farmlands Floodplains
  • Geology
  • Hazardous materials
  • Historic properties
  • Land use
  • Noise
  • Noxious Weeds
  • Paleontological resources
  • Parks, historic properties and wildlife refuges
  • Pedestrians and bicyclists
  • Recreation
  • Relocation/right of way
  • Social, economic and environmental impacts to low income or minority populations
  • Soils
  • Threatened or endangered species
  • Transportation
  • Vegetation
  • Visual quality
  • Water quality/water resources
  • Wetlands
  • Wildlife and fisheries

The analysis of direct impacts will include those associated with construction processes and operations. Not only will the direct impacts of proposed actions be studied, but also cumulative and indirect impacts and effects.

Final EIS

Title Page Appendix D - General Correspondence
Table of Contents Appendix E - Historical Preservation Correspondence
Chapter 1 - Purpose and Need & Chapter 1 Figures Addendum to Appendix E - Historic Preservation Correspondence
Chapter 2 - Alternatives & Chapter 2 Figures Appendix F - Form AD-1006
Chapter 3 - Affected Environment & Chapter 3 Figures Appendix G - DEIS Public Hearing
Chapter 4 - Environmental Consequences & Chapter 4 Figures Appendix H - BA, BE, and Biological Opinion
Chapter 5 - Final Section 4(f) Evaluation & Chapter 5 Figures Appendix I - Air Quality
Chapter 6 - Public Involvement & Agency Coordination Signature Page
Chapter 7 - List of Preparers & Reviewers Disclosure
Chapter 8 - References Executive Summary
Appendix A - Traffic Report
Appendix B - Traffic Noise Analysis
Appendix C - Welands Analysis

For major transportation projects, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that a range of alternatives be considered and that their environmental impacts be analyzed. This type of study is required prior to the commitment of federal funds to any major project, or prior to any action taken by a federal agency that might cause a significant impact on the environment. The Federal Highway Administration is the lead Federal agency on the US 160 Environmental Impact Statement. Basic steps in this process include:

  • Scoping: A public process to help define the purpose and need for the proposed action or project and to identify environmental issues that need to be studied.
  • Data Collection: Collecting transportation, environmental and land use data. This step will also include developing a tool for predicting future (year 2025) travel.
  • Development of Alternatives: Identifying a wide range of highway, transit and other types of alternatives, then narrowing these to the reasonable range of alternatives for detailed study. This will include a "No-Action" Alternative.
  • Analysis of Alternatives: Transportation, social, economic and environmental impacts of a reasonable range of alternatives are studied in detail and comparisons are made.
  • Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS): A printed report for public review and comment is prepared documenting the need for the project, describing alternative courses of action, analyzing likely impacts from each alternative, and describing any steps to be taken to avoid impacts or minimize harm to the environment.
  • Public and Agency Review of the DEIS.
  • Preparation of a Final Environmental Impact Statement: Documents preferred alternatives and provides response to comments that were made on the DEIS.
  • Record of Decision: Documents the decision and commits to mitigation of impacts by the lead federal agencies.

The DEIS evaluates the impacts of various actions to the following resources and cultural features:

  • Air quality
  • Archaeological properties
  • Economics Energy
  • Farmlands Floodplains
  • Geology
  • Hazardous materials
  • Historic properties
  • Land use
  • Noise
  • Noxious Weeds
  • Paleontological resources
  • Parks, historic properties and wildlife refuges
  • Pedestrians and bicyclists
  • Recreation
  • Relocation/right of way
  • Social, economic and environmental impacts to low income or minority populations
  • Soils
  • Threatened or endangered species
  • Transportation
  • Vegetation
  • Visual quality
  • Water quality/water resources
  • Wetlands
  • Wildlife and fisheries

The analysis of direct impacts will include those associated with construction processes and operations. Not only will the direct impacts of proposed actions be studied, but also cumulative and indirect impacts and effects.

Final EIS

Title Page Appendix D - General Correspondence
Table of Contents Appendix E - Historical Preservation Correspondence
Chapter 1 - Purpose and Need & Chapter 1 Figures Addendum to Appendix E - Historic Preservation Correspondence
Chapter 2 - Alternatives & Chapter 2 Figures Appendix F - Form AD-1006
Chapter 3 - Affected Environment & Chapter 3 Figures Appendix G - DEIS Public Hearing
Chapter 4 - Environmental Consequences & Chapter 4 Figures Appendix H - BA, BE, and Biological Opinion
Chapter 5 - Final Section 4(f) Evaluation & Chapter 5 Figures Appendix I - Air Quality
Chapter 6 - Public Involvement & Agency Coordination Signature Page
Chapter 7 - List of Preparers & Reviewers Disclosure
Chapter 8 - References Executive Summary
Appendix A - Traffic Report
Appendix B - Traffic Noise Analysis
Appendix C - Welands Analysis