An Open Forum Hearing has been scheduled for the McHenry Avenue Corridor Improvement Project, slated for next week in Escalon. The hearing is scheduled on Wednesday, March 27 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Escalon Community Center, 1055 Escalon Ave., Escalon.
Members of the public are invited to attend, and members of the project development team will be available to talk about the improvements. Written comments at the hearing will become part of the public record. Also, a court reporter will be at the Open Forum Hearing to receive dictated comments for the public record.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) lead agency in the preparation of an Initial Study/Environmental Assessment (IS/EA) for the McHenry Avenue Corridor Improvement Project, as assigned by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). San Joaquin County is designated as the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in cooperation with Stanislaus County.
The McHenry Avenue Corridor Improvement Project is an aggregate of three component projects:
· Widening of McHenry Avenue to accommodate a two-way center left-turn lane from just south of Jones Road to south of the Stanislaus River, and improvement of the McHenry Avenue/East River Road intersection. The project limits extend along McHenry Avenue from approximately 200 feet south of Jones Road in San Joaquin County to approximately 1,700 feet south of East River Road in Stanislaus County. The project limits also extend along East River Road in San Joaquin County from approximately 1,300 feet east of McHenry Avenue to approximately 700 feet west of McHenry Avenue.
· Replacement and widening of the Stanislaus River Bridge on McHenry Avenue to accommodate the proposed roadway improvements.
· Replacement and widening of the South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID) Main Canal Bridge on McHenry Avenue to accommodate the proposed roadway improvements.
Caltrans, San Joaquin County, and Stanislaus County have studied the effects this project may have on the environment. Their studies show it will not significantly affect the quality of the environment. The IS/EA has been prepared and is available for review and comment during the review period which began on March 11, 2013, and ends April 9, 2013. Due to the time limits mandated by federal and state law, responses must be received no later than April 9, 2013.
Members of the public can review the IS/EA at the Caltrans District 10 Office, 1976 East Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Stockton on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Copies of the IS/EA are also available to review at the following locations:
San Joaquin County Public Works, 1810 East Hazelton Avenue, Stockton, weekdays 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Stanislaus County Public Works, 1716 Morgan Road, Modesto, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Escalon Branch Library, 1540 Second Street, Escalon, Tuesdays, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday noon to 5 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Or, visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist10/environmental
Interested persons can also comment until 5 p.m., April 9 to Caltrans by regular mail, Attn: Julie Myrah, Senior Environmental Planner, Caltrans, District 10, 1976 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Stockton, CA 95205; or via e-mail to julie_myrah@dot.ca.gov.
