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Fern Valley Interchange. Fern Valley Interchange. Public Hearing November 3, 2010. BACKGROUND. Fern Valley Interchange. Project began in January 2004 Project development included: Project Development Team (PDT) and Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) meetings Open houses
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Fern Valley Interchange Fern Valley Interchange Public Hearing November 3, 2010
BACKGROUND Fern Valley Interchange • Project began in January 2004 • Project development included: • Project Development Team (PDT) and Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) meetings • Open houses • Outreach to local businesses, residents, other individuals and groups • Meetings with City Council, Jackson County, and regulatory agencies
PURPOSE OF PROPOSED PROJECT Fern Valley Interchange • Improve safety and operations at Fern Valley Interchange, on Fern Valley Road and OR 99. • Correct structural and traffic capacity problems at the Bear Creek Bridge.
NEED FOR PROPOSED PROJECT Fern Valley Interchange • Congestion at Fern Valley Interchange: • Vehicles queue back onto I-5 during peak hours. • By 2022, traffic predicted to back up from OR 99 to N. Phoenix Road. • Poor sight distance on Fern Valley Road caused by the I-5 overpass. • Lack of continuous sidewalks and bike lanes in the project area.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Fern Valley Interchange • Developed by the CAC and PDT to address community issues, such as: • Protecting businesses and residences. • Safe movement of emergency vehicles, school buses, bicyclists and pedestrians. • Enhancing the community. • Protecting and enhancing the natural environment.
ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT Fern Valley Interchange • About 30 alternatives were considered. • Alternatives had to meet the project’s Purpose and Need. • Alternatives were developed to avoid and minimize social, economic and environmental impacts.
EA Alternatives Fern Valley Interchange • Two alternatives were evaluated in the Fern Valley Interchange EA: • No-Build Alternative • Build Alternative
No-Build Alternative Fern Valley Interchange • Means the proposed project would not be built. • Provides basis for comparison with the Build Alternative.
EA Build Alternative Fern Valley Interchange • Crossing Diamond Interchange (aka Diverging Diamond Interchange) • To the west: along existing alignment to OR 99 • To the east: along a new N. Phoenix Road alignment
EA Next Steps Fern Valley Interchange • CAC and PDT recommendation on Build vs. No-Build Alternatives • FHWA decision on Build vs. No-Build Alternatives • Publication of Final Environmental Document
EA Availability Fern Valley Interchange • Hard copies of the Executive Summary (in English and Spanish)—at Environmental table • CD’s with the EA—at Environmental table • Hard copies of the EA—upon request (sign up at Environmental table). • Online at ODOT’s Region 3 website: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION3/index.shtml • Locally for review at City Hall, County Library and ODOT Region 3
Public Hearing Ground Rules Fern Valley Interchange • Please remember, this is a public hearing. • We are here to listen to you and will not answer questions during the hearing. • All comments will be responded to in the final environmental documentation.
Public Hearing Ground Rules Fern Valley Interchange If you are giving testimony: • Please limit public comment to 3 minutes; we will hold up a yellow card when you have 1 minute left. • We will hold up a red card when your time is up. • You cannot transfer your testimony time to someone else.
Public Hearing Ground Rules Fern Valley Interchange If you are giving testimony: • All speakers must speak into the microphone and give their names and addresses. • All comments should be relevant to the proposed project alternatives or the environmental assessment, and should not be of a personal nature or repetitive. • Please do not address the audience or ask for audience participation during testimony.
Public Hearing Ground Rules Fern Valley Interchange If you are in the audience: • Please remain quiet so others and the court reporter can hear. • Please do not interrupt others that are speaking with questions or comments. • Disruptive behavior, such as booing or harassing remarks, is prohibited. • Please leave the room for side discussions. • Please turn off cell phones and pagers or set them to vibrate.
Public Testimony Fern Valley Interchange • 3 minutes each • Yellow card shown with 1 minute remaining • Red card shown when time is up. • Thank you for participating and for your involvement with this project.
Wrap-up: Additional Opportunities to Offer Public Comment Fern Valley Interchange • Written comments can be provided on Comment Forms available at the Welcome Desk and left in the comment box. • Written comments will be accepted through November 16, 2010 and can be sent to: Dick Leever, Project Leader ODOT, Region 3 100 Antelope Road White City, OR, 97503