EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH PECUE LANE/I-10 INTERCHANGE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH CITY/PARISH PROJECT NO. 09-CS-US-0041 STATE PROJECT NO. H FEDERAL AID PROJECT NO. IM-1709(507) OPEN HOUSE PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING February 25, :30 PM – 7:30 PM

MEETING AGENDA Stations: ▫ Sign-in and handout table ▫ Slide presentation area ▫ Exhibit and map display area ▫ Real estate table ▫ Comment table Please sign-in for the attendance record and to provide your and/or mailing address for future meeting announcements Project staff are available to assist you and receive your written or verbal comments

OBJECTIVES OF THIS MEETING Provide information about ▫ Proposed project and proposed alternatives ▫ Process through which this project must proceed ▫ Where we are now and what to expect next Solicit comments on the alternatives Explain additional opportunities for public involvement

PROJECT TEAM Shread- Kuyrkendall & Associates

PROPOSED PROJECT The proposed Pecue Lane/I-10 Interchange project is one of the projects included in the 2005 Half-Cent Sales Tax Extension, known as the Green Light Plan (GLP). This Project would include: Construction of an interchange with multiple through and turn lanes on Pecue Lane An entrance ramp and exit ramp on both east and westbound I-10 Widening of Pecue Lane including the construction of a median Replacing the current two lane overpass bridge Replacing the Pecue Lane/Wards Creek bridge An extension of Reiger Road to a new intersection with Pecue Lane And other work within the limits of the project area

FUNDING The Pecue Lane/I-10 Interchange will utilize federal funding Federally funded projects require compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) The NEPA process requires an Environmental Assessment (EA) to be completed for this project Tonight’s meeting is the third public meeting in the EA development process

PROJECT SCHEDULE DATEACTION November 4, 2010 Public Meeting 1: Project Initiation February 24, 2011 Public Meeting 2: Alternatives Development Multiple traffic studies conducted on alternatives Additional alternatives considered and studied February 25, 2015 Public Meeting 3: Present Remaining 3 Build Alternatives March 2015 – June 2015 Select Preferred Alternative Conduct technical studies June 2015 – September 2015 Submit Draft EA Hold Public Hearing Final EA submitted and FONSI requested

PROJECT PURPOSE AND NEED 1.To provide an additional interchange with I-10 2.To mitigate traffic congestion on I-10 and the local roadway network 3.To provide enhanced mobility for the commerce needs of the surrounding area

THIS INTERCHANGE WILL PROVIDE 1.Relief to existing interstate interchanges 2.A reduction in travel time and improved access to the new Woman’s Hospital 3.Redistribution of traffic to reduce delays and congestion in this area 4.A safer alternate truck distribution access to and from I-10 into the local industrial/ commercial area

WHAT IS AN EA? The National Environmental Policy Act - “NEPA process” Develop/Refine Purpose and Need Documents impacts from a proposed project ▫ Each alternative, including the No-Build Alternative, is analyzed with regard to these potential environmental impacts Social Economic Cultural Noise Air Farmland Recreational Areas Wetlands Water Resources Floodplains Endangered or Threatened Species and/or their Habitat

WHAT IS AN EA? ( CONTINUED ) Includes a Line and Grade Study (proposed roadway design) Submitted by DOTD and the City/Parish to the FHWA with a recommendation of the preferred alternative and a request for a “finding of no significant impact” (FONSI) If a FONSI is issued, the project can move to Final Design and Engineering and Construction

ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS FLOWCHART CURRENT STAGE

Phase II: Alternatives Study/Analysis Project mapping; environmental inventory; alternatives development; and preliminary analysis and screening of the proposed alternatives (including the No Build Alternative) Agency, local officials, and public review of proposed alternatives Further analysis and screening of alternatives Refine and identify preferred alternative

PROJECT AREA

ORIGINAL BUILD ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPED Alternative CType Alternative CDiamond Interchange Alternative D-2SPUI; 60° angle crossing I-10; smaller foot print with sharper curve Alternative CDiamond Interchange Alternative CDiamond Interchange with Single Loop Alternative CSPUI; 60° angle crossing I-10; larger foot print with gentle curve Alternative CSPUI; 60° angle crossing I-10; smaller foot print with sharper curve Alternative CSPUI; Closer to 90° angle crossing I-10 AlternativeDescription Alternative D-1SPUI; 60° angle crossing I-10; larger foot print with gentle curve Alternative D-2SPUI; 60° angle crossing I-10; smaller foot print with sharper curve Alternative D-3SPUI; closer to 90° angle crossing I-10; Reiger Road Alternatives 1 and 2 Alternative EModified Directional Interchange with Single Loop IJS AlternativeDiamond Interchange Alternative FDiamond Interchange with Roundabout Terminals Alternative ADiamond Interchange; refined IJS alternative; westbound entrance ramp east of Cox buildings Alternative BDiamond Interchange; refined IJS alternative; westbound entrance ramp west of Cox buildings; Reiger Road Alternatives 1 and 2 Alternative CDiamond Interchange with Single Loop; Reiger Road Alternatives 1 and 2

STUDY OF BUILD ALTERNATIVES Post-public meeting, Reiger Road Option 1 was removed from further study due to control of access issues and the use of smart planning goals Additionally, Alternative E was removed due to poor public support and impacts to area housing

STUDY OF BUILD ALTERNATIVES MODELING/COST ESTIMATES Modeling, cost estimating, and geometry standards were applied to Alternatives B R2, C, D3 R2, and F As a result of traffic modeling, Alternatives C and F were removed In both cases, the level of service was too low and Alternative F could not meet future traffic needs

REMAINING ALTERNATIVES No Build Alternative Alternatives B R2 and D3 R2 were determined to be reasonable based on traffic, costs, and meeting geometric standards During the refinement of these alternatives, another interchange concept was proposed, a Diverging Diamond Interchange or DDI Study of the DDI determined that it would also be reasonable; it was named Alternative G and added to the EA

ALTERNATIVE B R2

EXAMPLE DIAMOND INTERCHANGE (SHERWOOD FOREST AT I-12)

ALTERNATIVE D-3 R2

EXAMPLE SPUI (I-64 AT KINGS HIGHWAY IN ST. LOUIS, MO)

ALTERNATIVE G

EXAMPLE DIVERGING DIAMOND (I-285 AT ASHFORD-DUNWOODY ROAD IN ATLANTA, GA)

Conventional Median ACCESS MANAGEMENT Example: Bluebonnet Between I-10 and Jefferson Hwy

Median U-Turn Intersection Treatment (MUTIT) ACCESS MANAGEMENT Example: Veterans Boulevard in New Orleans, LA

Positive Benefits of Medians Reduced Potential for Crashes Safer Pedestrian Crossing Aesthetically Pleasing ACCESS MANAGEMENT

NEXT STEPS This Evening… Please stay and view exhibits and provide comments/concerns to Project Team Members Provide written comments (on the comment forms located on the comment table) or verbal comments at the table comments to Please provide all comments by March 9, 2015 to ensure consideration and inclusion in the official transcript

The transcript from this meeting will be available for review and/or purchase at: And available for download at the GLP website: greenlight.csrsonline.com DOTD’s District 61 Office 8100 Airline Highway Baton Rouge, LA DOTD Headquarters Customer Service 1201 Capitol Access Rd. Baton Rouge, LA

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR INVOLVEMENT Review of Comments Refine Alternatives Select Preferred Alternative Prepare Draft EA Public Hearing Address Comments Prepare EA with FONSI Submit Final EA Issue Decision Document Environmental Closure

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Contact ▫ Brad Ponder, P.E. ▫ Green Light Plan Project Manager ▫ (225) ▫ ▫ greenlight.csrsonline.com

PRESENTATION SCHEDULE  4:40pm  5:00pm  5:40pm  5:20pm  6:00pm  6:40pm  6:20pm  7:00pm