US 491South Corridor FLH-666-1(49)17

CN 2357 Navajo 9 to Sheep Springs (NM 134)

MP 15 to MP 46

Public Information MeetingNovember 1, 2006

Benediction

Presentation Outline

1) Introductions

2) US 491 Background & History

3) Engineering Re-Evaluation

4) Environmental Assessment

5) Navajo Nation Role in the Project

6) Question and Comments Session

7) Closing

Introduction

New Mexico Department of Transportation

Introductions

Presenters, Study Team Members & Guests

• Ricardo Roybal (NMDOT)

• Albert M. Thomas (Bohannan-Huston)

• Eric Johnson (Marron & Assoc.)

• Gene Martinez (NNDOT)

• Navajo Nation Officials

• NMDOT representatives

Navajo Nation Involvement

• Office of the President

• Office of the Speaker

• Oversight Committees

• Chapters

• Tribal Departments

• General Public

Project Agencies

• NDOT - Navajo Department of Transportation

• NMDOT - New Mexico Department of Transportation

• FHWA - Federal Highway Administration

• BIA - Bureau of Indian Affairs

Other Agency Involvement

• Governor’s Office

• Legislators & Public Officials

• Indian Health Service

• School Districts

Consultant Project Team

• Bohannan-Huston, Inc.

• Marron & Associates

• Gannett Fleming West

• Wilson & Company

• HDR Engineering

• AMEC Earth and Environmental

• SWCA Environmental

• TBE Group

Purpose of Public Meeting

US 491 South Corridor• Present the Findings of the

Engineering Re-Evaluation

• Describe the Environmental Investigations being conducted

• Solicit Public Input & Comments

US 491

Project Background

New Mexico Department of Transportation

Project Background

• Previous Study recommended 4-lanes on US 491

• NMDOT Committed to 4-Lanes

• 1 Program / 2 Corridor Study Limits – North Corridor

Sheep Springs to Navajo Road 13– South Corridor

Navajo Road 9 to Sheep Springs

(See Project Map)

Study Limits

Study Limits

Project Status

• Engineering Re-Evaluation– Existing Lanes to Remain– 2 New Lanes with 46 ft median

• Environmental Assessment– One document completed for North Corridor– One document under development for South

Corridor

Project Schedule

• US 491 North Corridor– Environmental Clearance complete– Right-of-Way Agreements being reviewed– Design will be complete by January 2007– Construction programmed to begin by Early 2008

• US 491 South Corridor– Environmental Clearance by December 2006– Design will be complete by April 2007– Right-of-Way Agreements by Summer 2007– Construction programmed to begin Early 2009

Engineering Re-Evaluation

Bohannan-Huston, Inc.

Existing Road

Enhanced 2-Lane$108 Million

4-Lane Reconstruction$240 Million

New Typical Section Concept

• Leave Existing Lanes

• Build 2 New Lanes Adjacent to Existing

• Separate Traffic with 46’ Divided Median

• Majority of Earthwork within ROW Easement

2-Existing & 2-New Lanes

Typical SectionOption 1

Typical SectionOption 2

Right-of-Way Issues

• Option 1 – West Alignment– 180 Acres of new ROW Easement for New Lanes– 5 Acres of Easements needed for Drainage– 2 Acres of Temporary Construction Permits– Less than 200 Acres Total

• Option 2 – East Alignment– 168 Acres of new ROW Easement for New Lanes– 124 Acres of additional easement for Borrow Ditch– 20 Acres of additional easements for Drainage– 6 Acres of Temporary Construction Permits– Over 300 Acres Total

South CorridorRight-of-Way Needs

• Right-of-Way Easement– Expand existing wide enough to build roadway prism

• Construction Maintenance Easements CME– Minor Easements for Drainage & Permanent Facilities

• Temporary Construction Easement/Permit TCP– Driveway/Turnout Reconstruction– Fixing/Replacing Cattlegaurds at ROW fence

Project Improvements

• Public Transit and School Bus

• Bicycle and Pedestrian Traffic

• Street Lighting at Intersections

• School Flashers where warranted

• Livestock Crossings

• Median Crossovers at ½ Mile Spacing

• Turn Lanes at Major Intersections

Environmental Review

andPublicInvolvement

Marron and Associates, Inc.

Environmental AssessmentProcess

• Guided by Location Study Procedures and National Environmental Policy Act

• Collect data

• Conduct public involvement

• Prepare environmental assessments

• 30-day comment period and public hearing

• Issue Finding of No Significant Impacts

Environmental Investigations

• Biological Surveys

• Wetland Surveys

• Cultural Resources

• Hazardous Materials

Public Involvement

• Comment Form for tonight’s input

• Website (www.US491.com) containing general project information has been established

• Contacts– Ricardo Roybal NMDOT (505)827-9852– Albert Thomas (505)823-1000– Eric Johnson (505)898-8848

• Public Hearing anticipated Early 2007

Navajo Nation Role

Navajo Department of Transportation

Navajo Nation Role

• Division of Natural Resources1. Archaeology2. Right-of-Way 3. Water4. Aggregate

• Navajo Nation Department of Transportation

Questions

and

Comments

Project Description