U.S. 33 Northern Connector Alternative Goshen High School Auditorium, Goshen, IN Thursday, March 20, 2014

Welcome Rickie Clark, INDOT Office of Public Involvement Purpose/explanation of public hearing Public hearing format Visit our sign-in table Informational handouts Submitting public comments for hearings transcript Project display area

Six district offices 3,525 employees $1 billion/annual capital expenditures 28,400 total roadway lane miles 5,300 INDOT-owned bridges Assists 42 railroads in planning & development of more than 3,880 miles of active rail lines Supports 69 Indiana State Aviation System Plan airports INDOT Profile

Welcome Introduction of INDOT project officials Project Management Design Real Estate Public Involvement DLZ – Project Design and Environmental Team City of Goshen Elkhart County Recognition of elected public officials

Public Hearing Sign-in at attendance table to be added to project mailing list. A public hearing notice was mailed to known property owners within project area. Announcement of this hearing was posted to INDOT website. A media release was also issued. Legal notice publishing: Goshen News – March 3 and 12 El Puente – March 4 and 18

Project Stakeholders Indiana Department of Transportation Indiana Division Federal Highway Administration Elkhart County City of Goshen Local communities Elected public officials Community residents and citizens Commuters Trucking industry Schools Emergency services

We Are Here Engineering Assessment Project purpose & need Develop project alternatives Screen project alternatives Additional work on project alternatives & design Release Environmental document & preliminary design Public Hearing to solicit public comment Right-of-WayConstruction Project Development Process

Environmental Document Requirement of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Requires INDOT to analyze and evaluate the impacts of a proposed project to the natural and socio- economic environments Impacts are described in environmental document Environmental document was released for public involvement in February 2014

Environmental Document Development of document begins once purpose and need for the project has been clearly identified Develop a number of possible alternatives including a “Do Nothing” alternative as a baseline for comparison Screen alternatives to identify a preferred alternative Solicit public comment on environmental document and preliminary design plan Solicit, address and fully consider public comments as part of decision making process

Environmental Document Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act Historic properties include the National Register-listed Goshen Historic District, properties in the District determined individually eligible for National Register listing, and one property outside the District determined individually eligible. It was determined that the North Connector – Overpass alternative resulted in the greatest benefit to the District as a whole, by removing U.S. 33 (high traffic, high % trucks, noise) from the heart of the District.

Environmental Document Section 106 Finding of Adverse Effect relating to the project’s effects on the District and the properties determined eligible. Adverse effects relate to removal (demolition) of contributing properties, and visual, auditory and proximity impacts. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been executed which lists the following measures to minimize harm, that will be incorporated into the design: Photographic documentation of the area within the District to be altered (complete). Continued consultation regarding the design and visual appearance of MSE retaining walls and the project’s landscaping design (on-going).

Elements of the Environmental Documentation Real Estate Community Impacts Air Quality Wetlands and Waterways Noise Floodplains Farmland Endangered Species Hazardous Materials Environmental Justice Historic/Archaeological Sole Source Aquifer Cultural Resources Environmental Documentation

INDOT Fort Wayne District Office Planning & Programming Department 5333 Hatfield Road Fort Wayne, (866) INDOT Office of Public Involvement Indiana Government Center North, Room N North Senate Avenue Indianapolis, (317) Goshen Public Library 601 South 5 th Street Goshen, (574)

U.S. 33 Northern Connector Purpose Increase capacity and safety conditions for motorists and pedestrians along U.S. 33, within the project limits. Need Level of Service “D” is minimum acceptable. U.S. 33 is currently operating at Level of Service “F”. Increased traffic volumes are contributing to congestion and more frequent crashes.

Project History 1998 Engineer’s Report Added travel lanes along existing U.S. 33 Widen existing U.S. 33 to the North, with railroad grade separation One way pair with Jefferson Street New North Connector (with or without grade separation at S.R. 4) Continued engineering assessment, public input, Section 106 (impact to historic structures/areas) resulted in the development of additional project alternatives

Project Alternatives Considered Improvements along existing U.S. 33 alignment with addition of a center median Improvements along existing U.S. 33 alignment with addition of an overpass or underpass of the Norfolk Southern Railroad Spur at 9 th Street North Connector Roadway with grade separated overpasses of the Norfolk Southern Railroad Spur at 9 th Street and S.R. 4 (Lincoln Ave.) and Cottage Ave. One way pair on existing U.S. 33 alignment along Madison Street & Jefferson Street

Preferred Alternative Northern Connector Alternative Overpass alternative, between Monroe Street and S.R. 15 (Main Street) Approximately 1 mile of two-lane roadway on new alignment A portion of the alternative is on elevated roadway South terminus along U.S. 33 is just north of Sander Ave. North terminus along Pike Street is the Main Street intersection Overpasses – Cottage Ave., Lincoln Ave., and the Norfolk Southern Marion Branch Railroad Spur which runs north-south along east side of 9 th Street

Preferred Alternative Improvements to U.S. 33 intersections Main Street – traffic signal 5 th Street/Pike Street – right in/right out Madison Street – traffic signal Monroe Street – traffic signal Potential connector roadways to provide links Clinton Street with 7 th Street Washington Street with 10 th Street Potential roadway closures at 5th Street and 9th Street railroad crossings Elevated roadway section Between 10 th Street and 7 th Street Multi-use trail proposed along new roadway at ground level South west side between 5 th Street and Madison Street

Preferred Alternative

12 foot travel lane in each direction 12 foot left turn lane at major intersections Concrete curb and gutter 5 foot wide buffer strip 10 foot multi-use trail proposed along new roadway US 33 – At Grade Section

Preferred Alternative US 33 – Elevated Section 12 foot travel lane in each direction 8 foot wide shoulders Retaining walls and barrier railing 10 foot multi-use trail along elevated roadway at grade

Preferred Alternative Storm inlets will be added along the roadway to collect drainage. The west half of the project will be connected to storm sewer that runs west to the Elkhart River. The east half of the project will be connected to storm sewer that will run to a storm basin at the east end of the project. Since the majority of the relocated roadway is separated from existing U.S. 33, traffic will continue to travel along the existing U.S. 33 until the new roadway is constructed.

Real Estate Acquisition Process

"Uniform Act of 1970" All federal, state and local governments must comply Requires an offer for just compensation Acquisition Process Appraisals Review appraisals Negotiations

Real Estate Acquisition Residential 5.9 Acres Commercial 3.0 Acres Railroad 2.0 Acres School 4.0 Acres City of Goshen 10.7 Acres Approximately 26 acres of new permanent right of way Displacement of 31 residential buildings Five business relocations

Project Schedule Public Hearing: March 2014 Environmental Document Finalized: 2014 Preliminary Design Plan refinement: 2014 Real Estate Acquisition Activities: Appraising Negotiations/Buying Utilities coordination/relocation Construction:

Feedback INDOT would like to hear from you Talk with INDOT project team members Comment sheet in information packet or mail comments to INDOT Sign-in to be added to project mailing list Visit INDOT Fort Wayne District page at All comments are very appreciated and will be given full consideration by project team.

Public Involvement Team Rickie Clark INDOT Office of Public Involvement (317) Toni Mayo Fort Wayne District Communications Director (866)

Submit Public Comments Submit public comments using the options described in 1 st page of information packet: Public Comment Form Via Participating during public comment session via microphone Verbal comments recorded and transcribed for inclusion into public hearings transcript INDOT respectfully requests comments be submitted by Friday, April 11, All comments submitted will become part of public record, entered into transcript, reviewed, evaluated and given full consideration during decision making process.

Next Steps Public and project stakeholder input Submit comments via options described on 1 st page of information packet INDOT review and evaluation All comments are given full consideration during decision-making process INDOT requests approval of proposed Northern Connector alternative from Federal Highway Administration Communicate a decision INDOT will notify persons on mailing list of decision Work through local media outlets & paid legal notice Make project documents accessible via repositories Questions? Contact Public Involvement Team

Thank You Please visit with INDOT project officials following the public comment session Project Open House Project maps, displays, real estate acquisition table, INDOT project officials and informal Q & A

Public Comment Session