***************************************************************************
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), proposes to make sidewalk and crosswalk improvements in the vicinity of Gastineau Elementary on Douglas Highway (3rd Street), in Douglas, Alaska. The project is funded by both the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the City and Borough of Juneau.

The project would install new sidewalk on the uphill side of 3rd Street starting at the intersection of 3rd Street and Crow Hill Drive / Lawson Creek Road. New sidewalk would be installed for approximately ¼ mile to the end of the existing sidewalk at Gastineau Elementary. This project would provide safer routes and road crossings for pedestrians near Gastineau Elementary.

The proposed project would

    • Add new sidewalk, curb, and gutter on the uphill side of 3rd Street near Gastineau 
      Elementary

    • Replace sections of existing sidewalk on the uphill side of 3rd Street adjacent to Gastineau 
       Elementary

    • Upgrade two existing marked crosswalks at the intersection of 3rd and I Streets and
      advanced school zone signage near the intersection of 3rd and H Street

    • Replace and / or adjust inlets and storm drain pipes as required.All permanent improvements 
       would be within the existing DOT&PF right-of-way (ROW).

Potential project impacts during construction include minimal traffic delays due to temporary lane closures and construction related noise.

Construction is projected for 2016.

Development of this proposed project would follow a process required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Based on project location and scope of work, the environmental document would be a categorical exclusion (CE). Possible affected resources include, bald eagles, and cultural or historic resources.

The project would comply with these authorities:

     • National Historic Preservation Act – Sect.106                 • Clean Water Act
     • EO-13175 Consult & Coordinate w/Indian Tribal Gov.     • Clean Air Act
     • U.S. Department of Transportation Act Sect. 4(f)           • EO-12898 Env. Justice
     • EO-11593 Protect & Enhance Cultural Env.                    • EO-13112 Invasive Species
     • Archaeological Resource Protection Act                         • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Coord. Act
     • EO-13007 Indian Sacred Sites                                      • Bald & Gold Eagle Protection Act

Comments on the proposal from interested persons will assist us in completing the project design and preparing the project’s environmental documentation.

If you have comments or questions, please contact:

     Cheryl Benson, Project Environmental Coordinator

     AK DOT&PF, Southcoast Region         Phone: 907-465-1826
     P.O. Box 112506                              E-mail: cheryl.benson@alaska.gov
     Juneau, AK 99811-2506                       FAX: 907-465-3506

If you or someone you represent requires special accommodations in order to respond to this public notice, please call or email the project coordinator listed above or call Alaska Relay at

     (800) 770-8973 for TTY             (800) 770-8255 for voice

     (800) 770-3919 for ASCII          (866) 355-6198 for STS

Ask the communications assistant to call the project coordinator listed above so arrangements can be made to assist you.

Comments are requested by February 14, 2016.