With additions to draft I-11 environmental document, comment deadline extended to July 8

PHOENIX – Additional information that is part of the draft environmental document for the proposed Interstate 11 corridor, stretching from Nogales to Wickenburg, has been released. To provide sufficient time for community review of the entire draft environmental impact statement, the public comment period has been extended to July 8, providing a full 90 days of review from the draft’s initial release.

The additional information, called the errata, for the Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed I-11 corridor, was made available on April 26. This additional information, as well as the entire Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement, can be found online at i11study.com/Arizona and at all locations where copies of the environmental document are available for review or purchase.

As a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement, I-11 is a concept far from construction. No funding has been identified or proposed to move to Tier 2 studies on any segments of the corridor. Those Tier 2 studies would identify specific alignments for a roadway, within a selected build corridor alternative. In all, the Recommended Corridor Alternative identified in the Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement is 2,000 feet wide. Specific alignments, as would be identified in Tier 2 studies, would be about 400 feet wide.

Prepared by the Arizona Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration over the course of three years, the Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement describes the study process, completed in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. It proposes a Recommended Corridor Alternative, with analysis of other alternatives and a no-build option.

Kicking off next week is a series of six public hearings on the Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement for the 280-mile proposed I-11 corridor. Meetings will be held in Buckeye, Wickenburg, Casa Grande, Nogales, Tucson and Marana. Each meeting provides the same forum for learning about the project and providing formal comments, which will be used by the study team to guide development of the Final Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement.

There are several ways to submit comments on the Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement, including online, in person at a public hearing, and by email, U.S. postal mail and a bilingual telephone hotline. Hearings will be held:

Monday, April 29: 5 to 8 p.m., Palo Verde Energy Education Center, 600 N. Verrado Way, Buckeye

Tuesday, April 30: 4 to 7 p.m., Wickenburg Community Center, 160 N. Valentine St., Wickenburg

Wednesday, May 1: 5 to 8 p.m., Holiday Inn, 777 N. Pinal Ave., Casa Grande

Tuesday, May 7: 4 to 7 p.m., Quality Hotel Americana, 639 N. Grand Ave., Nogales

Wednesday, May 8: 3 to 8 p.m., Tucson Convention Center Ballrooms/Lobby, 260 S. Church Ave., Tucson

Saturday, May 11: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Marana High School Cafeteria, 12000 W. Emigh Road, Marana

In addition to providing verbal or written comments at a public hearing, members of the community can submit comments or questions through July 8 using the following methods:

Online: i11study.com/Arizona

Email: [email protected]

Bilingual Phone: 1.844.544.8049

Mail: I-11 Tier 1 EIS Study Team, c/o ADOT Communications, 1655 W. Jackson St., Mail Drop 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007

In 2015, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or FAST Act, formally designated I-11 in Arizona. The designation doesn’t include funding but identifies I-11 as a high-priority corridor eligible for federal funding.

For more information about I-11 and the Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement, visit i11study.com/Arizona.