Public comments needed regarding proposed I-35/I-80/I-235 interchange project impacting Four Mile Creek Greenbelt in Polk County
AMES, Iowa – Feb. 11, 2016 – The Iowa Department of Transportation is proposing to acquire additional highway right of way and temporary right of way areas from the Four Mile Creek Greenbelt in Polk County.
The Four Mile Creek Greenbelt is located between Northeast 54th Place and Northeast 46th Street near Altoona with portions of the property located on both the north and south sides of Interstate 80. The Four Mile Creek Greenbelt is publicly owned and maintained by the Polk County Conservation Board. The primary functions of the park are to provide wildlife habitat, flood attenuation, and a multiuse trail corridor.
The Iowa DOT will acquire approximately 0.7 acre of additional highway right of way from Four Mile Creek Greenbelt. The Polk County Conservation Board and Iowa DOT will jointly identify land for mitigation that is at least equal fair market value and reasonably equivalent usefulness and location.
The Four Mile Creek Greenbelt has been determined to be a Section 4(f) resource and the acquisition of right of way is expected to have “de minimis” impact on the area. Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966 was enacted as a means of protecting publicly owned parks, recreation areas, and wildlife/waterfowl refuges, as well as historic sites of local, state, or national significance from conversion to transportation uses. De minimis impacts are defined as those that, after consideration of any measure(s) to minimize harm (such as avoidance, minimization, mitigation, or enhancement measures), do not adversely affect the activities, features, and attributes of the Section 4(f) resource.
The public is invited to review the impacts of the proposed interchange project on the protected activities, features, and attributes of the nature reserve and wildlife refuge area by:
- Visiting iowadot.gov/ole/otherprojectinfo.html.
- Mailing a request for information to: Randy Hyler, Office of Location and Environment, Iowa Department of Transportation, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa 50010.
- Calling 515-233-7977 to request information.
- Sending an email request for information to [email protected].
The public comment period ends March 16, 2015. Comments may be submitted through the online comment form at the above website.
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