Sarpy County I-80 Planning and Environmental Linkages Study
Project Description
The Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA), in coordination with Sarpy County and the Cities of Gretna and Papillion, is developing the Sarpy County I-80 Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study. The planning process began during summer 2020 and will continue through 2022.
The study will evaluate the need for a new interchange in Sarpy County south and west of Nebraska Highway 370 and Nebraska Highway 50, which is a high-growth area. If a new interchange is needed, the study will explore and evaluate locations for it. The effort will build on the results of previous studies, analyze traffic and land use, develop and evaluate alternatives, and engage the public. Once the study is completed, future work may involve preparing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents, an Interchange Justification Report (IJR), design, and construction.
For more information visit: https://mapacog.org/projects/i80pel/
Background
The concept of a PEL study is to bring together the planning efforts conducted up to and during this stage and to integrate them into the environmental documentation process, or NEPA, and to help make that transition as smooth as possible. NEPA is a strict process law and requires certain protocols to be followed during project development, alternatives screening, and evaluation of impacts. A PEL study offers a little more flexibility in the planning process, yet still requires enough detail to be gathered and considered.
The results of the PEL can inform, direct, and assist the NEPA process and decision makers when it comes to pursuing specific projects identified during the PEL process. The PEL process is particularly useful when the number and/or of types of projects are unknown, the costs or potential resources are unknown, and the funding sources or impacts are unknown. The PEL process can help identify these unknowns, direct decision makers to the appropriate NEPA document, and begin to lay the framework for avoiding impacts and identifying funding sources.
Public / Stakeholder Engagement
Community engagement for the Sarpy County I-80 PEL Study began during summer 2020 and will continue through fall 2022. As part of the process, the planning team:
Interviewed stakeholders representing Nebraska Department of Transportation, Sarpy County, Gretna, Papillion, Springfield, utility providers, economic development groups, and the Sarpy County and Sarpy Cities Wastewater Agency.
Held meetings with the Community Advisory Group and Technical Advisory Group.
Gathered feedback from area residents, workers, property owners, employers, government staff and officials, and other stakeholders via an online public meeting and opinion survey.
Current Events
The public can view potential improvement alternatives for six locations, including the intersections of I-80 with Pflug Road, Platteview Road, 204th Street and Fairview Road, 192nd Street and Capehart Road, 180th Street, and 168th Street and Schram Road, at mapacog.org/sarpypel.
Project Contacts
Engineering Firm
Craig Mielke, Environmental Planner / Project Manager, 402-333-5972, cmielke@benesch.com
Sarpy County
Denny Wilson, Sarpy County Engineer, 402-537-6900, dwilson@sarpy.com
Scott Bovick, Sarpy County Deputy County Administrator, 402-593-1568, sbovick@sarpy.com
MAPA
Jim Boerner, MAPA Transportation Planner, 402-444-6866 x3231, jboerner@mapacog.org
