INDIANA – The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) have issued a Tier 1 Combined Final Environmental Impact Statement/Record of Decision (FEIS/ROD) for the Mid-States Corridor Study. The document includes changes to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) based on agency and public input. The FEIS/ROD was published today with an anticipated Federal Register Notice of Availability of September 15, 2023.
The Tier 1 Study of an improved highway connection in southern Indiana is a product of the successful partnership of the Mid-States Corridor Regional Development Authority and INDOT. The Preferred Alternative extends 54 miles from I-64/US 231 to I-69 at the existing US 231 interchange. The FEIS/ROD is available for viewing online at https://midstatescorridor.com/feis/ and at the following library locations. Location addresses are provided at the link.
| Bedford Public Library | Monroe County Public Library |
| Bloomfield-Eastern Greene County Public Library | Orleans Town and Township Public Library |
| Dubois Branch Library | Pike County Public Library |
| Ferdinand Branch Library | Shoals Public Library |
| Huntingburg Public Library | Spencer County Public Library |
| Jasper-Dubois County Public Library | Washington Carnegie Public Library |
| Lincoln Heritage Public Library Dale | Mid-States Corridor Project Office Jasper |
| Loogootee Public Library | INDOT Vincennes District Office |
| Melton Public Library | INDOT Indianapolis Central Office |
| Mitchell Community Public Library | Lochmueller Group Evansville |
The Mid-States Corridor Study is a tiered environmental document consistent with the guidance established by the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and conforming to processes developed by FHWA and INDOT. Tiering separates the broader issues, such as selection of the general location and mode choice in Tier 1, from the more detailed site-specific impacts in Tier 2. With the selection of Refined Preferred Alternative P, INDOT is following department processes for proceeding with the Tier 2 studies. Procedures include reviewing section priority before determining a timeline for the next phase of study.
The FEIS/ROD includes updates to the Tier 1 DEIS. Responses to public and agency comments received on the Tier 1 DEIS are in Volume IV of the FEIS/ROD.
Under Title 23 U.S.C. Section 139, the FHWA has issued a single document that consists of a FEIS and ROD. Therefore, the 30-day wait/review period under NEPA does not apply to this action.
