Public Review Period for Rehabilitation of the Yosemite Valley Loop Road

Yosemite National Park News Release

.November 23, 2005
For Immediate Release

Yosemite National Park Announces Public Review Period for Rehabilitation of the Yosemite Valley Loop Road Environmental Assessment


The National Park Service (NPS) announces the opening of the public review and comment period for the Rehabilitation of the Yosemite Valley Loop Road Environmental Assessment (herein referred to as Yosemite Valley Loop Road EA). The public is invited to review the document and submit written comments from December 5, 2005 through January 6, 2006.

The purpose of this project is to repair and resurface existing roadway pavement, rehabilitate or replace adjacent drainage features (e.g., culverts, diversion ditches, and retaining walls), and improve the condition of adjacent roadside parking along approximately 12.5 miles of the Yosemite Valley Loop Road in Yosemite Valley. All actions proposed in this project are located within the Yosemite Valley Historic District. No roadway widening (outside of the original road prism width of 22 feet), realignment, or changes to vehicular or pedestrian circulation patterns, as called for in the Yosemite Valley Plan (NPS 2000a), will be undertaken. Similarly, no changes will be made to existing speed limits.

The Yosemite Valley Loop Road EA identifies and analyzes three alternatives: Alternative 1-No Action; Alternative 2- Rehabilitation of and Improvements to the Roadway, Drainages, and Roadside Parking (preferred); and Alternative 3- Resurfacing the Roadway Only with Drainage Improvements. The Environmental Assessment, Public Scoping letters, and the Public Comment and Response Report for Rehabilitation of the Yosemite Valley Loop Road project will be available for review on the park's web site at http://www.nps.gov/yose/planning.

To request a hard copy or CD ROM version of the Environmental Assessment, or a copy of the Public Comment and response report, and to submit comments:

Mail: Superintendent, Yosemite National Park
Attn: Rehabilitation of the Yosemite Valley Loop Road Environmental Assessment
PO Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
Fax: 209/379-1294
Email: YOSE_planning@nps.gov

Written comments should be postmarked no later than January 6, 2006. For information on this and other planning efforts in Yosemite National Park, go to http://www.nps.gov/yose/planning.

-NPS-