"EA" completed for hospital transportation plan

MARQUETTE — On top of constructing the new hospital, the city of Marquette has to worry about transportation to and from the new location. Today, another step was taken toward figuring that out.

After the city selected a transportation plan, they looked into its potential impacts on the network. Today, a public hearing was held to open comment on the new plan’s Environmental Assessment (EA) report.

Marquette’s Community Development Director, Dennis Stachewicz said, “(The EA) is a list of all the (transportation plan’s) effects on the neighborhoods and existing transportation network (and) how traffic patterns are going to be looked at. (Whether or not) there (are) any effect(s) on streams, lakes, and so forth. And then we answer in the document how we plan to address those issues.”

According to the community development director, public opinion at the hearing was positive. Next is an approval process that will take the city through the Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration. The hope is to receive approval by September; and if they do, the design and construction process will begin.