SHA, US Army Corps of Engineers to Conduct Location/Design Public Hearing on           
Proposed Improvements for Ocean City Corridor; Interested Parties Encouraged to Provide Testimony on Corridor Study          
          
Who:           
State Highway Administration (SHA) representatives           
US Army Corps of Engineers representatives          
Area officials, residents, businesses and community organizations          
          
What:           
SHA and the US Army Corps of Engineers will jointly host a Joint Location/Design Hearing for the US 50 (Ocean Gateway) Crossing Study in Ocean City, Worcester County.           
          
When:           
Thursday, May 29, 2008           
6 p.m. – Maps/Displays available; 7 p.m. – Presentation/Testimony          
          
Where:           
Roland E. Powell Convention Center          
4001 Coastal Highway (40th Street), Ocean City, MD 21842          
          
Why:           
The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) presently has a project planning study underway for the           
US 50 corridor between MD 611 (Stephen Decatur Highway) and           
MD 378 (Baltimore Avenue )/3rd Street, including the bridge over the Sinepuxent Bay into downtown Ocean City. The study is analyzing the social, economic, cultural and natural environmental effects for all alternatives (including the No-Build option).          
          
          
How:           
The hearing is to afford all interested persons the opportunity to present their views on record regarding the project. Forms for written comment will be available at the meeting.           
          
Maps will be available beginning at 6 p.m., which will depict the project alternatives. A formal presentation will follow at 7 p.m., followed by public testimony. Requests to be placed on the speakers list OR those who may need special assistance (i.e. interpreters) to participate in the meeting should be received by SHA no later than Thursday, May 22.           
          
Attendees who desire to speak may do so after those on the established list. Written statements in lieu of testimony must be received by Monday, June 30 to be included in the Public Hearing transcript.          
          
Both information requests may be sent to Jamaica Kennon, Assistant Project Manager, at 410-545-8512, toll-free 1-800-548-5026 or e-mail at jkennon@sha.state.md.us. Comments sent via mail may be sent to:          
          
Ms. Jamaica Kennon          
Project Planning Division          
State Highway Administration          
Mail Stop C-301          
P.O. Box 717          
Baltimore, MD 21203-0717          
          
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) describing the study is available for inspection and copying at the Worcester County Library, State Highway Administration District One Office in Salisbury and The Town of Ocean City Department of Public Works.          
          
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