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public review-and comment on July 26, 2010. Legal Notices were published in the Brainerd Dispatch on July 24, 2010. There were also numerous articles regarding the SFEIS in the Pine River Journal, Lake Country Echo, and Brainerd Dispatch. The draft SFEIS comment period closed on August 9, 2010. In addition to the ElSprocess, there was a public involvement component to the 2007 "Highway 371 Alternate Route Study Group Report, " as described in the response to the previous commentlissue. Right -of -Way /Property Impacts (3 Comments) Comments regarding partial or full property acquisition included property owners against acquisition and general concern regarding the acquisition process of residential and commercial property. This includes access to adjacent property. Response: Where possible, the preferred alternative has been modified to reduce right -of- way impacts. The properties that have been identified for acquisition are either directly impacted by the reconstruction project or are parcels where reasonable access cannot be maintained. Right -of -way acquisition will be conducted in accordance with the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended, and 49 CFR Part 24. Persons interested in obtaining additional information can contact the Mn/DOT District 3 Right -of -Way Engineer at 218.828.5801. Statements of Preference (24 Comments) 1. Numerous comments were received stating a preference for whether or not. the preferred alternative should remain on its existing alignment (Alternative 2) or should bypass the downtown district for the City of Pequot Lakes (Alternative 3 MOD). Response: No response necessw y for statements of preference. Roadway Design (1 Comment) One comment proposed a "compromised solution that would involve slowing traffic down. to 30 mph, applying for federal funds to beautify downtown and holding Mn/DOT accountable for the City's portion of the infrastructure costs that would be incurred by the expansion project." Response: The existing posted speed limit is 35mph. The 30 mph proposal would be counterproductive to one of the stated purpose and need components (facilitate traffic flow and reduce congestion). Beautification of downtown Pequot Lakes is not an element of the purpose and need for the project. Mn✓DOT's ability to expend trunk highway funds for construction projects is limited to the State of Minnesota Constitution, Article MV, section 2 and section 6, and by Minnesota Statutes 161.20 related to the construction, improvement and maintenance of the trunk highway system. Based on these legal limitations, a large portion of the infrastructure cost TH 371 Adequacy Determination Nisswa to Pine River 16 October 2010 ._1-1 --r