[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52837-52838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25780]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Environmental Impact Statement on the Central Florida Light Rail
Transit System
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Florida
Department of Transportation, and the Central Florida Regional
Transportation Authority (CFRTA), locally known as LYNX intend to
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on the proposed light rail
transit project in Osceola, Orange, and Seminole Counties, Florida.
The EIS will evaluate the following alternatives: a no-build
alternative, a Transportation System Management alternative consisting
of low to medium cost improvements to the facilities and operations of
LYNX in addition to the
[[Page 52838]]
currently planned transit improvements in the corridor, and the light
rail transit alignment (including line, station locations and support
facilities). Scoping will be accomplished through correspondence with
interested persons, organizations, and Federal, State and local
agencies, and through public meetings.
DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives
and impacts to be considered should be sent to the Florida Department
of Transportation by November 22, 1996. See ADDRESSES below. Scoping
Meetings: A joint FTA, Florida Department of Transportation and Central
Florida Regional Transportation Authority public scoping meeting will
be held on Wednesday, November 6, l996 at 1:30 p.m. at the LYNX Board
Room located at 225 East Robinson Street, Suite 300, Orlando, FL. See
ADDRESSES below.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the project scope should be sent to Mr.
Harold Webb, Florida Department of Transportation, District Five, 719
South Woodland Boulevard, DeLand, Florida 32720. Scoping meetings will
be held at the following location: LYNX Board Room, 225 East Robinson
Street, Suite 300, Orlando, Florida.
See DATES above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Jensen, Acting Deputy
Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Region IV,
(404) 347-3948.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Scoping
The FTA, FDOT, and LYNX invite written comments for a period of 45
days after publication of this notice (see DATES and ADDRESSES above).
During scoping, comments should focus on identifying specific social,
economic, or environmental impacts to be evaluated, and suggesting
alternatives that are less costly or less environmental impacts to be
evaluated, and suggesting alternatives that are less costly or less
environmentally damaging which achieve similar objectives. Comments
should focus on the issues and alternatives for analysis, and not on a
preference for a particular alternative. Individual preference for a
particular alternative should be communicated during the comment period
for the Draft EIS.
If you wish to be placed on the mailing list to receive further
information as the project continues, contact Mr. Harold Webb at the
Florida Department of Transportation, District Five. (see ADDRESSES
above).
II. Description of Study Area and Project Need
The proposed project consists of an approximately 48.3 mile total
light rail transit system. The minimum operating segment consist of 20-
24 miles linking Osceola County's Celebration development in the south,
through Orlando and central Orange County, to the vicinity of Sanford
and the Volusia and Seminole County lines to the north. The new light
rail transit alignment will be located either within the Interstate 4
right-of-way or in adjacent to the CSX rail corridor and surface
streets or a combination of the alignment locations. The light rail
transit alignment provides the opportunity to connect four of the five
intermodal stations identified in the Regional Consensus Plan and
Resource Document; the Osceola County Celebration Activity Center; the
International Drive Grand Terminal Station; the Downtown Orlando
Intermodal Facility, and the Sanford/Seminole County Transportation
Center.
Interstate 4 is generally considered to be the spine of Central
Florida's transportation system, carrying the greatest number of people
and vehicles of any transportation facility in the region and serving
many of the region's primary activity centers. On most of its sections
Interstate 4 has evolved from being a highway primarily intended to
serve long distance travelers to one which serves many shorter trips.
Congestion and delays on Interstate 4 and along the parallel arterial
highways are now considered to be the major transportation problem
facing this rapidly growing region. With the prospect of continued and
accelerated growth in population and tourism in Central Florida, travel
conditions will continue to deteriorate at an increasing rate.
In response to this need, FDOT, in conjunction with LYNX, has
completed a Major Investment Study (MIS) for the Interstate 4 corridor.
The results of the MIS study and corresponding Interstate 4 Multi-Modal
Master Plan resulted in a recommended design concept and scope
consisting of six general use lanes, two special use lanes, and a light
rail transit system to provide the required mobility in the Interstate
4 corridor.
III. Alternatives
The alternatives proposed for evaluation include: (1) No-action,
which involves no change to transportation services or facilities in
the corridor beyond already committed projects,
(2) a transportation system management alternative, which will be
used for cost-effectiveness comparisons, consists of low-to-medium cost
improvements to the facilities and operations of LYNX in addition to
the currently planned transit improvements in the corridor,
(3) new light rail transit alignment located either within the
Interstate 4 right-of-way or in or adjacent to the CSX rail corridor
and select surface streets or combinations of the alignment locations.
IV. Probable Effects
FTA and the Florida Department of Transportation and LYNX will
evaluate all significant environmental, social, and economic impacts of
the alternatives analyzed in the EIS. Primary environmental issues
include: neighborhood protection, aesthetics, bicycle facilities,
trails, recreational greenways, alternative modes of transportation,
lake protection, hydrology and stormwater management, archaeological
and historic resources, ecological and riverine greenways, wildlife
corridors, and rare habitat and listed species. Environmental and
social impacts proposed for analysis include land use and neighborhood
impacts, traffic and parking impacts near stations, visual impacts,
impacts on cultural resources, and noise and vibration impacts. Impacts
on natural areas, rare and endangered species, air and water quality,
groundwater and potentially contaminated sites will also be covered.
The impacts will be evaluated both for the construction period and for
the long-term period of operation. Measures to mitigate any significant
adverse impacts will be developed.
Issued on: October 3, 1996.
Susan E. Schruth,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-25780 Filed 10-07-96; 8:45 am]
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