[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18247-18248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9827]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Environmental Impact Statement on the Phase I Regional Rail
Project, Raleigh-Durham, NC
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) and the Research
Triangle Regional Public Transportation Authority, locally known as
Triangle Transit Authority or TTA, intend to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) on the proposed regional rail transit project in Wake
and Durham Counties, North Carolina.
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 operation of
TTA and local bus services in addition to currently planned transit
improvements; and the regional rail transit alignment (including line,
sixteen stations and support facilities). Scoping will be accomplished
through correspondence with interested persons, organizations, and
Federal, State and local agencies, and through public and agency
meetings.
DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives
and impacts to be considered should be sent to the Triangle Transit
Authority by May 15, 1998. See ADDRESSES below. Scoping Meetings: A
public scoping meeting will be held on Monday, April 27, 1998 from 4 pm
to 8 pm at the NC Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park. An
agency scoping meeting will be held on Monday, April 27, 1998 at 9 am
at the NC Biotechnology Center. See ADDRESSES below.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of alternatives and impacts to
be studied should be sent to Mr. Jim Ritchey, General Manager, Triangle
Transit Authority, PO Box 13787, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
27709. Scoping meetings will be held at the following location: NC
Biotechnology Center, 15 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park,
NC 27709.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tony Dittmeier, Federal Transit
Administration, Region IV, (404) 562-3512.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Scoping
The FTA and TTA invite interested individuals, organizations, and
federal, state and local agencies to participate in defining the
alternatives to be evaluated and identifying any significant social,
economic or environmental issue related to the alternatives. Specific
suggestions related to additional alternatives to be examined and
issues to be addressed are welcome and will be considered in the
development of the final scope. Scoping comments may be made at the
scoping meetings or in writing no later than May 15, 1998 (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
environmentally damaging which achieve similar transit objectives.
Comments should focus on the issues and alternatives for analysis, and
not on a preference for a particular alternative.
Scoping materials will be available at the meeting or in advance of
the meeting by contacting Triangle Transit Authority as indicated
above. If you wish to be placed on the mailing list to receive further
information as the project continues contact Mr. Jim Ritchey at the
Triangle Transit Authority (see ADDRESSES above).
II. Description of Study Area and Project Need
The proposed project consists of an approximately 35 mile regional
rail transit system. The technology proposed is diesel multiple units
(DMU's), self-propelled, diesel-powered trainsets. The regional rail
alignment will be located within the existing North Carolina Railroad
and CSX railroad rights-of-way. The sixteen proposed stations connect
the region's major activity centers, including universities, major
[[Page 18248]]
employment centers, and residential areas. The system would also serve
the planned Durham and Raleigh Multi-Modal Centers.
The corridor generally parallels NC 147 (Durham Freeway),
Interstate 40 and NC 54, and US 1 (Capital Blvd), which are major
highway facilities providing regional connections in this corridor. The
region has a history of relying heavily on roadway expansion to meet
the needs of the growing population. However, with the anticipated
continuation of population and employment growth, congestion in the
region is projected to worsen, with very limited alternatives to
driving. In addition, the region continues to face other problems
related to rapid growth: Suburban sprawl, deteriorating air quality,
lack of community identity, loss of open space, and high highway and
transit system costs.
In response to this need, TTA has completed a Major Investment
Study (MIS) for this corridor. The results of the MIS resulted in a
recommended design concept and scope consisting of a dedicated track
with passing sidings within the existing railroad right-of-way, sixteen
stations, and expanded local and feeder bus service.
III. Alternatives
The alternatives proposed for evaluation include: (1) No-build,
which involves no change to transportation service or facilities in the
corridor beyond already committed projects; (2) a Transportation System
Management alternative, which consists of low-to-medium cost
improvements to the operations of TTA and local bus operators in
addition to the currently planned transit improvements in the corridor;
and (3) regional rail transit located within the North Carolina
Railroad and CSX railroad rights-of-way with sixteen stations.
IV. Probable Effects
FTA and TTA will evaluate all significant environmental, social,
and economic impacts of the alternatives analyzed in the EIS. Primary
issues include: the projected increase in transit ridership, the
locations of the sixteen proposed stations, the support of regional
land use goals and plans, secondary impacts in station areas, and
capital and operating and maintenance costs. Environmental and social
impacts proposed for analysis include land use and neighborhood
impacts, traffic and parking impacts near stations, safety and visual
impacts, impacts on cultural resources, and noise and vibration
impacts. Impacts on natural areas, rare and endangered species, air and
water quality, wetlands and parklands, 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: April 9, 1998.
Susan E. Schruth,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-9827 Filed 4-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
