[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 193 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-24691]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 6, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration

 

Environmental Impact Statement for the Northeast Corridor Project 
in Dallas, TX

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) in cooperation with 
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA). The EIS will be prepared following completion of a 
Major Investment Study (MIS) of transportation improvements in the 
Northeast Corridor of the Dallas metropolitan area. The MIS will 
conclude with the selection of a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) 
for implementation in the corridor. The EIS will assess the potential 
impacts of the LPA, No Build and TSM alternatives. DART is working 
cooperatively with the North Central Texas Council of Governments 
(NCTCOG), the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the US 
Department of Transportation (US DOT-FTA and FHWA), and the Cities of 
Dallas, Garland, and Rowlett to identify an affordable and cost-
effective alternative for improving mobility in the corridor.
    The sequence of events for the planning and development for this 
project include the following major milestones:
    Scoping Process--early opportunity for public input to the study 
scope
    Major Investment Study (MIS)--evaluation of proposed improvement 
alternatives, early consideration of environmental factors, concluding 
with the selection of a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA)
    LPA Refinement and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)--detailed 
definition of the LPA's physical features, assessment of potential 
impacts, development of mitigation measures, preparation and 
circulation of the Draft EIS, public hearings and completion of a Final 
EIS.
    Scoping will be accomplished through correspondence with interested 
persons, organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies and 
through public meetings. See the information below for further details.

DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of the EIS and 
impacts to be considered should be sent to DART by November 2, 1994. 
See ADDRESSES below. Scoping Meetings: Public Scoping Meeting will be 
held on Monday October 3, 1994 and Wednesday October 5, 1994 starting 
at 7:00 p.m. in Garland and Dallas. See ADDRESSES below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Jack Wierzenski, Project 
Manager, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, 1401 Pacific Avenue; Dallas, Texas 
75266-7232. The Scoping meetings will be held at the following 
locations:
1. October 3, 1994
Garland Center for the Performing Arts, 5th and Austin, Garland, Texas
2. October 5, 1994
Lake Highlands High School (Student Center), 9449 Church Road, Dallas, 
Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Peggy Crist, FTA Region VI; (817) 
860-9663.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scoping

    FTA and DART invite interested individuals, organizations, 
businesses and federal, state and local agencies to participate in 
defining the alternatives to be evaluated and identifying any 
significant social, economic, or environmental issues related to the 
alternatives. Comments on the appropriateness of the alternatives and 
impact issues are encouraged. Specific suggestions on additional 
alternatives to be examined and issues to be addressed are welcome and 
will be considered in the development of the final study scope. 
Comments may be made orally at the meetings or in writing not later 
than November 2, 1994.
    DART and NCTCOG staff will be present at the scoping meetings to 
describe the corridor alternatives, answer any questions and receive 
comments. Additional public meetings will be scheduled throughout the 
project to review results and provide input. Interested persons will be 
notified of project progress through ongoing community information 
distributed to the project mailing list which will include all scoping 
participants.
    Additional information on the EIS process, alternatives, and impact 
issues to be addressed by the study is contained in a ``Scoping 
Information Document.'' Copies of the document have been sent to 
affected Federal, State of Texas, local government agencies, and 
interested parties currently on record. Others may request the document 
from DART. See ADDRESSES above.

II. Description of the Study Area and the Purpose and Need for a 
Corridor Improvement

    As part of the regional mobility planning effort, and as of June, 
1994, DART initiated the process of updating the 1989 Transit System 
Plan. The Transit System Plan update effort has been coordinated with 
the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Mobility 2010 
Plan Update and is DART's strategic plan of services and facilities for 
meeting mobility goals. Elements of the plan currently being 
implemented include efficient delivery of bus service; construction of 
the 20-mile LRT Starter System; commuter rail in the Dallas/Ft. Worth 
RAILTRAN corridor; and, High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. For the 
Northeast Corridor, DART's Draft System Plan contains recommendations 
for Intermediate Capacity Light Rail Transit; HOV lanes on I-635; a 
Travel Demand Management program; and, enhanced bus service.
    The Corridor includes portions of three cities in the DART service 
area : Dallas, Garland and Rowlett. The Corridor's southern boundary is 
Mockingbird Lane in the vicinity of the LRT station on the North 
Central line of the Starter System. The Mockingbird Station and the 
North Central line are currently under construction. The Corridor 
generally follows the MKT Railroad to the north and east. Skillman Road 
is considered the northwest study corridor boundary; Mockingbird Lane/
Northwest Highway/Garland Road form the southeastern boundary of the 
study area.
    The Corridor is approximately 15 miles in length from Mockingbird 
Lane to Rowlett Road in Rowlett. The corridor includes popular 
recreation and leisure spots such as White Rock Lake and Park, 
Ridgewood Park, and Lake Ray Hubbard. A significant industrial sector 
is located along I-635/LBJ Freeway where the MKT Railroad right-of-way 
is crossed by the AT&SF Railroad. Both railroad lines have active 
freight service.
    It is not anticipated that there will be significant new roadway 
construction to meet the increase in travel demand. The regional 
mobility plan for the area calls for a combination of modes including 
roadway improvements and investment in transit improvements such as 
light rail, commuter rail, HOV lanes, as well as TSM and TDM 
improvements.

III. Alternatives

    Alternatives proposed for consideration include:
    No-Build--The No-Build Alternative consists of the Mobility Plan 
for 2010 as adopted by NCTCOG with the exception of improvements in the 
Northeast Corridor.
    TSM--The Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternative 
includes all of the improvements included in the No-Build Alternative 
plus a number of low-to-moderate-cost travel efficiency and travel 
demand management (TDM) strategies.
    LRT--Light Rail Transit along the MKT Railroad corridor connecting 
with the LRT Starter System station at Mockingbird Lane and continuing 
to the Central Garland Transit Center in downtown Garland with a 
possible extension to a station in downtown Rowlett will be considered. 
Consideration is also being given to the concept of Intermediate 
Capacity Light Rail Transit, which is a staged implementation phase of 
the ultimate double track LRT alternative. The Intermediate Capacity 
LRT option would consist of a single-track LRT alignment along the MKT 
with passing sidings at key points.
    Commuter Rail--This alternative involves the use of the MKT 
Railroad right-of-way to provide service to the Garland and Rowlett 
areas. The commuter rail alternative is generally described in the 
NCTCOG 2010 Mobility Plan. This alternative would follow the MKT 
Railroad right-of-way from the Mockingbird Station to Garland with a 
possible extension to Rowlett.

IV. Potential Impacts For Analysis

    The subjects and level of detail addressed in the EIS will be 
consistent with the requirements of the joint FTA/FHWA environmental 
regulations (Environmental Procedures for Project Development, 23 CFR 
771 and 40 CFR 1500-1508) and other related regulations. The EIS will 
evaluate the following: local and regional economic concerns; 
transportation service including future corridor capacity; transit 
cost; transit ridership and effect on traffic movement community 
impacts, including land use, displacements, noise, neighborhood 
compatibility, and aesthetics; cultural resource impacts including 
impacts on historic and archaeological resources and parklands; natural 
resource impacts including air quality, wetlands, water resources, and 
wildlife; and transit financial implications.
    The proposed impact assessment and evaluation will take into 
account both positive and negative impacts, direct and indirect 
impacts, short term (construction) and long term impacts, and site 
specific and corridor wide impacts. Evaluation criteria will be 
consistent with all Federal, State of Texas and local criteria, 
regulations and policies. Mitigation measures will be identified for 
any adverse environmental impacts.
    Other potential impact issues may be added as a result of scoping 
and agency coordination efforts.

    Issued on: September 30, 1994.
Scott E. Tuxhorn,
Deputy Regional Adminstrator.
[FR Doc. 94-24691 Filed 10-5-94; 8:45 am]
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