[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 13 (Friday, January 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1431-1432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-468]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration and Federal Railroad Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Portland, Oregon to Vancouver, 
British Columbia

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA and the FRA are issuing this notice to advise the 
public that an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared 
for a proposed high speed rail improvement program between Portland, 
Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gene K. Fong, Federal Highway Administration, Evergreen Plaza Building, 
711 South Capitol Way, Suite 501, Olympia, Washington 98501, Telephone: 
(360) 753-2120; Mark Yachmetz, Federal Railroad Administration, 400 7th 
Street SW., Room 5420, Washington, DC 20590, Telephone: (202) 366-0686; 
Mr. James Slakey, Washington State Department of Transportation, 310 
Maple Park East Olympia, Washington 98504, Telephone: (360) 705-7920.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 22, 1992, the U.S. Department of 
Transportation designated the existing rail corridor from Eugene, 
Oregon through Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington to Vancouver, 
British Columbia, Canada as a high-speed rail corridor pursuant to 
Section 1010 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 
1991 (ISTEA). The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) 
proposes to adopt a multi-phase program plan to develop high-speed 
intercity passenger service on the 366-mile segment of that corridor 
between Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia, and to 
undertake specific improvements consistent with such a plan. FHWA and 
FRA, in cooperation with WSDOT, will prepare an EIS on WSDOT's 
proposal.
    The purpose of this EIS is to provide background for the decision 
whether or not to implement high-speed passenger rail service on the 
corridor. The EIS will also provide background for decisions related to 
possible future investment in passenger rail service related facilities 
in the corridor including identification of design levels of service 
(e.g. number, frequency, and speed of trains) and capital improvements 
needed to meet design levels of service.
    The existing rail facilities limit the addition of high speed 
passenger trains within the Pacific Northwest Passenger Rail Corridor. 
Passenger rail speeds are limited in the existing corridor by the steep 
and curvy topography of western Washington and the limited capacity of 
the existing rail line would create conflicts between slower freight 
trains and higher speed passenger trains that would adversely affect 
passenger and freight train scheduling. High speed passenger rail in 
the corridor would require additional or improved rail geometrics, 
trackage, side or passing tracks, and signal and train control systems. 
The proposed improvement program would resolve the existing constraints 
on dependable and timely passenger rail service between Portland, 
Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia.
    Agency and public involvement programs will describe the proposed 
action and solicit comment from citizens, organizations, and federal, 
state, and local agencies. Comments and questions will be solicited and 
accepted via telephone, internet, public meetings, and the mail. In 
addition, targeted direct mail, advertisements, and media relations 
efforts will be used to reach the public and agencies. Advertisements 
offering interested persons the opportunity to attend and offer 
comments at a public hearing will be published prior to circulation of 
the draft environmental impact statement. Public notice of actions 
related to the proposal that identify the date, time, place of 
meetings, and the length of review periods will be published when 
appropriate.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
improvement program and its reasonable alternatives are addressed and 
all significant issues are identified, comments and suggestions are 
invited from all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning 
this proposed action and the EIS should be directed to the FHWA or FRA 
at the address provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation of federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)


[[Page 1432]]

    Issued on: January 8, 1996.
Gene K. Fong,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Washington 
Division.

Mark E. Yachmetz,
Chief, Passenger Programs Division, Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-468 Filed 1-18-96; 8:45 am]
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