[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 188 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50532-50533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24645]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Major Investment Study/Draft Environmental Impact Statement for
the Cross County Corridor, Bucks, Chester and Montgomery Counties,
Pennsylvania and Mercer County, New Jersey
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Major Investment Study
(MIS)/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Southeastern
Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) intend to undertake a
MIS/DEIS in accordance with the Intermodal Surface Transportation
Efficiency Act (ISTEA) and the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA). A key supporting agency is the Delaware Valley Regional
Planning Commission (DVRPC), the Metropolitan Planning Organization
(MPO) for the region.
The MIS/DEIS will consider transportation improvements along an
east-west corridor from the vicinity of Glenloch, Chester County, to
Morrisville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In particular, the focus will
be on CONRAIL's Morrisville Line, also known as the Trenton Cut-Off,
which runs from Downingtown, Chester County to Morrisville, Bucks
County, traversing Montgomery County. In addition, the MIS/DEIS could
consider possible extensions to Parkesburg, Chester County (to the
west), and Trenton, New Jersey (to the east).
Both termini are under consideration because the shorter Glenloch
to Morrisville, Pennsylvania segment has logical terminus, independent
utility and can be built without prejudice to possible future
consideration of the extension into New Jersey. Financial issues and
other factors possibly resulting from the MIS may result in a DEIS
focusing on the Pennsylvania segment. For these reasons, SEPTA is
soliciting public and agency input from both Pennsylvania and New
Jersey regarding modal alternatives to be considered, including
alternative termini and related issues.
In addition to modal alternatives, the MIS/DEIS will evaluate the
No-Build and Transportation System Management (TSM) alternatives, as
well as any reasonable alternatives generated through the scoping
process and public involvement activities. Scoping will be accomplished
through correspondence with appropriate federal, state and local
agencies, and to private organizations and citizens who have previously
expressed or who are known to have an interest in this proposal. In
accordance with the intent and requirements of the MIS/DEIS process, a
proactive public involvement program will be undertaken in conjunction
with the proposed study, including public meetings. A public hearing
will also be held at the appropriate stage of the DEIS process. Public
notice will be given of the time and place of the meetings and hearing.
The DEIS will be available for public and agency review and comment
prior to the public hearing. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below for
details.
DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments of the scope of alternatives
and impacts to be considered should be sent to SEPTA by November 14,
1996. See ADDRESSES below.
Scoping Meeting
The Public Scoping Meeting will be held on Thursday, October 24,
1996, between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. (EDST) in the Montgomery Room on
the second floor of One Montgomery Plaza, Swede and Airy Streets,
Norristown, PA. See ADDRESSES below. A sign-language interpreter will
be present at the meeting. People with special needs should call Ms.
Frances M. Jones, Manager of Community Relations at the SEPTA address
below or by calling (215) 580-7334. The building is accessible to
people with disabilities. It is located two blocks north of the
Norristown Transportation Center which is served by the SEPTA's R6
Norristown Regional Rail Line R6, SEPTA Route 100 (Norristown High
Speed Line) and the 91, 93, 96, 97, 98 and 99 SEPTA Frontier bus lines.
The southbound 96, 97 and 98 SEPTA bus lines also have stops on Swede
Street near the meeting location.
The meeting will be held in an ``open-house'' format and project
representatives will be available to discuss the project throughout the
time period given. Informational displays and written materials will
also be available throughout the time period given. A record of written
and oral comments made at the meeting will be prepared.
ADDRESSES: To ensure that a full range of issues related to the
proposed study
[[Page 50533]]
are addressed and all significant issued identified, comments and
suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or
questions concerning this proposed action and the MIS/DEIS should be
directed to SEPTA or the FTA at the addresses provided below:
Mr. Richard G. Bickel, AICP, Director, Long Range Planning,
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, 1234 Market Street,
9th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 580-7238.
The Scoping Meeting will be held at the following location:
The Montgomery Room, 2nd Floor, One Montgomery Plaza, Swede and Airy
Streets, Norristown, PA 19404.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John T. Garrity, Jr., Senior
Transportation Representative, Federal Transit Administration, Region
III, 1760 Market Street, Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 656-
6900.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Scoping
FTA and SEPTA invite interested individuals, organizations, and
federal, state, and local agencies to participate in defining the
alternatives to be evaluated in the MIS/DEIS and identifying any
significant social, economic, or environmental issues related to the
alternatives. Scoping comments may be made at the public scoping
meeting or in writing. See DATES and ADDRESSES sections above for the
meeting locations and time, and comment period. During scoping,
comments should focus on identifying specific social, economic, or
environmental impacts to be evaluated and suggesting alternatives which
are more cost effective or have less environmental impact while
achieving similar transportation objectives.
Scoping materials will be available at the meeting or in advance of
the meeting. Mr. Richard G. Bickel (SEPTA) should be contacted for
information on local project issues. Mr. John T. Garrity (FTA) should
be contacted for information on procedural issues.
II. Description of Study Area and Project Need
The proposed Cross County Corridor would examine the potential for
circumferential transit service for 48 miles from the vicinity of
Morrisville, Bucks County to Glenloch, Chester County, traversing
Montgomery County. This proposed route was determined as a result of
the Cross County Metro Feasibility Assessment Final Report completed in
May 1994. A segment of the proposed new route would share the right-of-
way of CONRAIL'S existing Morrisville freight line (also known as the
Trenton Cut-Off).
The proposed Cross County Corridor is intended to fill a key
missing link in the provision of public transportation service in
southeastern Pennsylvania by providing for inter- and intra-suburban
trips to shopping, industrial/office and residential concentrations in
Bucks, Montgomery and Chester Counties. An alternative to automobile
travel could be provided, which would help to alleviate congestion,
reduce travel time and improve air quality. At the same time, the Cross
County Corridor could facilitate intermodal connections to SEPTA's
existing, radial commuter rail and transit services; potential park and
ride lots located along the Pennsylvania Turnpike and U.S. Route 202;
as well as feeder bus service between the proposed stations and nearby
development concentrations. These connections and intermodal
opportunities would also enhance the regional mobility choices of
Delaware County and City of Philadelphia residents, particularly those
city residents seeking suburban jobs, and would better serve SEPTA's
growing reverse commute market. SEPTA is seeking comment from people
and agencies on both sides of the Delaware River in Pennsylvania and
New Jersey regarding the alternatives to be considered, including
alternative termini and related issues.
III. Alternatives
The alternatives proposed for evaluation include: No-Build which
involves no change to transportation services or facilities in the
corridor beyond those improvements currently programmed; the TSM
alternative which focuses on operational and low-cost capital
improvements to transit routes and services in the corridor; electric
regional rail in trunk line service; electric light rail with branches
or diversions; fixed route bus service operating along a busway on the
corridor (busways) or on local roads off the corridor (improved bus
with TSM improvements). Through the scoping process and public
involvement, additional reasonable alternatives will be identified,
including variations in mode, alignment (trunk or branch operations),
length, number of stations and similar characteristics.
IV. Probable Effects
FTA and SEPTA plan to evaluate in the MIS/DEIS all significant
social, economic, and environmental impacts of the alternatives. Among
the primary issues are the expected increase in transit ridership, the
expected increase in mobility for the corridor's transit dependent, the
support of the region's air quality goals, the capital outlays needed
to construct the project, the cost of operating and maintaining the
facilities created by the project, and the financial impacts on the
funding agencies. Environmental and social impacts proposed for
analysis include land use and neighborhood impacts, traffic and parking
impacts near stations, health and safety impacts, impacts on wetland
and parkland areas, and noise and vibration impacts. Impacts on natural
areas, rare and endangered species, and air and water quality, will
also be covered. The impacts will be evaluated both for the
construction period and for the longer term period of operations.
Measures to mitigate adverse impacts will be identified.
V. FTA Procedures
In accordance with federal transportation planning regulations (23
CFR Part 450), the DEIS will be prepared in conjunction with a MIS and
document the results of that study, including an evaluation of the
social, economic, and environmental impacts of the alternatives. Upon
completion of the MIS/DEIS, and on the basis of the comments received,
the General Manger of SEPTA in consultation with the participating
agencies, including the DVRPC, will select a locally preferred
alternative, with its associated facilities and supporting services
(i.e., stations, park and ride lots, feeder bus service, pedestrian and
vehicular access, etc.). Then SEPTA, as lead agency, will seek to
continue with further preliminary engineering and preparation of the
Final EIS.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205)
The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding
intergovernmental consultation on federal programs and activities
apply to this program.
Issued on: September 20, 1996.
Sheldon A. Kinbar,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-24645 Filed 9-25-96; 8:45 am]
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