[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]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P