[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52837-52838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25780]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement on the Central Florida Light Rail 
Transit System

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), the Florida 
Department of Transportation, and the Central Florida Regional 
Transportation Authority (CFRTA), locally known as LYNX intend to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on the proposed light rail 
transit project in Osceola, Orange, and Seminole Counties, Florida.
    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 operations of 
LYNX in addition to the

[[Page 52838]]

currently planned transit improvements in the corridor, and the light 
rail transit alignment (including line, station locations and support 
facilities). Scoping will be accomplished through correspondence with 
interested persons, organizations, and Federal, State and local 
agencies, and through public meetings.

DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives 
and impacts to be considered should be sent to the Florida Department 
of Transportation by November 22, 1996. See ADDRESSES below. Scoping 
Meetings: A joint FTA, Florida Department of Transportation and Central 
Florida Regional Transportation Authority public scoping meeting will 
be held on Wednesday, November 6, l996 at 1:30 p.m. at the LYNX Board 
Room located at 225 East Robinson Street, Suite 300, Orlando, FL. See 
ADDRESSES below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the project scope should be sent to Mr. 
Harold Webb, Florida Department of Transportation, District Five, 719 
South Woodland Boulevard, DeLand, Florida 32720. Scoping meetings will 
be held at the following location: LYNX Board Room, 225 East Robinson 
Street, Suite 300, Orlando, Florida.
    See DATES above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Jensen, Acting Deputy 
Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Region IV, 
(404) 347-3948.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Scoping

    The FTA, FDOT, and LYNX invite written comments for a period of 45 
days after publication of this notice (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 environmental impacts to be 
evaluated, and suggesting alternatives that are less costly or less 
environmentally damaging which achieve similar objectives. Comments 
should focus on the issues and alternatives for analysis, and not on a 
preference for a particular alternative. Individual preference for a 
particular alternative should be communicated during the comment period 
for the Draft EIS.
    If you wish to be placed on the mailing list to receive further 
information as the project continues, contact Mr. Harold Webb at the 
Florida Department of Transportation, District Five. (see ADDRESSES 
above).

II. Description of Study Area and Project Need

    The proposed project consists of an approximately 48.3 mile total 
light rail transit system. The minimum operating segment consist of 20-
24 miles linking Osceola County's Celebration development in the south, 
through Orlando and central Orange County, to the vicinity of Sanford 
and the Volusia and Seminole County lines to the north. The new light 
rail transit alignment will be located either within the Interstate 4 
right-of-way or in adjacent to the CSX rail corridor and surface 
streets or a combination of the alignment locations. The light rail 
transit alignment provides the opportunity to connect four of the five 
intermodal stations identified in the Regional Consensus Plan and 
Resource Document; the Osceola County Celebration Activity Center; the 
International Drive Grand Terminal Station; the Downtown Orlando 
Intermodal Facility, and the Sanford/Seminole County Transportation 
Center.
    Interstate 4 is generally considered to be the spine of Central 
Florida's transportation system, carrying the greatest number of people 
and vehicles of any transportation facility in the region and serving 
many of the region's primary activity centers. On most of its sections 
Interstate 4 has evolved from being a highway primarily intended to 
serve long distance travelers to one which serves many shorter trips. 
Congestion and delays on Interstate 4 and along the parallel arterial 
highways are now considered to be the major transportation problem 
facing this rapidly growing region. With the prospect of continued and 
accelerated growth in population and tourism in Central Florida, travel 
conditions will continue to deteriorate at an increasing rate.
    In response to this need, FDOT, in conjunction with LYNX, has 
completed a Major Investment Study (MIS) for the Interstate 4 corridor. 
The results of the MIS study and corresponding Interstate 4 Multi-Modal 
Master Plan resulted in a recommended design concept and scope 
consisting of six general use lanes, two special use lanes, and a light 
rail transit system to provide the required mobility in the Interstate 
4 corridor.

III. Alternatives

    The alternatives proposed for evaluation include: (1) No-action, 
which involves no change to transportation services or facilities in 
the corridor beyond already committed projects,
    (2) a transportation system management alternative, which will be 
used for cost-effectiveness comparisons, consists of low-to-medium cost 
improvements to the facilities and operations of LYNX in addition to 
the currently planned transit improvements in the corridor,
    (3) new light rail transit alignment located either within the 
Interstate 4 right-of-way or in or adjacent to the CSX rail corridor 
and select surface streets or combinations of the alignment locations.

IV. Probable Effects

    FTA and the Florida Department of Transportation and LYNX will 
evaluate all significant environmental, social, and economic impacts of 
the alternatives analyzed in the EIS. Primary environmental issues 
include: neighborhood protection, aesthetics, bicycle facilities, 
trails, recreational greenways, alternative modes of transportation, 
lake protection, hydrology and stormwater management, archaeological 
and historic resources, ecological and riverine greenways, wildlife 
corridors, and rare habitat and listed species. Environmental and 
social impacts proposed for analysis include land use and neighborhood 
impacts, traffic and parking impacts near stations, visual impacts, 
impacts on cultural resources, and noise and vibration impacts. Impacts 
on natural areas, rare and endangered species, air and water quality, 
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: October 3, 1996.
Susan E. Schruth,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-25780 Filed 10-07-96; 8:45 am]
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