[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 44 (Thursday, March 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10306-10307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5530]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Environmental Impact Statement; Orange, Seminole, and Volusia 
Counties, FL

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed 
highway project in Orange County, Seminole County, and Volusia County, 
Florida.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Mark D. Bartlett, Program Operations Engineer, Federal Highway 
Administration, 227 N. Bronough Street, Room 2015, Tallahassee, Florida 
32301. Telephone: (904) 942-9598.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Description of Project

    The FHWA, in consultation with the Florida Department of 
Transportation, will prepare an EIS for a proposal to improve 
Interstate 4 (I-4) in Orange County, Seminole County, and Volusia 
County, Florida. The project limits are from just west of the State 
Road 528 (Bee Line Expressway) Interchange in Orange County to just 
east of the State Road 472 Interchange in Volusia County, a distance of 
approximately 69 km (43 miles). The project is commonly referred to as 
the I-4 Project Development and Environmental (PD&E) Study--Section 2. 
The proposed improvement will involve widening the segment of I-4 to 
six general use lanes plus two high occupancy vehicle lanes. In 
addition, the project will evaluate the need for interchange 
modifications. Improvements to the corridor are considered necessary to 
provide for the existing and projected travel demand.
    There are three independent studies which are being performed 
concurrently with the I-4 PD&E Study--Section 2. The I-4 PD&E Study--
Section 1 involves preparation of an Environmental Assessment for 
improvements on I-4 from County Road 532 in Osceola County, Florida to 
State Road 528 in Orange County, Florida. The I-4 PD&E Study--Section 3 
involves preparation of a Environmental Assessment for improvements on 
I-4 from State Road 472 to I-95 in Volusia County, Florida. The Central 
Florida Light Rail Transit System Study involves preparation of an EIS 
for Light Rail Transit improvements in Osceola, Orange, and Seminole 
Counties, Florida. Consideration of the cumulative effects of these 
actions, as well as other past, present and reasonable foreseeable 
future actions, will be included in the I-4 PD&E Study--Section 2.

Need for Project

    I-4 is considered to be an integral part of Central Florida's 
transportation system. The Interstate carries the greatest number of 
people and vehicles of any transportation facility in the region and 
serves many of the area's primary activity centers. I-4 was originally 
designed to serve long distance travelers, however, the highway has 
evolved to one which serves many shorter trips.
    Central Florida has experienced tremendous growth in the past two 
decades. A significant amount of this growth is occurring within close 
proximity to I-4. In recent years, congestion on I-4 has extended well 
beyond normal peak hours and major accidents have closed I-4, 
subsequently resulting in traffic congestion throughout the 
metropolitan area. Congestion and delays on I-4 and the parallel 
arterial highways are now considered to be the major transportation 
problem facing the region. Travel conditions in Central Florida are 
expected to continue to deteriorate due to the continuing trend of 
increased growth in population and tourism.
    The design concepts and scope of the I-4 improvements were 
developed as part of the I-4 Major Investment Study (MIS). The MIS was 
performed in conjunction with the I-4 Multi-Modal Master Plan (I-4 
MMMP) and included evaluations of a full range of reasonable 
alternatives and transportation modes. The specific design concept and 
scope recommendations identified in the MIS which are pertinent to the 
I-4 PD&E Study--Section 2 include:
     Six general use lanes plus two high occupancy lanes within 
the limits of the Section 2 Study,
     Reserved right-of-way for a rail envelope within Volusia 
County,
     Light rail transit from the city of Sanford to the South, 
extending beyond the southern limits of the Section 2 study,
     Express bus service between Volusia County and the Orlando 
metropolitan area.
    The need for improvements to I-4 is recognized by local and 
regional plans. The MIS has been approved by the Orlando Urban Area 
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Volusia County MPO. 
The project is also included in the Orlando Urban Area and Volusia 
County year 2020 Long Range Transportation Plans. Local government 
comprehensive plans support mobility enhancements to I-4.

Alternative

    Alternatives under consideration include: (1) ``No Action'' which 
involves no change to transportation facilities in the corridor beyond 
projects already committed; (2) the design concept recommended in the 
I-4 MIS and I-4 MMMP which consists of widening the segment of I-4 to 
six general use lanes plus two high occupancy vehicle lanes, and 
evaluating the need for interchange modifications; and (3) design 
concept refinements to the recommended I-4 MMMP alternative. The design 
concept refinements will involve consideration of geometric adjustments 
which maximize use of the existing infrastructure, reduce project 
costs, and avoid or minimize environmental impacts.

Probable Effects

    FHWA and local joint lead agencies will evaluate in the EIS all 
significant environmental impacts including analysis of socio-economic, 
natural, and physical impacts for each of the alternatives. Analysis of 
socio-economic impacts will include the evaluation of land use and 
neighborhood impacts, park/recreation area impacts, historic/
archaeological impacts, and visual and

[[Page 10307]]

aesthetic impacts. Natural impact analysis will include impacts to 
Outstanding Florida Waters and Wild and Scenic Rivers, aquatic 
preserves, wetlands, and threatened or endangered species. In addition, 
within the study limits, I-4 crosses the St. John's River which is a 
navigable waterway. Consequently, navigation impacts will be evaluated 
as part of the natural impact analysis. Physical impact analysis will 
include evaluating impacts to noise, air quality, water quality, 
floodplain, potentially contaminated sites, and coastal zone. The 
environmental evaluation will consider both short-term and long-term 
impacts associated with the alternatives. Measures to mitigate any 
significant adverse impacts will also be considered.
    Environmental issues raised from responses to the Advanced 
Notification Letter include neighborhood protection, aesthetics, 
bicycle facilities, recreational greenways, alternative modes of 
transportation, lake protection, hydrology and stormwater management, 
cultural features, wildlife corridors, and rare habitat and listed 
species.

Scoping

    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have expressed interest in this 
proposal. Interested parties may request project information by 
contacting Mr. Harold Webb, Florida Department of Transportation, 
District Five, 719 South Woodland Boulevard, Florida 32720 or by 
calling him at (904) 943-5554. A series of public meetings will be held 
in Orange, Seminole, and Volusia Counties between August 1997 and 
December 1998. In addition, public hearings will be held in Orange, 
Seminole, and Volusia Counties. Public notice will be given of the time 
and place of the meetings and hearings. The Draft EIS will be made 
available for public and agency review and comment. A formal scoping 
meeting will be held at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 15, 1997 and 
Wednesday, April 16, 1997 at the Eastmonte Park Recreation & Civic 
Center located at 830 Magnolia Drive, Altamonte Springs, Florida.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to the proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues 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 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 inter-governmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program)

    Issued on February 27, 1997.
J.R. Skinner,
Division Administrator, Tallahassee.
[FR Doc. 97-5530 Filed 3-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M