[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18247-18248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9827]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement on the Phase I Regional Rail 
Project, Raleigh-Durham, NC

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) and the Research 
Triangle Regional Public Transportation Authority, locally known as 
Triangle Transit Authority or TTA, intend to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) on the proposed regional rail transit project in Wake 
and Durham Counties, North Carolina.
    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 operation of 
TTA and local bus services in addition to currently planned transit 
improvements; and the regional rail transit alignment (including line, 
sixteen stations and support facilities). Scoping will be accomplished 
through correspondence with interested persons, organizations, and 
Federal, State and local agencies, and through public and agency 
meetings.

DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives 
and impacts to be considered should be sent to the Triangle Transit 
Authority by May 15, 1998. See ADDRESSES below. Scoping Meetings: A 
public scoping meeting will be held on Monday, April 27, 1998 from 4 pm 
to 8 pm at the NC Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park. An 
agency scoping meeting will be held on Monday, April 27, 1998 at 9 am 
at the NC Biotechnology Center. See ADDRESSES below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of alternatives and impacts to 
be studied should be sent to Mr. Jim Ritchey, General Manager, Triangle 
Transit Authority, PO Box 13787, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 
27709. Scoping meetings will be held at the following location: NC 
Biotechnology Center, 15 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, 
NC 27709.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tony Dittmeier, Federal Transit 
Administration, Region IV, (404) 562-3512.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scoping

    The FTA and TTA invite interested individuals, organizations, and 
federal, state and local agencies to participate in defining the 
alternatives to be evaluated and identifying any significant social, 
economic or environmental issue related to the alternatives. Specific 
suggestions related to additional alternatives to be examined and 
issues to be addressed are welcome and will be considered in the 
development of the final scope. Scoping comments may be made at the 
scoping meetings or in writing no later than May 15, 1998 (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 
environmentally damaging which achieve similar transit objectives. 
Comments should focus on the issues and alternatives for analysis, and 
not on a preference for a particular alternative.
    Scoping materials will be available at the meeting or in advance of 
the meeting by contacting Triangle Transit Authority as indicated 
above. If you wish to be placed on the mailing list to receive further 
information as the project continues contact Mr. Jim Ritchey at the 
Triangle Transit Authority (see ADDRESSES above).

II. Description of Study Area and Project Need

    The proposed project consists of an approximately 35 mile regional 
rail transit system. The technology proposed is diesel multiple units 
(DMU's), self-propelled, diesel-powered trainsets. The regional rail 
alignment will be located within the existing North Carolina Railroad 
and CSX railroad rights-of-way. The sixteen proposed stations connect 
the region's major activity centers, including universities, major

[[Page 18248]]

employment centers, and residential areas. The system would also serve 
the planned Durham and Raleigh Multi-Modal Centers.
    The corridor generally parallels NC 147 (Durham Freeway), 
Interstate 40 and NC 54, and US 1 (Capital Blvd), which are major 
highway facilities providing regional connections in this corridor. The 
region has a history of relying heavily on roadway expansion to meet 
the needs of the growing population. However, with the anticipated 
continuation of population and employment growth, congestion in the 
region is projected to worsen, with very limited alternatives to 
driving. In addition, the region continues to face other problems 
related to rapid growth: Suburban sprawl, deteriorating air quality, 
lack of community identity, loss of open space, and high highway and 
transit system costs.
    In response to this need, TTA has completed a Major Investment 
Study (MIS) for this corridor. The results of the MIS resulted in a 
recommended design concept and scope consisting of a dedicated track 
with passing sidings within the existing railroad right-of-way, sixteen 
stations, and expanded local and feeder bus service.

III. Alternatives

    The alternatives proposed for evaluation include: (1) No-build, 
which involves no change to transportation service or facilities in the 
corridor beyond already committed projects; (2) a Transportation System 
Management alternative, which consists of low-to-medium cost 
improvements to the operations of TTA and local bus operators in 
addition to the currently planned transit improvements in the corridor; 
and (3) regional rail transit located within the North Carolina 
Railroad and CSX railroad rights-of-way with sixteen stations.

IV. Probable Effects

    FTA and TTA will evaluate all significant environmental, social, 
and economic impacts of the alternatives analyzed in the EIS. Primary 
issues include: the projected increase in transit ridership, the 
locations of the sixteen proposed stations, the support of regional 
land use goals and plans, secondary impacts in station areas, and 
capital and operating and maintenance costs. Environmental and social 
impacts proposed for analysis include land use and neighborhood 
impacts, traffic and parking impacts near stations, safety and visual 
impacts, impacts on cultural resources, and noise and vibration 
impacts. Impacts on natural areas, rare and endangered species, air and 
water quality, wetlands and parklands, 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: April 9, 1998.
Susan E. Schruth,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-9827 Filed 4-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P