[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 64 (Monday, April 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16520-16522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8197]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement on the Tampa Bay Regional Rail 
System in Tampa, Florida

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Hillsborough 
Area Regional Transit Authority intend to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Tampa Bay Regional Rail project in the 
City of Tampa and Hillsborough County, Florida. The EIS is being 
prepared in conformance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), and will also address the requirements of other federal and 
state environmental laws. The FTA will be the lead federal agency. The 
EIS will address the social, economic, and environmental effects of 
selected transportation improvements identified in the ``Early Action 
Plan'' identified as a result of the Alternatives for Mobility 
Enhancement Major Investment Study (MIS) which was completed in April 
of 1998. HART will perform this effort in coordination with the 
following consulting agencies: the Florida Department of Transportation 
(FDOT), the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization 
(MPO), Hillsborough County, and the City of Tampa.
    The EIS will evaluate selected transportation improvements in the 
corridors between the central business district in Tampa and three 
destinations: the University of South Florida to the north, Westshore/
Hillsborough Community College to the west, and Port Tampa to the 
south. The EIS will evaluate the following transportation alternatives: 
a No Build Alternative, a Transportation System Management (TSM) 
Alternative, and Rail Transit Alternatives using Diesel Multiple Units. 
The No Build Alternative will consist of improvements that are existing 
or committed (i.e., funded). The TSM Alternative will consist of bus 
improvements and other transportation system management approaches. The 
Rail Transit Alternative Diesel Multiple Units are self-propelled rail 
transit cars that do not require electrification of the right-of-way, 
but can operate on tracks in streets or adjacent to freight rail 
tracks. In addition, reasonable alternatives suggested during the 
scoping process will be considered.
    Scoping will be accomplished through correspondence with interested 
persons, organizations, and federal, state and local agencies, as well 
as through public meetings. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below for 
details.

DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives 
and impacts to be considered should be sent to HART by May 21, 1999. 
See ADDRESSES below. Three Public Scoping Meetings and one Agency 
Scoping Meeting will be held on the following dates and times: Agency 
Scoping--April 13, 1999 at 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.; Public Scoping 
Meetings--April 13, 19, and 20, 1999 at 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. See ADDRESSES 
below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Mr. Steve Carroll, 
Project Manager, Hillsborough Area Regional

[[Page 16521]]

Transit Authority, 201 East Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 1600, Tampa, 
Florida, 33602. Phone: (813) 223-6831. The scoping meetings will be 
held at the following locations:
    1. April 13, 1999--9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. County Center, 601 E. 
Kennedy Boulevard 26th Floor, Room A, Downtown Tampa, Florida (located 
between Kennedy Blvd. and Jackson St., and Morgan St. and Pierce St.)
    2. April 13, 1999--4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Marshall Center at the 
University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, USF Campus, Tampa, 
Florida (located on Fowler Ave. between 30th St. and 56th St.)
    3. April 19, 1999--4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. TECO Hall in TECO Plaza, 
702 N. Franklin Street, Downtown Tampa, Florida (located between Polk 
St. and Zack St., and Franklin St. and Tampa St.)
    4. April 20, 1999--4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Port Tampa Library, 4902 
Commerce Street, Port Tampa City, Florida (located just south of the 
apex at Interbay and Westshore Blvd. on Commerce St.)
    Directions to meeting sites and information about special 
accommodation (Spanish translation, signing for hearing impaired, 
wheelchair access, etc.) is available from Vasti Amaro at HART at 201 
East Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 1600, Tampa, Florida 33602, or (813) 254-
4278.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Elizabeth Martin, Community 
Planner, Federal Transit Administration Region 4. Phone (404) 562-3500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scoping

    FTA and HART invite interested individuals, organizations, and 
businesses and federal, state and local agencies to participate in 
defining the alternatives to be evaluated and identifying any 
significant social, economic, or environmental issues related to the 
alternatives. Comments on the appropriateness of the alternatives and 
impact issues are encouraged. Specific suggestions on additional 
alternatives to be examined and issues to be addressed are welcomed and 
will be considered in the development of the final study scope. 
Comments may be made orally at the meetings or in writing prior to May 
21, 1999.
    HART staff will be present at the scoping meetings to describe the 
corridor alternatives, answer any questions, and receive comments. 
Additional opportunities for public participation will be provided 
throughout the EIS preparation to review findings and results and to 
solicit comments. Interested persons will be notified of project 
progress through ongoing community information distributed to the 
project mailing list that will include all scoping participants.
    Additional background information on the need for the project, the 
EIS process, alternatives, and impact issues to be addressed by the EIS 
is contained in a document entitled ``Project Scoping.'' Copies of the 
document have been distributed to affected federal, state and local 
agencies, and interested parties currently on the project mailing list. 
Others may request the document from HART. See ADDRESSES above.

II. Description of Study Area and Project Need

    The study area is located in the City of Tampa and Hillsborough 
County. It extends approximately 28.5 miles between Downtown Tampa and 
the University of South Florida (USF) to the north, Hillsborough Area 
Community College to the west (Westshore), and Port Tampa to the south. 
Between USF and Port Tampa, approximately 18.5 miles of Diesel Multiple 
Unit rail transit facilities would generally follow the existing CSX 
Railroad tracks, which currently have active freight service. Between 
Downtown and Westshore/Hillsborough Community College, approximately 10 
miles of Diesel Multiple Unit rail transit facilities would generally 
follow the I-275 corridor. The area is currently served by HART bus 
service, and there is no existing rail rapid transit or commuter 
service in the study area.
    The study area includes and connects the three largest employment/
activity centers in the Tampa Bay area: USF, Westshore, and Downtown. 
Residential areas in between and adjacent to these destinations would 
also be served. Availability of right-of-way in the study area is 
constrained, and substantial increases in travel demand will exceed 
existing and planned capacity of the roadway system. The adopted cost 
affordable Long Range Transportation Plan for the region calls for a 
combination of modal improvements, including widening of existing 
roadways, improvements to the bus system, pedestrian and bicycle 
facilities enhancement, application of technology to manage demand and 
improve system efficiencies, and introduction of Diesel Multiple Unit 
rail transit service.
    In response to the study area needs, HART and the Hillsborough 
County MPO conducted a Major Investment Study in the study area. The 
results of the Major Investment Study, which was completed in April 
1998, concluded with the selection of a Locally Preferred Strategy 
including Diesel Multiple Unit rapid rail service between Downtown, 
USF, Hillsborough Community College/Westshore and Port Tampa, and 
substantial improvements to bus service. The transit improvements are 
intended to increase the capacity of the transportation network, 
improve accessibility and mobility, diversify transportation choices, 
and help achieve regional air quality goals by providing alternatives 
to the single-occupant vehicle and the opportunity to reduce vehicle 
miles traveled.

Alternatives

    The transportation alternatives proposed for consideration in this 
project area include:
    (1) No-Build Alternative, which involves no change to 
transportation services or facilities in the Corridor beyond already 
committed projects;
    (2) A Transportation System Management Alternative which focuses on 
operational and low to medium cost capital improvements to bus transit 
routes and services in the project area; and
    (3) Diesel Multiple Unit rail rapid transit alternatives ranging 
from approximately 18.5 to approximately 28.5 miles of rail generally 
located parallel to existing CSX railroad corridors from USF through 
Downtown Tampa to Port Tampa, and the I-275 Corridor through Westshore. 
Stations would be located to serve potential significant trip 
generators and in areas where economic development efforts are planned 
or underway. The locations of stations and resulting impacts will be an 
important area of consideration during the study.

Potential Impacts for Analysis

    The FTA and HART intend to evaluate significant social, 
environmental, and economic impacts of the alternatives analyzed in the 
EIS. Primary factors to be addressed include: land use, economic 
development, traffic and parking, coordination with ongoing 
transportation projects, grade crossing safety, noise and vibration, 
community impacts, environmental justice, historic/archaeological 
sites, water quality, air quality, contaminated materials and capital 
and operating costs. Impacts on other factors including aesthetics, 
parklands, ecosystems, threatened and endangered species, and energy 
will also be assessed. Other potential impact issues may be added as a 
result of scoping and agency coordination efforts. Mitigation measures 
will be identified for significant environmental impacts.

[[Page 16522]]

    The subjects and level of detail addressed in the EIS will be 
consistent with the requirements of the joint FTA/FHWA environmental 
regulations (23 CFR 771 and 40 CFR 1500-1508) and other related 
regulations. The proposed impact assessment and evaluation will take 
into account both positive and negative effects, direct and indirect 
impacts, short-term (construction) and long-term impacts, and 
cumulative effects.

FTA Procedures

    In accordance with federal transportation planning regulations and 
environmental procedures (40 CFR Part 1500-1508 and 23 CFR Part 771), 
the EIS will be prepared to consider reasonable alternatives, assess 
the potential impacts associated with reasonable alternatives, and 
provide the public with the opportunity to comment. The EIS will be 
prepared to address the components of the Locally Preferred Strategy 
identified in the 1998 Major Investment Study in the corridor between 
downtown Tampa and the University of South Florida, Hillsborough 
Community College, and Port Tampa. The Draft EIS will be circulated to 
solicit public and agency comments on the proposed action. Based on the 
comments received on the Draft EIS, HART will prepare the Final EIS. 
Opportunity for public comment will be provided throughout project 
development process.

    Issued On: March 30, 1999.
Susan E. Schruth,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-8197 Filed 4-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P