[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 184 (Thursday, September 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57238-57239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24322]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Alternatives Analysis/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (AA/
DEIS) for Transit Bridge Study in Broward County, Florida.

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) (the Federal lead 
agency) and the Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization 
(BCMPO) (the local lead agency) intend to prepare an Alternatives 
Analysis/ Draft Environmental Impact Statement (AA/DEIS) for the 
Transit Bridge Study in Broward County, Florida. The AA/DEIS 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 AA/DEIS will address the social, economic 
and environmental effects of a limited number of transportation 
improvements identified in the ``Scoping Process'' which will be 
undertaken as part of this study. The work being performed also satisfy 
the FTA's alternatives analysis requirements and guidelines. BCMPO will 
perform this effort in coordination with the following agencies: the 
Broward County Department of Planning and Environmental Protection, the 
Broward County Mass Transit Division, the Florida Department of 
Transportation, the City of Hollywood, the Miami-Dade Transit Agency, 
and the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Miami Urbanized 
Area.
    The AA/DEIS will evaluate transportation improvements in a series 
of alternate corridors between Pro-Player Stadium in northern Miami-
Dade County and the Hollywood Tri-Rail Station (Hollywood Boulevard at 
I-95). The EIS will also evaluate a No-Build Alternative and 
Transportation Systems Management alternative. 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 Broward County MPO by 
October 27, 2000. See ADDRESSES below. One Public Scoping Meeting and 
one Agency Scoping Meeting will be held on the following dates and 
times: Agency Scoping Meeting--September 21, 2000 from 10:00 to noon; 
Public Scoping Meeting--September 26, 2000 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. See 
ADDRESSES below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Mr. Mario Aispuro, 
Associate Planner, Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization, 
115 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33301. Phone (954) 
357-6645.
    The Scoping meetings will be held at the following locations:
1. September 21, 2000 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. South Florida Regional 
Planning Council, 3440 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Florida 33021.

2. September 26, 2000 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., South Regional/Broward 
Community College Library, 7300 Pines Boulevard, Pembroke Pines, 
Florida 33024.

Directions to meeting sites and information about special accommodation 
(Spanish translation, signing for hearing impaired, wheelchair access, 
etc.) are available. Contact Ms. Sheryl Dickey at Dickey Consulting 
Services , P.O. Box 892, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33302. Phone (954) 
467-6822.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scoping

    FTA and Broward County MPO invite interested individuals, 
organizations, 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 
welcome 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 October 27, 2000.
    Broward County MPO representatives 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 AA/DEIS 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 
AA/DEIS process, alternatives, and impact issues to be addressed by the 
AA/DEIS is contained in a document entitled ``Project Scoping.'' Copies 
of the document will be distributed to affected federal, state and 
local agencies. The document will also be available at the Scoping 
Meetings. Others may request the document from Ms. Sheryl Dickey. See 
ADDRESSES above.

II. Description of Study Area and Project Need

    The study area includes a portion of Broward County and northern 
Miami-Dade County. It extends approximately 8.5 miles between NW 27th 
Avenue in the vicinity of Calder Race Track/Pro Player Stadium (the 
northern terminus of the Miami-Dade North Transit Corridor) and the 
Hollywood Tri-Rail station at Hollywood Boulevard and I-95. The area is 
currently served by Broward County Transit and Miami-Dade Transit bus 
service. There is no existing rail rapid transit or commuter service in 
the study area.
    The study area includes an area of increasing residential and 
employment density. Availability of right-of-way in the study area is 
constrained. Travel demand is expected to increase between Broward and 
Miami-Dade Counties in the future. The capacity of the roadway system, 
particularly on US 441/SR 7, is already exceeded.
    In response to the study area needs, Broward County MPO and the 
Department of Planning and Environmental Protection conducted the 
University Drive Transit Corridor Study. The results of the University 
Drive Transit Corridor Study completed in May 1996 and a number of 
subsequent initiatives at the MPO level during 1997 and 1998 concluded 
with the identification of the Transit Bridge corridor end points 
(Calder Race Track/Pro Player Stadium along NW 27th Avenue on the south 
and the Hollywood Tri-Rail Station at I-95/Hollywood Boulevard on the 
north). A suggested alignment includes the use of the Florida Turnpike 
right-of-way. The transit improvements are intended to increase the 
capacity of the

[[Page 57239]]

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 by reducing 
vehicle miles traveled.

III. Alternatives

    The transportation alternatives proposed for consideration in this 
project 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;
    3. Fixed Guideway Alternatives, which include dedicated busway and 
rail alternatives employing a combination of existing highways, 
streets, and rail rights-of-way. A range of specific alignments will be 
considered.

IV. Potential Impacts for Analysis

    The FTA and Broward County MPO intend to evaluate significant 
social, environmental, and economic impacts of the alternatives 
analyzed in the AA/DEIS. 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.
    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.

V. FTA Procedures

    In accordance with the federal transportation planning regulations 
(23 CFR Part 450) and the federal environmental impact regulations and 
related procedures (23 CFR 771), the AA/DEIS will evaluate reasonable 
alternatives, assess the potential impacts associated with reasonable 
alternatives, and provide the public with the opportunity to comment. 
The AA/DEIS will be prepared in a manner that is consistent with the 
1996 University Drive Corridor Study, which considered a fixed-transit 
connection between Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. The AA/DEIS will be 
circulated to solicit public and agency comments on the proposed 
action. Based on the comments received on the Draft AA/DEIS, Broward 
County MPO will prepare the Final DEIS. Opportunity for public comment 
will be provided throughout the corridor planning process.

    Issued on September 18, 2000.
Jerry Franklin,
Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-24322 Filed 9-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P