[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 214 (Friday, November 3, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66297-66299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28301]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement on Transportation Improvements 
Within the Southeast Corridor in Dallas, TX

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 Dallas Area Rapid 
Transit (DART) have issued this notice to advise interested agencies 
and the public of their intent to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) on the proposed Southeast Corridor Light Rail Transit 
(LRT) Project, in Dallas, Texas. The EIS will be prepared in accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended. 
The Dallas-Fort Worth region is currently designated as a serious non-
attainment area for ozone by the Environmental Protection Agency.
    The Southeast Corridor Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project is the 
product of the Southeast Corridor Major Investment Study (MIS), 
completed by DART in early 2000. The MIS identified a Locally Preferred 
Investment Strategy (LPIS), which included the light rail being 
advanced into the EIS phase of project development at this time. A 
separate EIS is also being prepared for a DART LRT extension in the 
Northwest Corridor of the Dallas metropolitan area.

DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of the 
alternatives and impacts to be considered should be sent to John 
Hoppie, Project Manager by December 20, 2000. See ADDRESSESS below.
    Scoping Meetings: Three public scoping meetings will be held at the 
following locations and dates. Scoping material will be available at 
the meeting or in advance of the meeting. DART will conduct public 
scoping meetings on the following dates and at the following locations:
Tuesday, November 28, 2000, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Baylor--Tom 
Landry Center, 411 N. Washington Ave., Dallas, Texas
Wednesday, November 29, 2000, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Martin Luther 
King Jr. Senior Center, 2922 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dallas, 
Texas
Thursday November 30, 2000, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Pleasant Mound 
UMC, 8301 Bruton Rd., Dallas, Texas

    Interagency Coordination Meeting: DART will conduct an interagency 
coordination meeting with appropriate federal, state, and local 
agencies on the following date and at the following location:

Wednesday, December 6, 2000, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., DART Board Conference 
Room 1-C, 1401 Pacific Avenue, Dallas, Texas


ADDRESSES: Written comments on the project scope should be sent to John

[[Page 66298]]

Hoppie, Project Manager, DART Planning, P.O. Box 660163, 1401 Pacific 
Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75266. Telephone (214) 749-2525, Fax (214) 749-
3670, 
E-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jesse Balleza, Community Planner, 
Federal Transit Administration, Region VI; Telephone (817) 978-0550.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scoping

    The FTA and DART invite interested individuals, organizations, and 
federal, state, and local agencies to participate in refining the 
Southeast Corridor LRT Line including alignment and station locations. 
Comments should focus on identifying any significant social, economic, 
or environmental issues related to the alignment. Specific suggestions 
related to additional alternatives to be examined and issues to be 
addressed are welcome and will be considered in the final scope for the 
project. Scoping comments may be made at the scoping meetings or in 
writing no later than December 20, 2000. (see DATES and ADDRESSES 
above.)
    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. Additional information on the EIS process, 
alternatives, and impact issues to be addressed will be included in the 
``Scoping Information Document''. Copies of the document will be 
available from DART immediately prior to the scoping meetings (see 
DATES and ADDRESSES above.)

II. Description of Study Area and Project Need

    The Southeast Corridor Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project includes 
10.2 miles of LRT running on new double tracks in existing railroad 
corridors with some street running along Good Latimer and Parry Avenue. 
There are 9 LRT stations, including 6 with Park & Ride Lots (totaling 
just under 2000 parking spaces), and 2 with transfer facilities to 
other modes.
    The Southeast Corridor Major Investment Study defined and evaluated 
a range of project alternatives using a two-phased evaluation process. 
In addition to the No Build Alternative, a Transportation Systems 
Management (TSM) Alternative, and several variations of Light Rail 
Transit (LRT) Alternatives were considered. Based on work group and 
public input, and based on the technical analysis, the above-described 
Build Alternative was selected. While some alignment refinements will 
continue for the Build Alternative, the other alternatives considered 
were dropped from further consideration. The EIS will consider the No 
Build Alternative in addition to Southeast LRT Line as the Build 
Alternative (see ALTERNATIVES below).
    DART's Southeast Corridor contains a dynamic mix of land uses 
including a burgeoning, eclectic entertainment district; one of the 
region's most prestigious hospital facilities; a multi-faceted, 277 
acre, cultural, historical, museum, and entertainment complex; and 
large areas of single-family and multi-family housing.
    The existing corridor and station area development character in the 
Southeast Corridor has three distinct subareas:
    (1) The Baylor HCS/Deep Ellum/Bryan Place is a redeveloping/ 
revitalizing area of a previously urban core environment of warehouses 
and commercial uses into multi-family lofts, artists' studios, retail, 
and service businesses. The area is anchored by Baylor HCS. This area 
includes pedestrian oriented development. The Deep Ellum area has been 
designated a historic district. Hundreds of new housing units have been 
created through new construction or conversion of older buildings. This 
area is within the City of Dallas Intown Housing Program boundary, 
which is a local initiative aimed at increasing the vitality of the 
Central Business District by providing mixed income housing through 
joint ventures with private developers. (2) The South Dallas/Fair Park 
area is characterized by commercial/light industrial and loft 
apartments immediately west of Fair Park; a strip of commercial 
businesses along R.B. Cullum; and single-family residential with some 
apartments and duplexes to the south and west of Fair Park. Fair Park 
is a 277-acre city park, which is listed on the National Register of 
Historic Places. This area is one of the most transit dependent areas 
of the city. In the South Dallas/Fair Park area, several community-
based organizations have on-going in-fill housing programs. (3) The 
Pleasant Grove/Buckner Terrace area is primarily composed of 
residential, industrial, and retail/commercial uses. The commercial 
activities are concentrated along Buckner Boulevard/Loop 12. This area 
contains a large amount of vacant land, which is dedicated parkland 
and/or located in the floodplain. Additionally, development of single-
family residential housing in the Pleasant Grove and Buckner Terrace 
areas is filling the last remaining land for housing developments.
    DART's 10.2-mile Southeast Corridor LRT extension, like its 
original 20-mile starter System, is contained entirely within the 
Dallas city limits. The University of North Texas Center for Economic 
Development and Research assessed the impacts of the DART LRT Starter 
System and estimated over $850 million has been invested in and around 
DART's new LRT stations. Development currently completed or planned at 
DART stations varies from a new hotel and mixed-use development 
downtown, to new residential and municipal facilities in a 
redevelopment area around the Cedars Station south of downtown Dallas.
    Along with the previously mentioned transit supportive land use 
considerations, some of the other influencing conditions within the 
Southeast Corridor include:
    Environmental Justice and Equity Issues--Within the 47 census 
tracts covering the Southeast Corridor study area, the majority of 
tracts have a higher percentage of minority and/or low-income 
population than the average for the county. Through the extensive 
public involvement and outreach efforts for the project, equity issues 
related to the South Dallas neighborhood and the Fair Park area have 
been identified. It is perceived by the neighborhoods that the needs of 
the community have been overshadowed or set aside for the economic 
benefit of Fair Park. Fair Park has expanded several times since its 
establishment; many times residences were purchased by the city to 
accommodate the expansion. Additionally, special events at the park's 
numerous venues can create traffic problems and congestion in the 
neighborhoods. In the Pleasant Grove area, equity issues related to 
transit service have been identified. Many residents perceive the 
Southeast Corridor as the last to receive LRT service it has been 
promised. However, DART services and the concept of LRT in the corridor 
are widely supported. The LRT project is seen as providing better 
transit service and a catalyst for economic development.
    Station Area Economic Development Potential--Economic development 
potential of the terminus station was identified by the DART Board of 
Directors as one of the primary criteria to be used to compare two 
vastly different alternative alignments for the final two-mile segment 
of the LRT line. This further emphasizes the growing

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importance that DART is placing on economic development.
    Historical Transit Service--The LRT alignment and station along 
Parry Avenue will be at near the ceremonial entrance to Fair Park. This 
alignment and station will reestablish similar service to the park that 
was provided by the Dallas Interurban Trolley system until the 1950's.

III. Alternatives

    The transportation alternatives proposed for consideration in this 
project area include:
    No-Build Alternative--The No-Build Alternative involves no change 
to transportation services or facilities in the corridor beyond already 
committed projects.
    Build Alternative--The Southeast Corridor Project (including line, 
station locations and support facilities), consists of 10.2 miles of 
LRT running on new double tracks in existing railroad corridors with 
some street running in along Good Latimer and Parry Avenue. There are 9 
potential LRT stations, including 6 with Park & Ride Lots (totaling 
just under 2000 parking spaces), and 2 with transfer facilities to 
other modes.

IV. Probable Effects

    The FTA and DART will evaluate all significant environmental, 
social, and economic impacts of the alternatives analyzed in the EIS. 
Impact areas to be addressed include: land use, zoning, and economic 
development; secondary development; land acquisition, displacements, 
and relocation of existing uses; historic, archaeological, and cultural 
resources; parklands and recreation areas; visual and aesthetic 
qualities; neighborhoods and communities; environmental justice; air 
quality; noise and vibration; hazardous materials; ecosystems; water 
resources; energy; safety and security; utilities; traffic and 
transportation impacts. Potential impacts will be assessed for the 
long-term operation of each alternative and the short-term construction 
period. Measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any significant 
adverse impacts will be identified.

V. FTA Procedures

    The EIS process will be performed in accordance with applicable 
laws and Federal Transit Administration regulations and guidelines for 
preparing an Environmental Impact Statement. The impacts of the project 
will be assessed, and, if necessary, the scope of the project will be 
revised or refined to minimize and mitigate any adverse impacts. After 
its publication, the draft EIS will be available for public review and 
comment. One or more public hearings will be held during the draft EIS 
public comment period. On the basis of the draft EIS and comments 
received, the project will be revised or further refined as necessary 
and the final EIS prepared.

    Issued on: October 30, 2000.
Robert C. Patrick,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-28301 Filed 11-2-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P