[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 59 (Wednesday, March 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14763-14764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7278]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Orange, Polk, and Hillsborough 
Counties in Florida

AGENCIES: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA), DOT.

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

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SUMMARY: The FRA and FHWA are issuing this notice to advise the public 
that the agencies will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) 
for a proposed Florida High Speed Rail project between Orlando and 
Tampa, Florida.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: David Valenstein, Environmental Program 
Manager, Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Avenue (Mail 
Stop 20), Washington DC 20590, (202) 493-6368 and/or George Hadley, 
Environmental Programs Coordinator,

[[Page 14764]]

Federal Highway Administration, 227 North Bronough Street, Tallahassee, 
Florida 32301, (850) 942-9650 extension 3011.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FRA and FHWA in cooperation with the 
Florida High Speed Rail Authority, will prepare an EIS for a proposal 
being considered by the Authority to construct a high speed rail 
project between Orlando, and Tampa, Florida. The project would be 
approximately 90 miles long. The proposed project may include 
acquisition of right of way and construction of guide way structures 
and track, stations, park and ride lots, storage and maintenance 
facilities, and other ancillary facilities. The facilities would be 
build to allow trains to operate at speeds in excess of 120 miles per 
hour. The proposed high speed rail system would provide a new mode of 
intercity travel to link major metropolitan areas and interface with 
airports, mass transit and highways to provide added capacity to meet 
increases in intercity travel demand in a manner sensitive to, and 
protective of Florida's unique natural resources.
    Alternatives under consideration include: (1) The ``no build 
alternative''; (2) build alternatives in a variety of corridors between 
Orlando and Tampa; and, (3) a variety of high speed rail technology. 
The corridor alternatives traverse areas where various social, 
economical, and environmental resources and issues are believed to 
exist. The social, economical and environmental resources and issues 
may include but are not limited to: community and neighborhood, noise, 
wetlands, cultural resources, water quality, safety, residential and 
business relocations, wildlife and habitat, land use planning, 
parklands, economic, and floodplains.
    Notice 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 an interest in this 
proposal. The Federal agencies and The Authority will hold interagency 
and public meetings and public hearings in several locations in the 
project area. Information on the time and place of the public meetings 
and hearings will be provided in the appropriate local news media. 
There are plans to hold a scoping meeting on April 30, 2002 in the 
Orlando/Tampa, Florida area.
    Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties to 
insure the full range of issues related to the proposed action and 
alternatives are addressed and all significant issues are identified. 
Comments and questions concerning the proposed action should be 
directed to the addresses provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)

    Issued on: March 19, 2002.
James E. St. John,
FHWA Division Administrator, Tallahassee, Florida.
[FR Doc. 02-7278 Filed 3-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M