[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 123 (Wednesday, June 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43202-43204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16131]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Central 
Florida Light Rail Transit System Project in Orlando, Florida 
Metropolitan Area

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Supplemental Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (SDEIS).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as lead agency in 
cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the 
Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (CFRTA, locally known 
as LYNX), in conjunction with METROPLAN ORLANDO, and the Florida 
Department of Transportation (FDOT) intend to conduct scoping meetings 
and prepare a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) 
in accordance with the National

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Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the proposed Central Florida Light 
Rail Transit System Project in Orange and Seminole Counties, Florida. 
Scoping activities will solicit input into the range of alternatives 
and social, economic, or environmental impacts to be evaluated in the 
SDEIS.
    This Notice of Intent is being published at this time to notify 
interested parties and invite participation in the study due to the 
changes in the light rail transit alignment (including line, station 
locations and support facilities) that have occurred since the initial 
Notice of Intent (October 8, 1996), publication of the Central Florida 
Light Rail Transit System North/South Corridor Project DEIS (1997), and 
publication of the Central Florida Light Rail Transit System North/
South Corridor Project FEIS as supplemented (1999). The new alignment 
is located generally within or adjacent to the Interstate 4 right-of-
way and along the planned Kirkman Road extension (see Study Area 
below).
    The following alternatives will be evaluated in the SDEIS: (1) A 
baseline alternative consisting of measures to implement more efficient 
management of the current transit infrastructure, with an emphasis on 
operating improvements, in addition to those projects listed in the 
Long Range Cost Feasible Plan and/or the Transportation Improvement 
Plan, and (2) the locally preferred light rail transit alignment 
(including line, station locations and support facilities).
    Scoping will be accomplished through correspondence with interested 
persons, organizations, and Federal, State and local agencies, and 
through public meetings.

DATES: Scoping Meetings: A series of public meetings will be held to 
receive comments on the scoping document for the project, including the 
following dates, locations and times:
    July 9, 2002 4 p.m.-7 p.m., Altamonte Springs City Council 
Chambers, 225 Newburyport Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32701.
    July 10, 2002 4 p.m.-7 p.m., Rosen Centre Hotel, 9840 International 
Drive, Orlando, FL 32819.
    July 11, 2002 4 p.m.-7 p.m., Orlando City Council Chambers (2nd 
Floor), 400 S. Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32802.
    July 16, 2002 4 p.m.-7 p.m., Maitland City Council Chambers, 1776 
Independence Lane, Maitland, FL 32751.
    July 17, 2002 4 p.m.-7 p.m., Orange County Public Works Building, 
4200 South John Young Parkway, Orlando, FL 32839.
    All meeting locations are accessible to persons with disabilities. 
In accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, persons 
needing a special accommodation at this meeting because of a disability 
or physical impairment should contact Ron Jones at LYNX, (407) 841-
2279, at least 48 hours before the meeting. If hearing impaired, 
contact LYNX at (407) 423-0787(TDD).
    Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives and 
impacts to be considered should be sent to Tony Walter at LYNX, 445 
West Amelia Street, Suite 800, Orlando, Florida, 32801 by August 1, 
2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tony Walter, Project Manager for LYNX, 
(407) 841-2279, EXT. 3007. You may also contact Mr. Derek Scott, 
Community Planner, Federal Transit Administration, Region IV, 61 
Forsyth Street, SW, Suite 17T50, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. Telephone: 
(404) 562-3500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   

1. Notice of Intent

    This Notice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental DEIS is being 
published at this time to notice interested parties due to the changes 
that have occurred since the initial Notice of Intent (October 8, 
1996), publication of the Central Florida Light Rail Transit System 
North/South Corridor Project DEIS (1997), and publication of the 
Central Florida Light Rail Transit System North/South Corridor Project 
FEIS as supplemented (1999). The Central Florida Light Rail Transit 
System Project is re-examining light rail transit alignment 
alternatives within the study area (see Study Area below). FTA 
regulations and guidance will be used for the analysis and preparation 
of the Central Florida Light Rail Transit System Project SDEIS.

I. Scoping

    The FTA, LYNX, METROPLAN ORLANDO, and FDOT invite written comments 
for a period of 45 days after publication of this notice (see DATES 
above). During scoping, comments should focus on identifying specific 
social, economic, or environmental impacts to be evaluated. Comments 
should focus on the scope of alternatives and impacts to be considered, 
and not on a preference for a particular alternative. Individual 
preference for a particular alternative should be communicated during 
the comment period for the Supplemental DEIS, subsequent to the 
completion of the scoping document.
    Persons who wish to receive information prior to a scoping meeting, 
or to be placed on the mailing list to receive further information as 
the project continues may contact Tony Walter at LYNX, 445 West Amelia 
Street, Suite 800, Orlando, Florida, 32801.

II. Study Area and Transportation Need

    The proposed project consists of an approximately 20 mile total 
light rail transit system, linking the Central Parkway in Altamonte 
Springs to the north, through Downtown Orlando and central Orange 
County, to the proposed Canadian Court Intermodal Center in the south. 
The locally preferred light rail transit alignment, as adopted by the 
METROPLAN ORLANDO Board in May 2002, extends from Central Parkway in 
Altamonte Springs and crosses over I-4 from Altamonte Springs to 
Maitland. South of Maitland Center, it crosses over to the east side of 
I-4 at Fairbanks Avenue, south along Dade Avenue at-grade, on King 
Street and easterly on Sanitarium Road, south over CSX and Princeton 
Street. The alignment is at-grade along a reconstructed Alden Road to 
Orange Avenue to the Regional Intermodal Center (RIC) on Amelia Street.
    The alignment from the RIC through Downtown Orlando is still under 
study. Option 1 extends to the west of Downtown Orlando and Option 2 
extends south along Garland Avenue. Once the alignment leaves Downtown 
Orlando, it extends west in the median of I-4 and extends directly to 
Universal Studios, or extends directly south on Kirkman Road, over Sand 
Lake Road along the planned Kirkman Road extension, west to the 
proposed Canadian Court Intermodal Center.
    Possible additional extensions along International Drive, to Sea 
World, and to Orlando International Airport will be considered.
    Transportation improvements within the North/South corridor are 
needed to accommodate excess travel demand resulting from current and 
projected growth in population and employment. This light rail transit 
alignment provides the opportunity to connect the following proposed 
intermodal stations: the Altamonte Springs Intermodal Center, the 
Maitland Intermodal Center, the Regional Intermodal Center (RIC) in 
Downtown Orlando, the Belz Intermodal Center, and the Canadian Court 
Intermodal Center, at a minimum.

III. Alternatives

    The alternatives proposed for evaluation include:

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    (1) A baseline alternative consisting of measures to implement more 
efficient management of the current transit infrastructure, with an 
emphasis on operating improvements, in addition to those projects 
listed in the Long Range Cost Feasible Plan and/or the Transportation 
Improvement Plan, and
    (2) The locally preferred light rail transit alignment (including 
line, station locations and support facilities).

IV. Probable Effects

    FTA, LYNX, METROPLAN ORLANDO and FDOT will evaluate the project's 
potential for significant adverse impacts during both construction and 
operation, and to identify feasible mitigation measures for those 
impacts. The specific analyses to be included are land use, 
neighborhood character, and social conditions, economic conditions and 
displacement, visual and aesthetic considerations, historic resources, 
archaeological resources, transit (ridership, operations and 
maintenance), traffic, parking, air quality, noise and vibration, 
energy, hazardous materials, water quality, natural resources 
(vegetation and wildlife), construction and construction impacts, 
cumulative impacts, and environmental justice (disproportionate adverse 
impacts on minority and low-income populations). Additional potential 
effects will be solicited during scoping activities and considered for 
inclusion in the SDEIS.

    Issued on: June 20, 2002.
Jerry Franklin,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-16131 Filed 6-25-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P