[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 70 (Friday, April 11, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17853-17855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8939]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Green Line Corridor 
Transit Project; Baltimore, MD

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

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

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Maryland 
Transit Administration (MTA) are issuing this notice to advise agencies 
and the public that, in accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act, the FTA and the MTA will prepare a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (DEIS) to assess the impacts of potential transit 
alternatives in the Green Line Corridor. This corridor extends from 
Johns Hopkins Medical Center north to Morgan State University. The 
Green Line Corridor Transit Project would serve older dense city 
neighborhoods in northeast Baltimore and would provide convenient and 
efficient access between Johns Hopkins Medical Center, the proposed 
East Baltimore Biotechnology Park, Morgan State University, and the 
Baltimore City Central Business District, as well as improved 
connectivity with other transit services in Baltimore and support 
economic development. The 23-member Advisory Committee to MTA that 
developed the Baltimore Region Rail System Plan identified growing 
traffic congestion in the Baltimore region, the need for improved 
access to jobs, improving air quality and the desire to keep the 
Baltimore region competitive as important concerns for the Baltimore 
Region. The Green Line Corridor Transit Project was identified as a 
priority project for addressing these issues. The project is also 
included in the Baltimore Region Constrained Long-Range Plan.
    The purpose of the Green Line DEIS is to examine the engineering 
feasibility, potential benefits, costs, and social, cultural, economic, 
built and natural environmental impacts of feasible alternatives in the 
corridor to improve transit mobility in the Baltimore metropolitan 
area. The DEIS will examine and evaluate rail, bus rapid transit (BRT), 
transportation systems management/transportation demand management 
(TSM/TDM), and no-build alternatives. Tunnel, surface and/or aerial 
alignment options will be considered for rail and BRT alternatives.
    Scoping Meetings: Public scoping meetings for the Green Line 
Corridor Transit Project DEIS will be held at times and locations to be 
held on:

June 12--Dunbar High School, 1400 Orleans Street--3:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
June 14--Good Samaritan Hospital, 5601 Loch Raven Boulevard--10 a.m.-2 
p.m.

    Additional meeting dates, times and locations will be announced on 
the project Web site accessed through http://www.mtamaryland.com, and 
will be published in the following newspapers:

The Baltimore Sun
The Afro-American
The Baltimore Times
The Morgan University Spokesman
The Johns Hopkins Gazette
The Northeast Booster

Scoping material will be available at the meetings and may also be 
obtained in advance of the meetings by contacting Mr. Lorenzo Bryant, 
Project Manager, at the address below. Scoping material will also be 
made available on the project Web site accessed through http://www.mtamaryland.com. Oral and written comments may be given at the 
scoping meetings; a stenographer will be available to record all 
comments. Information will be made available in both English and 
Spanish.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the project scope should be sent by 
August 1, 2003 to Mr. Lorenzo Bryant, Attn: Green Line, Maryland 
Transit Administration, William Donald Schaefer Tower, 6 St. Paul 
Street, Baltimore, MD 21202-1614, or via e-mail to 
[email protected]. Mr. Bryant may also be reached by calling 
(410) 767-3754.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you wish to be placed on the 
mailing list to receive further information as the study develops, 
contact Mr. Lorenzo Bryant, Project Manager, or Mr. Jamie Kendrick, 
Project Outreach Manager, at the above address or 
[email protected]. For further information you may also contact 
Ms. Gail McFadden-Roberts, AICP, Community Planner, Office of Planning 
and Program Development, Federal Transit Administration, Region III, 
phone: (215) 656-7100, fax: (215) 656-7260.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scoping

    The FTA and MTA invite all interested individuals and 
organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies to provide 
comments on the scope of the study. During the scoping process, 
comments should focus on identifying specific social, cultural, 
economic, or natural environmental issues to be evaluated and suggest 
alternatives, which may be less costly or have less environmental 
impacts, while achieving similar transportation objectives. The 
objectives of the Green Line Corridor Transit Project are to: connect 
northeastern Baltimore to Johns Hopkins Medical Center, downtown 
Baltimore, the major growth area of Owings Mills; serve Morgan State 
University; provide convenient service to existing neighborhoods; 
provide connections to

[[Page 17854]]

Baltimore's existing Metro, Light Rail and MARC lines; provide access 
to the proposed East Baltimore Biotechnology Park; support Smart Growth 
by serving established city neighborhoods; improve transportation 
accessibility to existing employment centers in downtown Baltimore; and 
provide a viable transit alternative to single occupancy vehicle (SOV) 
travel in the Baltimore region, which is a non-attainment area under 
the Clean Air Act. Comments should focus on the issues and alternatives 
for analysis and not on a preference for a particular alternative.
    Following public scoping meetings, public outreach activities will 
include meetings with Local Working Groups established for the study 
and comprised of community leaders; public meetings and hearings; 
distribution of a study newsletter; project website and electronic mail 
newsletters; and other outreach methods and forums. The purpose of the 
public outreach activities during the scoping process is to inform the 
public of the proposed study process and to solicit input from the 
community on the proposed study. Every effort will be made to ensure 
that the widest possible range of public participants have the 
opportunity to attend general public meetings held by MTA to solicit 
input on the Green Line Corridor Transit Project DEIS. Attendance will 
be sought through mailings, notices, advertisements, press releases and 
other outreach efforts.

II. Description of Primary Study Area and Transportation Needs

    The Green Line study area extends approximately 4 miles in a 
northeast direction within Baltimore City. The study area begins at the 
existing terminus of the Baltimore Metro line at Johns Hopkins Medical 
Center and extends north and east to Morgan State University campus. 
The southern portion of the study area consists primarily of dense 
residential and institutional land use, while the northern portion 
consists primarily of lower-density residential areas and institutional 
use.
    The Green Line Corridor Transit Project would provide a connection 
between communities in northeast Baltimore City and western Baltimore 
County and would provide convenient and efficient access to major 
employment centers in downtown and northeast Baltimore at Johns Hopkins 
Medical Center, the proposed East Baltimore Biotechnology Park and 
Morgan State University. It would support the redevelopment and 
revitalization efforts in east and northeast Baltimore. The purpose of 
the Green Line Corridor Project DEIS is to examine in further detail 
potential solutions for addressing mobility issues in the Baltimore 
region. The focus of the DEIS will be to identify a preferred 
alternative to improve mobility within the region while being sensitive 
to the socioeconomic, cultural and natural environmental considerations 
on a local and regional basis.
    The following existing and forecasted reasons dictate the need for 
a transportation investment in the Baltimore Metropolitan region:
    [sbull] Growth and development in the region continue at high 
rates. Smart Growth principles require that the region's economic 
centers such as Baltimore need to be stimulated, remain vibrant and 
continue to grow into the future; the Green Line extension would 
support regional economic centers by providing convenient access to 
these areas.
    [sbull] Increased travel demand is causing traffic congestion, 
unsafe roadway conditions and longer travel delays; the Green Line 
would provide transportation alternatives to those who currently drive, 
and would help free road space for those who are auto-dependent, making 
roadways safer and less prone to delays.
    [sbull] Many residents in the region lack convenient and accessible 
transit service to job opportunities; the Green Line will provide fast 
efficient transit service to these areas and provide residents with 
enhanced opportunities for employment and mobility through increased 
connectivity with existing transit services.
    [sbull] Air quality is a serious problem in the Baltimore region; 
the Green Line Corridor Transit Project can help the region meet 
federal health standards for clean air by reducing single occupancy 
vehicle use.

III. Alternatives

    The alternatives proposed for evaluation include: a no-build 
alternative, which includes the current network plus all ongoing, 
programmed, and committed projects listed in the Transportation 
Improvement Program (TIP for the years 2002-2006); a TSM/TDM 
alternative, which would include improving existing transit services 
such as additional bus service and routes; BRT alternatives; and rail 
alternatives. The no-build alternative will provide a basis for 
comparison with the TSM/TDM and build alternatives.
    Each build alternative will explore the construction of new 
transportation infrastructure, such as tracks, stations, and 
maintenance yards. Tunnel, surface and/or aerial options will be 
developed for each of the build alternative alignments. Multi-modal 
alternatives will also be explored.

IV. Probable Effects

    The FTA and MTA will evaluate all potential changes to the social, 
cultural, economic, built and natural environment, including land 
acquisition and displacements; land use, zoning, economic development; 
parklands; community disruption; aesthetics; historical and 
archaeological resources; traffic and parking; air quality; noise and 
vibration; water quality; wetlands; environmentally sensitive areas; 
endangered species; energy requirements and potential for conservation; 
hazardous waste; environmental justice; safety and security; and 
secondary and cumulative impacts. Key areas of environmental concern 
include areas of potential new construction (e.g. structures, new 
transit stations, new track, etc.). Impacts will be evaluated for both 
the short-term construction period and for the long-term period of 
operation associated with each alternative. Measures to avoid, minimize 
and mitigate any significant adverse impacts will be identified.

V. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Procedures

    The Green Line Corridor Transit Project DEIS will be prepared in 
accordance with section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) of 1969 (as amended) and as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 `` 1508) and 
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations (23 CFR part 771), and 
the FTA Statewide Planning/Metropolitan Planning regulations (23 CFR 
part 450). These studies will also comply with the requirements of the 
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, section 4(f) of 
the 1966 U.S. Department of Transportation Act, the 1990 Clean Air Act 
Amendments, the Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice, and 
other applicable rules, regulations, and guidance documents. In 
addition, MTA will seek section 5309 New Starts funding for the 
project, and will be subject to the FTA New Starts regulation (49 CFR 
part 611). New Starts regulation requires the submission of certain 
specific information to FTA to support a request to initiate 
preliminary engineering, which is normally done in conjunction with the 
NEPA process.
    Upon completion, the DEIS will be available for both public and 
agency review and comment. Public hearings will be held within the 
study area.

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Based on the DEIS and the public and agency comments received, a 
locally preferred alternative will be selected that will be further 
detailed in the Final EIS.

    Issued on: April 8, 2003.
Herman C. Shipman,
Acting Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration TRO III.
[FR Doc. 03-8939 Filed 4-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P