[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39182-39185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16555]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement on Transportation Improvements 
Within the North Corridor in Metropolitan Columbus, Ohio

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Central Ohio 
Transit Authority (COTA) are issuing this notice to advise interested 
agencies and the public that, in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) is being prepared for the proposed 
transportation improvements in the North Corridor and adjacent areas in 
the City of Columbus and Franklin, and Delaware Counties, within the 
metropolitan area of Columbus, Ohio.
    The EIS will evaluate the following alternatives: a no-build 
alternative; a transportation system management (TSM) alternative; 
build alternatives consisting of light rail transit in one of several 
alignment options combined

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with increased bus service in the North Corridor, and any additional 
reasonable alternatives that emerge from the scoping process. Scoping 
will be accomplished through meetings and correspondence with 
interested persons, organizations, the general public, and federal, 
state and local agencies.
    The EIS will address the need to improve mobility and reverse-
commute access in the corridor, reduce adverse environmental impacts in 
the region, provide long-term, cost-effective transportation 
infrastructure and services, and enhance regional economic development.

DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the alternatives and 
impacts to be considered should be sent to Mr. Michael L. Bradley, 
Director of Rail Development, Central Ohio Transit Authority, 1650 Lake 
Shore Drive, Suite 300, Columbus, Ohio 43204 by August 15, 2003.
    Scoping Meetings: Three public scoping meetings and one interagency 
scoping meeting will be held. The public scoping meetings will be held 
on July 22 and 23, 2003. The interagency scoping meeting will be held 
on July 24, 2003. See ADDRESSES below for the specific time and place 
of each meeting.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the analysis and the 
impacts to be considered should be sent by August 15, 2003 to: Mr. 
Michael L. Bradley, Director of Rail Development, Central Ohio Transit 
Authority, 1650 Lake Shore Drive, Suite 300, Columbus, OH 43204.
    Public Scoping meetings will be held at the following locations:

Tuesday, July 22, 2003 at Rhodes Office Tower, Lobby Hearing Room, 30 
East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio from 8 to 10 a.m. COTA will give a 
presentation on the proposed action at 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, July 22, 2003 at St. Stephen's Community House, 1500 17th 
Avenue, Columbus, Ohio from 6 to 8 p.m. COTA will give a presentation 
on the proposed action at 6:30 p.m.
    Wednesday, July 23, 2003 at North Broadway United Methodist Church, 
48 East North Broadway, Columbus, Ohio from 6 to 8 pm. COTA will give a 
presentation on the proposed action at 6:30 pm.

    The appropriate federal, state, and local agency offices will be 
notified individually about the time and location of the interagency 
scoping meeting.
    The locations of the scoping meetings are accessible to persons 
with disabilities. Any individual with a disability who requires 
special assistance to participate in the scoping meetings should 
contact Mr. Michael L. Bradley, Director of Rail Development, Central 
Ohio Transit Authority, 1650 Lake Shore Drive, Suite 300, Columbus, 
Ohio 43204 or should call the project information line at (866) 
``RAILCOTA or COTA TDD at (614) 228-1832 available weekdays 8:30 a.m.--
5:30 p.m.), or should send an e-mail to [email protected] by July 
14, 2003 in order for COTA to make necessary arrangements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Vanessa Adams, Senior Community 
Planner, Federal Transit Administration, 200 West Adams Street, Suite 
320, Chicago, Illinois 60606-5232; phone: (312) 353-2789.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), 
the federal lead agency, in cooperation with the Central Ohio Transit 
Authority (COTA), the local lead agency, is preparing an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed transportation improvements in the 
North Corridor and adjacent areas. The lead agencies will also seek the 
cooperation of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Mid-
Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), the metropolitan planning 
organization (MPO) responsible for transportation planning in 
metropolitan Columbus.
    The transportation improvements have been defined through a Major 
Investment Study (MIS) conducted in 1995 and updated in 2001, which 
included extensive public outreach and interagency involvement. The MIS 
is available for public review at the COTA office by contacting Mr. 
Michael Bradley as described under ADDRESSES above. In accordance with 
the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the scoping process will be used to 
determine the alternatives to be considered in detail in the EIS and 
the impacts of those alternatives to be evaluated. The results of the 
MIS will not be re-visited unless significant costs or impacts not 
fully evaluated in the MIS are identified during scoping. FTA and COTA 
also expect the scoping process to identify alternative design concepts 
for evaluation. Alternative alignments and designs that meet the 
project purpose and need as reflected in the regional transportation 
plan will be addressed in the EIS.

I. Scoping

    FTA and COTA invite interested individuals, organizations, and 
federal, state, and local agencies to participate in defining the 
alternatives to be evaluated and identifying any significant social, 
economic and environmental issues related to the alternatives. Comments 
on the appropriateness of the alternatives and impact-related issues 
are encouraged. Specific suggestions on additional alternatives to be 
examined and issues to be addressed are welcomed and will be considered 
in establishing the final study scope. Comments may be made orally at 
the meetings or in writing no later than August 15, 2003.
    COTA staff will be present at the scoping meetings to describe 
corridor alternatives, answer questions, and receive comments. 
Additional opportunities for public participation will be provided 
throughout the EIS preparation to review findings and results and to 
solicit comments. Interested persons will be notified of project 
progress through a continuing community information program and 
materials distributed to the project mailing list that will include all 
scoping participants.

II. Description of Study Area and Project Need

    The study area for the North Corridor Light Rail Transit project 
(NCLRT) is located within the metropolitan area of Columbus, Ohio in 
the City of Columbus and Franklin and Delaware Counties. The transit 
alternative extends approximately 13 miles between the Franklin/
Delaware County line in the Polaris area and downtown Columbus and 
centered on a path generally parallel to Interstate-71. The northern 
terminus of the transit study area is the intersection of Flint Road 
and Lazelle Road at the Franklin and Delaware county line and the 
southern terminus is the intersection of High Street and Fulton Street 
in downtown Columbus. The study area is generally bounded on the west 
by the Olentangy River and State Route 315 and on the east by State 
Route 3 (Cleveland Avenue/Westerville Road). Because one of the transit 
alternatives includes the shared use of the CSX Transportation (CSXT) 
and Norfolk Southern (NS) railroad right-of-way, the study will also 
evaluate impacts on the regional freight railroad network in Central 
Ohio.
    Most of the corridor is within the urban setting of the City of 
Columbus, but it also includes the suburban communities of Minerva 
Park, Riverlea and portions of the cities of Worthington and 
Westerville. Several major activity centers are located within the 
corridor and at the northern and southern termini, including cultural 
sites, entertainment districts, hospitals,

[[Page 39184]]

sport stadiums, universities, fairgrounds, a convention center and a 
regional mall. The remainder of the corridor is primarily residential. 
Polaris, Crosswoods, Worthington, Easton, and the Short North are mixed 
use areas with an emphasis on retail and restaurants. The Ohio State 
House, the Arena District, Theater District, City Center, Science 
Center and redeveloping Brewery District are major traffic generators 
in the downtown area. The corridor has two large hospitals, Grant 
Hospital and the Ohio State University Hospital, serving more than 
50,000 patients each year. Three colleges and universities (Ohio State 
University, Columbus State Community College, and Franklin University) 
are within the corridor. Four major sports stadiums are also in the 
corridor, including Ohio Stadium (where Ohio State University plays 
football), Schottenstein Center for basketball, Columbus Crew Soccer 
Stadium and Nationwide Arena. Other attractions include the Ohio State 
Fairgrounds, the Columbus Convention Center, and the Veterans Memorial 
Hall.
    Approximately 233,000 people live in the study area and the 
population is expected to increase to more than 248,000 by year 2025. 
The North Corridor has approximately 235,000 jobs, which is one-third 
of the region's total employment. The number of jobs is expected to 
increase in the study area to 278,000 by 2025. Due to the population 
and employment within the North Corridor, COTA's busiest bus route is 
within the study area, serving approximately 13,000 riders per day in 
the Ohio State University area. The North Corridor is considered the 
most congested area in the Columbus metropolitan area.
    COTA and MORPC have been working together to address the 
transportation problems and needs in the Columbus metropolitan area. In 
1993, COTA and MORPC completed an update of the long range plan for 
public transportation in the region, which recommended a series of 
transit system improvements, including the development of eight fixed 
guideway transit lines using existing freight rail corridors. As a 
result of the Long Range System Plan Analysis, the 13-mile North 
Corridor, extending between the Polaris area and Downtown Columbus 
generally along Interstate-71, was identified as the priority corridor 
for fixed guideway transit improvements.
    COTA and MORPC conducted a Major Investment Study (MIS) for the 
North Corridor between 1993 and 1995, with the recommendation to expand 
bus service as the locally preferred alternative. Following the 
completion of Vision 2020, a long-range transit plan for central Ohio, 
in 2001 COTA and MORPC updated the 1995 North Corridor MIS. The MIS 
update concluded with the selection of a locally preferred alternative 
comprised of light rail transit and substantial improvements to bus 
service in the corridor between the Polaris area and Downtown Columbus.

III. Alternatives

    The scoping meetings, other community meetings and written comments 
will be a major source of alternatives for consideration in the EIS. 
Transportation alternatives proposed for consideration in the North 
Corridor include:
    1.A No-Action Alternative, which is the continuation of existing 
bus service policies in the study area. Under the No-Action 
Alternative, increases in service to the year 2025 would track with 
increases in demand due to population or employment growth in the area, 
in accordance with current service policies.
    2. A Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternative, which 
focuses on operational and low to medium cost capital improvements to 
bus transit routes and service in the project area, and attempts to 
serve the project purpose and need as much as possible without the 
construction of a new fixed guideway.
    3. Build Alternatives comprised of Light Rail Transit (LRT) 
combined with enhanced bus service. The LRT route extends about 13 
miles from the Polaris area to the Columbus Central Business District. 
From Polaris to about 17th Street, the light rail line is proposed to 
be located in railroad right-of-way (ROW) parallel to the CSXT Columbus 
line and NS Sandusky-Columbus rail lines. Street running operations are 
proposed for the light rail line from the vicinity of 17th Street to 
Fulton Street in the Downtown. The proposed street running alignments 
south of 17th Street would be along Summit and/or Fourth Streets with a 
transition to High Street at Interstate 670. An alternative alignment 
with street running operations along High Street between approximately 
17th Street and Interstate 670 that would more directly serve the Ohio 
State University campus may also be considered.
    Two options are under consideration for the portion of the project 
that is located in the rail ROW between Polaris and about 17th Street: 
Under one of the options for the railroad right-of-way, COTA may 
construct a new freight railroad intermodal facility in Delaware or 
Union County in the central Ohio area.
    Fourteen potential transit stations would be located to serve 
potential trip generators and in areas where economic development 
activities are planned or underway. The locations of stations and 
resulting impacts will be an important area of consideration during the 
study.
    Based on public and agency input received during scoping, 
variations of the above alternatives and other transportation-related 
improvement options, both transit and non-transit, may be considered 
for the North Corridor.

IV. Probable Effects/Potential Impacts for Analysis

    The FTA and COTA will evaluate all social, economic and 
environmental impacts of the alternatives analyzed in the EIS. Impacts 
may include: Land use, zoning, and economic development; secondary 
development; cumulative land use impacts; land acquisition, 
displacements, and relocation of existing uses; historic and 
archaeological resources; parklands and recreation areas; neighborhoods 
and communities; environmental justice; air quality; noise and 
vibration; hazardous materials; ecosystems; water resources; 
construction impacts; safety and security; utilities; finance; and 
transportation. Other potential impact issues may be added as a result 
of scoping and interagency coordination efforts. 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 operational impacts, and cumulative 
effects. Measures to avoid or mitigate any significant adverse impacts 
will be developed.

V. FTA Procedures

    In accordance with FTA policy, all federal laws, regulations and 
executive orders affecting project development, including but not 
limited to the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality and 
FTA implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508 and 23 CFR part 771), the 
Clean Air Act, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, Executive Orders 
11988, 11990 and 12898 regarding floodplains, wetlands, and 
environmental justice, respectively, the National Historic Preservation 
Act, the Endangered Species Act, and section 4(f) of the Department of 
Transportation Act, will be addressed to the maximum extent practicable 
during the NEPA process.
    The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will be circulated 
to

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solicit public and agency comments on the proposed action. Public 
hearings will be held on the DEIS. Based on the comments received on 
the DEIS, COTA will take appropriate project actions and prepare the 
Final EIS, which will identify the preferred alternative. Opportunity 
for additional public comment will be provided throughout all phases of 
project development.

    Issued on: June 23, 2003.
Joel P. Ettinger,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-16555 Filed 6-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P