[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6716-6718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2987]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Preparation of Alternatives/Technology Assessment with the Intent 
of Preparing an Environmental Impact Statement for the International 
Drive (I-Drive) Circulator; Orange County, FL

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), in 
consultation with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the 
Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (locally known as 
LYNX), is issuing this notice to advise the public that FDOT and LYNX 
intend to conduct a Scoping Meeting and an Alternatives/Technology 
Assessment, leading to the preparation of an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) that would comply with all FTA requirements and in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 
as amended and the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality 
(CEQ) and all other relevant Federal, State and local regulations and 
requirements. This EIS will be prepared to evaluate a transit 
circulator described as the International Drive (I-Drive) Circulator 
system that would serve as a feeder/distributor system connected to the 
proposed regional rail transit system including the proposed North-
South Light Rail Transit (LRT) system and the proposed Orlando 
International Airport (OIA) Connector system.
    This Notice of Intent is being published at this time to notify 
interested parties and to solicit participation in the study. The 
objective of the Alternatives/Technology Assessment is to identify a 
Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) that can then be evaluated further 
as part of the EIS phase of project development. The proposed project 
is planned to connect major attractions in the I-Drive area including 
the Belz Factory Outlet Mall, the Orange County Convention Center, 
numerous hotels and restaurants in the area, Sea World and a connection 
to the Universal Studios area. The proposed connection to the regional 
rail transit system will occur in the area of the Orange County 
Convention Center or the Belz Factory Outlet and will make I-Drive 
accessible by transit from the OIA. The project study area will be the 
International Drive corridor between Belz Factory Outlet on the north 
through Universal/Major Blvd. and Canadian Court Intermodal Center 
areas to the Sea World area on the south, including a possible 
connection to Universal Studios to the west of Interstate 4.
    The following alternatives will be evaluated as part of this study: 
(1) A No Action (No Build) Alternative; (2) a Transportation Systems 
Management (TSM) Alternative/Baseline; and (3) two or more Fixed 
Guideway Alternatives; the assessment of alternative technologies is a 
part of this study effort.

DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives 
and impacts to be considered should be directed to Ms. Tawny Olore, 
Rail Transit Project Manager, Florida Department of Transportation--
District 5, 719 South Woodland Boulevard, MS 2-543, DeLand, Florida, 
32720 by April 12, 2004. Scoping Meeting: Scoping for the study will be 
accomplished through review of previous studies and consultation with 
affected agencies, interested persons/key stakeholders through 
correspondence and at the public scoping meeting and other public 
meetings.

ADDRESSES: A Scoping Meeting will be conducted to provide the purpose 
and need for the study, describe the process that will be followed, 
define the limits of the study area, to answer any questions that may 
exist, and to receive comments, thoughts, and/or opinions relevant to 
the study. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 
from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Orange County Convention Center in the 
Lecture Hall, Room W300, located at 9800 International Drive, Orlando, 
Florida 32819. Persons with disabilities, in accordance with the 
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, who may require special 
accommodations to participate in the Scoping Meeting should contact Mr. 
Steve Ferrell, P.E., Deputy Project Manager, at least seven (7) 
calendar days prior to the meeting

[[Page 6717]]

date. Please send a request to the following address: Mr. Steve 
Ferrell, Deputy Project Manager, Wilbur Smith Associates, 3535 Lawton 
Road, Suite 100, Orlando, Florida 32803, phone: (407) 896-5851; fax: 
(407) 896-9165; e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Tawny Olore, Rail Transit Project 
Manager, Florida Department of Transportation--District 5, 719 South 
Woodland Boulevard, MS 2-543, DeLand, Florida, 32720, phone: (386) 943-
5707, e-mail: [email protected]. You may also contact Mr. 
Derek R. Scott, Community Planner, Federal Transit Administration, 61 
Forsyth Street, SW., Suite 17T50, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, phone: (404) 
562-3524.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Notice of Intent

    This Notice of Intent to prepare an Alternatives / Technology 
Assessment leading to an Environmental Impact Statement is being 
published at this time to advise interested parties of the study and to 
solicit comment from the general public. FTA regulations and guidance, 
in accordance with NEPA will be used in the analysis and preparation of 
the International Drive (I-Drive) Circulator Study.

2. Scoping

    Both FTA and FDOT encourage you to provide comments at the Scoping 
Meeting as discussed previously and will accept written comments for up 
to 45 days following the meeting date. Comments should focus on the 
scope of the alternatives and any specific social, economic, or 
environmental impacts to be considered as part of this study.
    Persons wishing to be placed on a mailing list to receive further 
information as the study progresses are encouraged to contact: Mr. 
Steve Ferrell, Deputy Project Manager, Wilbur Smith Associates, 3535 
Lawton Road, Suite 100, Orlando, Florida 32803, phone: (407) 896-5851; 
fax: (407) 896-9165; e-mail: [email protected].

3. Study Area and Project Need

    The project study area includes the International Drive corridor 
between Belz Factory Outlet on the north through Universal/Major Blvd. 
and Canadian Court Intermodal Center areas to the Sea World area on the 
south, including a possible connection to Universal Studios to the west 
of Interstate 4. The proposed project is planned to connect major 
attractions/activity centers in the I-Drive area including the Belz 
Factory Outlet Mall, the Orange County Convention Center, numerous 
hotels and restaurants in the area, Sea World and a possible connection 
to the Universal Studios area. The proposed connection to the regional 
rail transit system will occur in the area of the Orange County 
Convention Center or the Belz Factory Outlet and will make I-Drive 
accessible by transit from the OIA.
    The underlying purpose of the I-Drive Circulator Study is to enable 
the Florida Department of Transportation, District 5 and other local 
agencies to make an informed decision regarding the preferred 
investment strategy for transportation system improvements in the I-
Drive Corridor. The I-Drive Circulator Study process will provide a 
forum to assess community concerns, financial and policy support, 
review alternative transit modes and technologies and explore the 
social, economic and environmental impact of a transportation 
investment in the corridor.
    The I-Drive Circulator Study will also examine alignment and 
technology options that play an important role in improving access and 
mobility for local residents, employees and visitors to the I-Drive 
area. As part of this process, the I-Drive Circulator Study will 
integrate urban design, livable community principles, and economic 
development potential along with the transportation planning and 
engineering analyses. The I-Drive Circulator Study will culminate not 
only in transportation and public policy solutions that will enhance 
Central Florida's standing as a convention and tourist destination, but 
build sustainable civic infrastructure that will serve local resident, 
businesses and employees from future congestion problems in the I-Drive 
Corridor.
    Previous studies by LYNX, the local public transportation 
authority, concluded that the local circulator service in the I-Drive 
area was a necessary and strategic element in the overall development 
of an effective regional transportation system. Factors that constitute 
the need for the I-Drive Circulator include meeting existing and future 
travel demands, loss of mobility due to the projected increase in 
traffic on the major roadways within the study area, and current and 
future projected expansion of the Orange County Convention Center and 
other proposed developments.
    To keep up with the tremendous growth in the attractions in the 
study area and in south Orange County, METROPLAN ORLANDO (metropolitan 
planning organization (MPO) for the Orlando, Florida Transportation 
Management Area) has identified the need for this project. The need for 
the I-Drive Circulator is consistent with METROPLAN ORLANDO's 2020 Long 
Range Transportation Plan Update (adopted December 2000). However, this 
project is currently not listed in any local government comprehensive 
plans, including Orange County and the City of Orlando.

4. Alternatives

    A number of transportation alternatives will be evaluated as part 
of this study. These include: (1) No Action (No Build) Alternative that 
consists of existing and programmed transportation improvements as 
identified in METROPLAN ORLANDO's Cost Feasible 2020 Long Range 
Transportation Plan Update, which includes the North-South LRT system. 
This alternative serves as the NEPA baseline. (2) The TSM Alternative 
includes enhanced LYNX bus services and facilities in addition to other 
TSM-related projects. This alternative is defined as low-cost 
operational improvements identified to address transportation problems 
in the corridor. (3) Fixed Guideway Transit Alternatives that may 
include a combination of feasible modes with various alternative 
alignments using both street and/or highway corridors. These 
alternatives would ultimately link to the proposed regional rail 
transit system.
    As part of the Alternatives/Technology Assessment, capital, 
operating, and maintenance costs and other financial impacts will be 
evaluated. Upon the selection and screening of a set of initial 
alternatives, a set of conceptual alternatives will be identified and 
will undergo a comparative evaluation process to be further refined. A 
detailed analysis of the refined alternatives will be undertaken during 
the Alternatives/Technology Assessment and subsequent draft EIS phase 
of project development. These refined, conceptual viable alternatives 
will ultimately be presented to the public and agencies at a series of 
public workshops. Upon the selection of a Build Alternative, FDOT will 
then request that METROPLAN ORLANDO review and approve the LPA 
selection. Once the LPA is approved, the MPO will consider including 
the LPA in the Cost Feasible Plan of the MPO's Long Range 
Transportation Plan.

5. Probable Effects

    Should the study proceed from the Alternatives/Technology 
Assessment to an Environmental Impact Statement, preliminary steps will 
be taken to allow FTA and FDOT to evaluate the project's potential for 
significant adverse impacts during construction and operation.

[[Page 6718]]

Analysis of socio-economic impacts would include the evaluation of land 
use and neighborhood impacts, parks and recreational areas, historic 
and archaeological resources, displacement and environmental justice 
(disproportionate adverse impacts on minority and low-income 
populations), visual and aesthetic impacts, transit (ridership, 
operations, and maintenance), traffic, and parking. Impacts to the 
natural environment would include Outstanding Florida Waters, Wild and 
Scenic Rivers, aquatic preserves, wetlands, and threatened and 
endangered species. The physical impact analysis would include the 
evaluation of noise and vibration, air quality, energy, potential 
hazardous materials, water quality, and coastal zone consistency. The 
environmental evaluation would consider construction and cumulative and 
secondary impacts. Measures to mitigate any adverse impacts would also 
be addressed.
    In addition, this study is being coordinated with other transit 
initiative studies that are currently underway. These projects include: 
(1) Canadian Court Intermodal Center; (2) the Orlando International 
Airport Connector; and (3) the North-South Light Rail Transit project. 
Although the above-mentioned studies are freestanding and capable of 
independent utility, all projects will continue to be closely monitored 
to ensure project consistency. Additional information on these other 
independent transit initiatives, may be obtained from Ms. Tawny Olore, 
Rail Transit Project Manager, Florida Department of Transportation--
District 5, 719 South Woodland Boulevard, MS 2-543, DeLand, Florida 
32720, phone: (386) 943-5707; e-mail: [email protected].

6. 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 for implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508, and 23 CFR part 
771), the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, section 404 of the Clean Water 
Act, Executive Order 13274 on Environmental Streamlining (September 18, 
2002), Executive Order 12898 regarding Environmental Justice, the 
National Historic Preservation Act, the Endangered Species Act, and 
section 4(f) of the DOT Act, will be addressed to the maximum extent 
practicable during the NEPA process. In addition, following selection 
and adoption of the LPA, FDOT may seek FTA Section 5309 New Starts 
funding for the LPA, and therefore, will be subject to the FTA New 
Starts Regulations (49 CFR part 611). This New Starts regulation 
requires submission of information specified by FTA to support FDOT's 
request to initiate Preliminary Engineering.
    The Alternatives Analysis and subsequent Preliminary Engineering 
activities are to be executed in conjunction with the NEPA process.

    Issued on: February 6, 2004.
George T. Thomson,
Acting FTA Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 04-2987 Filed 2-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P