[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8261-8262]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3757]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Rail Corridor--Richmond, VA to 
Hampton Roads (via Williamsburg to Newport News, VA and via Petersburg 
to Norfolk, VA)

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

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

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SUMMARY: The FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that FRA 
and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (VDRPT) 
intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Richmond 
to Hampton Roads High Speed Rail Corridor. The EIS will evaluate 
potential alternatives for higher-speed rail service in both the 
Richmond-Petersburg-South Hampton Roads Corridor and the existing 
Amtrak corridor from Richmond to Williamsburg to Newport News, 
providing rail connections to the Southeast, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic 
regions as part of the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) Corridor.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of alternatives and impacts 
considered should be sent to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public 
Transportation by May 15, 2004, at the address below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Christopher Bonanti, Environmental 
Program Manager, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., MS 20, Washington, DC 20590, telephone (202) 493-6383; or 
Mr. Alan Tobias, Manager of Passenger Rail Programs, Virginia 
Department of Rail and Public Transportation, P.O. Box 590, Richmond, 
VA, 23218-0590, telephone (804) 786-1063.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FRA, in cooperation with the VDRPT, will 
prepare a Tier I Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Richmond 
to Hampton Roads High Speed Rail Corridor. The project will evaluate 
potential alternatives and potential environmental impacts for higher-
speed rail service within the project study area. The project study 
area generally follows the Richmond-Petersburg-South Hampton Roads 
Corridor and the existing Amtrak corridor from Richmond to Williamsburg 
to Newport News. This rail service would serve as an extension of the 
Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) Corridor, providing rail connections 
to the Southeast, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
    Multiple service and alignment alternatives exist within the 
project study area to connect the Hampton Roads region to the Main 
Street Station in Richmond, Virginia, which is the study terminus for 
intercity rail service connections to the Southeast, Northeast and Mid-
Atlantic regions. FRA and the VDRPT will address project issues and 
alternatives in environmental documentation prepared as part of the 
Alternatives Analysis and Tier I EIS.

[[Page 8262]]

This study will also address the greater travel shed in which this 
corridor will operate. Issues regarding schedule, operational and 
capacity constraints, and ridership will be examined.
    The environmental process will have four basic goals: (1) Establish 
the purpose and need; (2) develop alternatives within the study 
corridor; (3) conduct a detailed evaluation of environmental impacts 
for the alternatives; and (4) select a locally preferred alternative 
(LPA).
    The EIS will evaluate the following passenger rail alternatives: A 
no-build alternative, consisting of already planned improvements to the 
corridor, and build alternatives, consisting of a full range of 
passenger rail alternatives. The type, location, and need for ancillary 
facilities (e.g. railroad switching, signaling and maintenance 
buildings, etc.) will also be considered for each alternative. Scoping 
will be accomplished through correspondence with interested persons, 
organizations, and Federal, State and local agencies, and through 
public meetings.
    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a 
public scoping process will be initiated to identify corridor needs and 
alternatives. The scoping process will provide the basis for the 
evaluation of alternatives as part of the planning study, and the 
selection of a LPA and implementation program. The planning study will 
consider a variety of passenger rail options in the corridor based on 
input received during the scoping process. In addition to prudent 
alternatives developed as part of this study and those identified in 
previous planning exercises, feasible alternatives suggested during the 
scoping process will be considered.
    Scoping and Comments: Scoping activities are being initiated at the 
outset of the planning studies, in advance of the EIS, to maximize the 
opportunity for public involvement in the consideration of alternatives 
and in reaching decisions about the transportation investments that 
will be advanced into the EIS phase of project development.
    FRA and VDRPT encourage broad participation in the planning studies 
and EIS process during scoping and subsequent review of the resulting 
environmental documents. Comments and suggestions are invited from all 
interested agencies and the public at large to insure the full range of 
issues related to the proposed action and all reasonable alternatives 
are addressed and all significant issues are identified. Public 
agencies with jurisdiction are requested to advise the FRA and VDRPT of 
the applicable environmental review requirements of each agency, and 
the scope and content of the environmental information that is germane 
to the agency's statutory responsibilities in connection with the 
proposed improvements. An agency scoping meeting has been scheduled for 
March 9, 2004, 1 p.m., at the following location: VDRPT, Central 
Conference Room, 1313 East Main Street, Suite 300, Richmond, Virginia.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies in Virginia. 
An interactive public involvement/information program will support the 
process. The program will involve newsletters, a telephone hotline and 
Web site, informational workshops, small group meetings, and other 
methods to solicit and incorporate public input throughout the planning 
process. The public scoping process runs concurrent with agency scoping 
and will commence with a public meeting in Richmond on March 9, 2004. 
Additional public scoping meetings will be held in Petersburg on March 
10, Chesapeake on March 11, and Williamsburg on March 24. Notices for 
the public scoping meetings will be sent to individuals in the planning 
and EIS study areas and will be posted on official Web sites, and 
advertised in local communities.
    Comments and questions concerning the proposed action should be 
directed to VDRPT or to the FRA at the addresses provided above. 
Additional information can be obtained by visiting the project Web site 
at www.rich2hrrail.info or calling the project hotline 1-877-RICH2HR 
(742-4247).

    Issued in Washington, DC on February 17, 2004.
Mark E. Yachmetz,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Development.
[FR Doc. 04-3757 Filed 2-20-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P