[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 226 (Monday, November 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 82944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26024]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Notice To Rescind Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Proposed Capital Metro Orange Line Project in 
Austin, Texas

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Rescind notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), in cooperation with 
the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro), 
Austin Transit Partnership (ATP), and the City of Austin (the City), is 
issuing this notice to advise the public that the Notice of Intent 
(NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
proposed Orange Line light rail transit (LRT) project as part of 
Project Connect in Austin, Texas is rescinded.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For FTA: Mr. Terence Plaskon, Federal 
Transit Administration, Region VI, 819 Taylor Street, Fort Worth, TX 
76102, at (817) 978-0573 or [email protected]. For Capital Metro: 
Mr. Jacob Calhoun, Capital Metro, 2910 E. Fifth Street, Austin, TX 
78702, at (512) 369-6501 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 24, 2021 (86 FR 27941), FTA and 
Capital Metro issued a NOI to prepare an EIS for the Orange Line LRT 
project. The project is part of Capital Metro's 2018 Project Connect 
Long-Term Vision Plan (Project Connect), as amended in 2020. Project 
Connect presents a regional vision for high-capacity transit 
investments that would add mobility options for the Central Texas 
region. The project would have constructed an approximately 20-mile LRT 
line from the Tech Ridge Park & Ride on the northern end of the 
corridor, through downtown Austin, to just north of Slaughter Lane on 
the southern end of the corridor.
    As planning and preliminary engineering progressed, it became 
evident that due to higher than projected cost estimates from 
inflationary pressure, escalating real estate costs, and scope 
advancement, the approach and phasing for implementation of the LRT 
system would need to be refined to make the project economically 
feasible. Therefore, ATP, an independent local government corporation 
formed by the City and Capital Metro to design, construct, and 
implement Project Connect, undertook a public planning process to 
define an economically feasible and expandable LRT system that would 
meet regional transportation goals and objectives of Project Connect. 
After a robust community engagement process, on June 6, 2023, a 
proposed Austin Light Rail Phase 1 project was unanimously approved by 
Capital Metro, ATP, and the City to advance into the next phase of 
implementation. This proposed project includes combining segments of 
the Orange and Blue LRT projects into one LRT project. Based on the 
foregoing, FTA is rescinding the May 24, 2021, NOI for the Orange Line 
LRT project.
    Comments and questions concerning this notice should be directed to 
FTA at the address provided above.

Gail Lyssy,
Regional Administrator, FTA Region VI.
[FR Doc. 2023-26024 Filed 11-24-23; 8:45 am]
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