Environmental Impact Statement on the Central Florida Light Rail Transit System

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

Environmental Impact Statement on the Central Florida Light Rail

Transit System

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Florida

Department of Transportation, and the Central Florida Regional

Transportation Authority (CFRTA), locally known as LYNX intend to

prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on the proposed light rail

transit project in Osceola, Orange, and Seminole Counties, Florida.

The EIS will evaluate the following alternatives: a no-build

alternative, a Transportation System Management alternative consisting

of low to medium cost improvements to the facilities and operations of

LYNX in addition to the

[[Page 52838]]

currently planned transit improvements in the corridor, and the light

rail transit alignment (including line, station locations and support

facilities). Scoping will be accomplished through correspondence with

interested persons, organizations, and Federal, State and local

agencies, and through public meetings.

DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives

and impacts to be considered should be sent to the Florida Department

of Transportation by November 22, 1996. See ADDRESSES below. Scoping

Meetings: A joint FTA, Florida Department of Transportation and Central

Florida Regional Transportation Authority public scoping meeting will

be held on Wednesday, November 6, l996 at 1:30 p.m. at the LYNX Board

Room located at 225 East Robinson Street, Suite 300, Orlando, FL. See

ADDRESSES below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the project scope should be sent to Mr.

Harold Webb, Florida Department of Transportation, District Five, 719

South Woodland Boulevard, DeLand, Florida 32720. Scoping meetings will

be held at the following location: LYNX Board Room, 225 East Robinson

Street, Suite 300, Orlando, Florida.

See DATES above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Jensen, Acting Deputy

Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Region IV,

(404) 347-3948.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Scoping

The FTA, FDOT, and LYNX invite written comments for a period of 45

days after publication of this notice (see DATES and ADDRESSES above).

During scoping, comments should focus on identifying specific social,

economic, or environmental impacts to be evaluated, and suggesting

alternatives that are less costly or less environmental impacts to be

evaluated, and suggesting alternatives that are less costly or less

environmentally damaging which achieve similar objectives. Comments

should focus on the issues and alternatives for analysis, and not on a

preference for a particular alternative. Individual preference for a

particular alternative should be communicated during the comment period

for the Draft EIS.

If you wish to be placed on the mailing list to receive further

information as the project continues, contact Mr. Harold Webb at the

Florida Department of Transportation, District Five. (see ADDRESSES

above).

II. Description of Study Area and Project Need

The proposed project consists of an approximately 48.3 mile total

light rail transit system. The minimum operating segment consist of 20-

24 miles linking Osceola County's Celebration development in the south,

through Orlando and central Orange County, to the vicinity of Sanford

and the Volusia and Seminole County lines to the north. The new light

rail transit alignment will be located either within the Interstate 4

right-of-way or in adjacent to the CSX rail corridor and surface

streets or a combination of the alignment locations. The light rail

transit alignment provides the opportunity to connect four of the five

intermodal stations identified in the Regional Consensus Plan and

Resource Document; the Osceola County Celebration Activity Center; the

International Drive Grand Terminal Station; the Downtown Orlando

Intermodal Facility, and the Sanford/Seminole County Transportation

Center.

Interstate 4 is generally considered to be the spine of Central

Florida's transportation system, carrying the greatest number of people

and vehicles of any transportation facility in the region and serving

many of the region's primary activity centers. On most of its sections

Interstate 4 has evolved from being a highway primarily intended to

serve long distance travelers to one which serves many shorter trips.

Congestion and delays on Interstate 4 and along the parallel arterial

highways are now considered to be the major transportation problem

facing this rapidly growing region. With the prospect of continued and

accelerated growth in population and tourism in Central Florida, travel

conditions will continue to deteriorate at an increasing rate.

In response to this need, FDOT, in conjunction with LYNX, has

completed a Major Investment Study (MIS) for the Interstate 4 corridor.

The results of the MIS study and corresponding Interstate 4 Multi-Modal

Master Plan resulted in a recommended design concept and scope

consisting of six general use lanes, two special use lanes, and a light

rail transit system to provide the required mobility in the Interstate

4 corridor.

III. Alternatives

The alternatives proposed for evaluation include: (1) No-action,

which involves no change to transportation services or facilities in

the corridor beyond already committed projects,

(2) a transportation system management alternative, which will be

used for cost-effectiveness comparisons, consists of low-to-medium cost

improvements to the facilities and operations of LYNX in addition to

the currently planned transit improvements in the corridor,

(3) new light rail transit alignment located either within the

Interstate 4 right-of-way or in or adjacent to the CSX rail corridor

and select surface streets or combinations of the alignment locations.

IV. Probable Effects

FTA and the Florida Department of Transportation and LYNX will

evaluate all significant environmental, social, and economic impacts of

the alternatives analyzed in the EIS. Primary environmental issues

include: neighborhood protection, aesthetics, bicycle facilities,

trails, recreational greenways, alternative modes of transportation,

lake protection, hydrology and stormwater management, archaeological

and historic resources, ecological and riverine greenways, wildlife

corridors, and rare habitat and listed species. Environmental and

social impacts proposed for analysis include land use and neighborhood

impacts, traffic and parking impacts near stations, visual impacts,

impacts on cultural resources, and noise and vibration impacts. Impacts

on natural areas, rare and endangered species, air and water quality,

groundwater and potentially contaminated sites will also be covered.

The impacts will be evaluated both for the construction period and for

the long-term period of operation. Measures to mitigate any significant

adverse impacts will be developed.

Issued on: October 3, 1996.

Susan E. Schruth,

Regional Administrator.

[FR Doc. 96-25780 Filed 10-07-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-57-P