Environmental Impact Statement on Southwest Corridor Transit Improvements in Cleveland, Ohio

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

Environmental Impact Statement on Southwest Corridor Transit

Improvements in Cleveland, Ohio

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement

(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Greater

Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) are undertaking the

preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance

with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for transit

improvements. The local agency will ensure that the EIS also satisfies

requirements established by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

The Environmental Impact Statement will evaluate alternative rail

transit alignments in the corridor between the GCRTA Red Lines current

terminus at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, to the

International Exposition (I-X) Center and the Central Business District

(CBD) in Berea, Ohio. In addition, the EIS will evaluate Transportation

System Management (TSM) improvements and a No-Build alternative and any

new alternatives generated through the scoping process. Scoping will be

accomplished through correspondence with interested persons,

organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies and through three

public meetings. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below for details.

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

alternative alignments and impacts to be considered should be sent to

the GCRTA by Saturday, September 20, 1997. Scoping Meetings: The public

scoping meetings will be held on Monday, September 8, 1997 between 3:00

P.M. and 6:00 P.M. at the Frank J. Lausche State Office Building;

Tuesday, September 9, 1997 between 3:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M. at Berea

City Hall and Wednesday, September 10, 1997 between 3:00 P.M. and 9:00

P.M. at Brook Park City Hall. See ADDRESSES below. People with special

needs should contact Edward Taylor of the GCRTA at (216) 566-5020. A

TDD number is available (216) 781-4271. The buildings are accessible to

people with disabilities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Fish, Director, Office of

Planning and Program Development; Federal Transit Administration, 55

East Monroe Street, Suite 1415; Chicago, Illinois 60603 (312) 353-2865.

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

Edward Taylor, Deputy Project Manager, Greater Cleveland Regional

Transit Authority, 615 Superior Avenue, W, Cleveland, Ohio 44113.

Scoping Meetings will be held at the following locations:

1. Frank J. Lausche State Office Building, 615 Superior Avenue, W,

Cleveland, Ohio 44113

2. City Hall, City of Berea, 11 Berea Commons, Berea, Ohio 44017

3. City Hall, City of Brook Park, 6161 Engle Road, Brook Park, Ohio

44142

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scoping

FTA and the GCRTA invite interested individuals, organizations, and

federal, state and local agencies to participate in defining the

alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS and identifying any significant

social, economic, or

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environmental issues related to the alternatives. An information packet

describing the purpose of the project, the proposed alternatives, the

impact areas to be evaluated, the citizen involvement program and the

preliminary project schedule is being mailed to affected federal, state

and local agencies and to interested parties on record. Others may

request the scoping materials by contacting Mr. Edward Taylor at the

address above or by calling him at (216) 566-5100. Scoping comments may

be made verbally at any of the public scoping meetings or in writing.

See DATES and ADDRESSES sections above for location and times. During

scoping, comments should focus on identifying specific social,

economic, or environmental impacts to be evaluated and suggesting

alternatives that are less costly or have less environmental impact

while achieving similar transit objectives. Scoping is not an

appropriate time to indicate a preference for a particular alternative.

Comments on preferences should be communicated after the Draft EIS has

been completed. The meeting will be held in an ``open house'' format

and project representatives will be available to discuss the project

throughout the time period given. Informational displays and written

materials also will be available throughout the time period given. In

addition to written comments which may be made at the meeting or as

described below, a stenographer will be available at the meeting to

record comments. If you wish to be placed on the mailing list to

receive further information as the project develops, contact Mr. Edward

Taylor as previously described.

II. Description of Study Area and Project Needs

The study area is wholly within Cuyahoga County, Ohio. It is

approximately 2.5-miles long and connects the central business district

of Berea, Ohio with the existing GCRTA Red Line rapid transit terminus

at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The corridor also connects

the International Exposition Center with the airport and Berea.

Existing traffic is primarily carried by the Berea Freeway (OH 237),

Eastland Road, Front Street and Prospect Street with high traffic

volumes at many of the signalized intersections. The proposed rail

extension is intended to provide a high quality connection between the

existing Red Line terminus at the Airport, the I-X Center and Berea; to

support economic revitalization of the Berea CBD through greater

transit accessibility; to stimulate economic development at the I-X

Center by improving transit access between Downtown Cleveland and the

I-X Center; contribute to higher transit mode share for work trips

between the southwest suburbs and Downtown Cleveland; improve

opportunities for reverse commute transportation options; to help

achieve regional clean air goals; and improve travel efficiencies in

the Southwest Corridor.

III. Alternatives

Transportation alternatives proposed for evaluation include a No-

Build Alternative which involves no change to transportation services

or facilities in the corridor beyond those improvements currently

programmed; a TSM alternative which includes a package of improvements

to one or all elements of the transportation network intended to

improve travel time, reduce congestion, and enhance land-use

development or redevelopment; and a rail transit alternative which

consists of extending the GCRTA Red Line utilizing varying alternative

alignments, segment lengths and technologies. It is anticipated that

the rail line extension would involve streetcar style operations in

Berea.

IV. Probable Effects/Potential Impacts for Analysis

FTA and GCRTA plan to evaluate in the EIS all significant social,

economic, and environmental impacts of the alternatives. Among the

primary issues are transportation service changes including transit

cost, service, patronage and its financial implications; the effect on

traffic movement and railroad operations; community impacts, including

land use planning and zoning compatibility, neighborhood compatibility,

local and regional economic change, aesthetics, and utility relocation;

cultural resource impacts, including air quality, noise and vibration,

removal of pre-existing hazardous wastes, and effects on water

resources and quality, natural features, and ecosystems. The proposed

impact assessment and its evaluation criteria will take into account

both positive and negative impacts, direct and indirect impacts, short-

term (construction) and long-term (operation) impacts, and site-

specific and corridor-wide impacts. Evaluation criteria will be

consistent with applicable federal, State of Ohio and local standards,

criteria, regulations, and policies. Mitigation measures will be

explored for any adverse impacts that are identified as part of the

analysis.

V. FTA Procedures

In accordance with the Federal Transit Act, as amended, and FTA

policy, the Draft EIS will be prepared in conjunction with a major

investment study and the Final EIS in conjunction with Preliminary

Engineering. After its publication, the Draft EIS will be available for

public and agency review and comment, and a public hearing will be

held. On the basis of the Draft EIS and comments received, the GCRTA,

in concert with the Ohio Department of Transportation and NOACA, and in

consultation with Cuyahoga County, the Cities of Berea, Brook Park and

Cleveland and other affected agencies, will select a locally preferred

alternative. The GCRTA will then seek to have NOACA, the metropolitan

planning organization for the Cleveland area, include the preferred

alternative in the regional transportation plan and seek approval from

FTA to continue with Preliminary Engineering and preparation of the

Final EIS.

Issued on: August 6, 1997.

Joel P. Ettinger,

Regional Administrator.

[FR Doc. 97-21160 Filed 8-8-97; 8:45 am]

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