Environmental Impact Statement on the Phase I Regional Rail Project, Raleigh-Durham, NC

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

Environmental Impact Statement on the Phase I Regional Rail

Project, Raleigh-Durham, NC

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 Research

Triangle Regional Public Transportation Authority, locally known as

Triangle Transit Authority or TTA, intend to prepare an Environmental

Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental

Policy Act (NEPA) on the proposed regional rail transit project in Wake

and Durham Counties, North Carolina.

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 operation of

TTA and local bus services in addition to currently planned transit

improvements; and the regional rail transit alignment (including line,

sixteen stations and support facilities). Scoping will be accomplished

through correspondence with interested persons, organizations, and

Federal, State and local agencies, and through public and agency

meetings.

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

and impacts to be considered should be sent to the Triangle Transit

Authority by May 15, 1998. See ADDRESSES below. Scoping Meetings: A

public scoping meeting will be held on Monday, April 27, 1998 from 4 pm

to 8 pm at the NC Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park. An

agency scoping meeting will be held on Monday, April 27, 1998 at 9 am

at the NC Biotechnology Center. See ADDRESSES below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of alternatives and impacts to

be studied should be sent to Mr. Jim Ritchey, General Manager, Triangle

Transit Authority, PO Box 13787, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

27709. Scoping meetings will be held at the following location: NC

Biotechnology Center, 15 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park,

NC 27709.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tony Dittmeier, Federal Transit

Administration, Region IV, (404) 562-3512.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scoping

The FTA and TTA invite interested individuals, organizations, and

federal, state and local agencies to participate in defining the

alternatives to be evaluated and identifying any significant social,

economic or environmental issue related to the alternatives. Specific

suggestions related to additional alternatives to be examined and

issues to be addressed are welcome and will be considered in the

development of the final scope. Scoping comments may be made at the

scoping meetings or in writing no later than May 15, 1998 (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

environmentally damaging which achieve similar transit objectives.

Comments should focus on the issues and alternatives for analysis, and

not on a preference for a particular alternative.

Scoping materials will be available at the meeting or in advance of

the meeting by contacting Triangle Transit Authority as indicated

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

information as the project continues contact Mr. Jim Ritchey at the

Triangle Transit Authority (see ADDRESSES above).

II. Description of Study Area and Project Need

The proposed project consists of an approximately 35 mile regional

rail transit system. The technology proposed is diesel multiple units

(DMU's), self-propelled, diesel-powered trainsets. The regional rail

alignment will be located within the existing North Carolina Railroad

and CSX railroad rights-of-way. The sixteen proposed stations connect

the region's major activity centers, including universities, major

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employment centers, and residential areas. The system would also serve

the planned Durham and Raleigh Multi-Modal Centers.

The corridor generally parallels NC 147 (Durham Freeway),

Interstate 40 and NC 54, and US 1 (Capital Blvd), which are major

highway facilities providing regional connections in this corridor. The

region has a history of relying heavily on roadway expansion to meet

the needs of the growing population. However, with the anticipated

continuation of population and employment growth, congestion in the

region is projected to worsen, with very limited alternatives to

driving. In addition, the region continues to face other problems

related to rapid growth: Suburban sprawl, deteriorating air quality,

lack of community identity, loss of open space, and high highway and

transit system costs.

In response to this need, TTA has completed a Major Investment

Study (MIS) for this corridor. The results of the MIS resulted in a

recommended design concept and scope consisting of a dedicated track

with passing sidings within the existing railroad right-of-way, sixteen

stations, and expanded local and feeder bus service.

III. Alternatives

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

which involves no change to transportation service or facilities in the

corridor beyond already committed projects; (2) a Transportation System

Management alternative, which consists of low-to-medium cost

improvements to the operations of TTA and local bus operators in

addition to the currently planned transit improvements in the corridor;

and (3) regional rail transit located within the North Carolina

Railroad and CSX railroad rights-of-way with sixteen stations.

IV. Probable Effects

FTA and TTA will evaluate all significant environmental, social,

and economic impacts of the alternatives analyzed in the EIS. Primary

issues include: the projected increase in transit ridership, the

locations of the sixteen proposed stations, the support of regional

land use goals and plans, secondary impacts in station areas, and

capital and operating and maintenance costs. Environmental and social

impacts proposed for analysis include land use and neighborhood

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

impacts, impacts on cultural resources, and noise and vibration

impacts. Impacts on natural areas, rare and endangered species, air and

water quality, wetlands and parklands, 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: April 9, 1998.

Susan E. Schruth,

Regional Administrator.

[FR Doc. 98-9827 Filed 4-13-98; 8:45 am]

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