Environmental Impact Statement on the Tampa Bay Regional Rail System in Tampa, Florida

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

Environmental Impact Statement on the Tampa Bay Regional Rail

System in Tampa, Florida

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

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

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

Area Regional Transit Authority intend to prepare an Environmental

Impact Statement (EIS) for the Tampa Bay Regional Rail project in the

City of Tampa and Hillsborough County, Florida. The EIS is being

prepared in conformance with the National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA), and will also address the requirements of other federal and

state environmental laws. The FTA will be the lead federal agency. The

EIS will address the social, economic, and environmental effects of

selected transportation improvements identified in the ``Early Action

Plan'' identified as a result of the Alternatives for Mobility

Enhancement Major Investment Study (MIS) which was completed in April

of 1998. HART will perform this effort in coordination with the

following consulting agencies: the Florida Department of Transportation

(FDOT), the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization

(MPO), Hillsborough County, and the City of Tampa.

The EIS will evaluate selected transportation improvements in the

corridors between the central business district in Tampa and three

destinations: the University of South Florida to the north, Westshore/

Hillsborough Community College to the west, and Port Tampa to the

south. The EIS will evaluate the following transportation alternatives:

a No Build Alternative, a Transportation System Management (TSM)

Alternative, and Rail Transit Alternatives using Diesel Multiple Units.

The No Build Alternative will consist of improvements that are existing

or committed (i.e., funded). The TSM Alternative will consist of bus

improvements and other transportation system management approaches. The

Rail Transit Alternative Diesel Multiple Units are self-propelled rail

transit cars that do not require electrification of the right-of-way,

but can operate on tracks in streets or adjacent to freight rail

tracks. In addition, reasonable alternatives suggested during the

scoping process will be considered.

Scoping will be accomplished through correspondence with interested

persons, organizations, and federal, state and local agencies, as well

as through public meetings. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below for

details.

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

and impacts to be considered should be sent to HART by May 21, 1999.

See ADDRESSES below. Three Public Scoping Meetings and one Agency

Scoping Meeting will be held on the following dates and times: Agency

Scoping--April 13, 1999 at 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.; Public Scoping

Meetings--April 13, 19, and 20, 1999 at 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. See ADDRESSES

below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Mr. Steve Carroll,

Project Manager, Hillsborough Area Regional

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Transit Authority, 201 East Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 1600, Tampa,

Florida, 33602. Phone: (813) 223-6831. The scoping meetings will be

held at the following locations:

1. April 13, 1999--9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. County Center, 601 E.

Kennedy Boulevard 26th Floor, Room A, Downtown Tampa, Florida (located

between Kennedy Blvd. and Jackson St., and Morgan St. and Pierce St.)

2. April 13, 1999--4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Marshall Center at the

University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, USF Campus, Tampa,

Florida (located on Fowler Ave. between 30th St. and 56th St.)

3. April 19, 1999--4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. TECO Hall in TECO Plaza,

702 N. Franklin Street, Downtown Tampa, Florida (located between Polk

St. and Zack St., and Franklin St. and Tampa St.)

4. April 20, 1999--4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Port Tampa Library, 4902

Commerce Street, Port Tampa City, Florida (located just south of the

apex at Interbay and Westshore Blvd. on Commerce St.)

Directions to meeting sites and information about special

accommodation (Spanish translation, signing for hearing impaired,

wheelchair access, etc.) is available from Vasti Amaro at HART at 201

East Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 1600, Tampa, Florida 33602, or (813) 254-

4278.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Elizabeth Martin, Community

Planner, Federal Transit Administration Region 4. Phone (404) 562-3500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scoping

FTA and HART invite interested individuals, organizations, and

businesses and federal, state and local agencies to participate in

defining the alternatives to be evaluated and identifying any

significant social, economic, or environmental issues related to the

alternatives. Comments on the appropriateness of the alternatives and

impact issues are encouraged. Specific suggestions on additional

alternatives to be examined and issues to be addressed are welcomed and

will be considered in the development of the final study scope.

Comments may be made orally at the meetings or in writing prior to May

21, 1999.

HART staff will be present at the scoping meetings to describe the

corridor alternatives, answer any questions, and receive comments.

Additional opportunities for public participation will be provided

throughout the EIS preparation to review findings and results and to

solicit comments. Interested persons will be notified of project

progress through ongoing community information distributed to the

project mailing list that will include all scoping participants.

Additional background information on the need for the project, the

EIS process, alternatives, and impact issues to be addressed by the EIS

is contained in a document entitled ``Project Scoping.'' Copies of the

document have been distributed to affected federal, state and local

agencies, and interested parties currently on the project mailing list.

Others may request the document from HART. See ADDRESSES above.

II. Description of Study Area and Project Need

The study area is located in the City of Tampa and Hillsborough

County. It extends approximately 28.5 miles between Downtown Tampa and

the University of South Florida (USF) to the north, Hillsborough Area

Community College to the west (Westshore), and Port Tampa to the south.

Between USF and Port Tampa, approximately 18.5 miles of Diesel Multiple

Unit rail transit facilities would generally follow the existing CSX

Railroad tracks, which currently have active freight service. Between

Downtown and Westshore/Hillsborough Community College, approximately 10

miles of Diesel Multiple Unit rail transit facilities would generally

follow the I-275 corridor. The area is currently served by HART bus

service, and there is no existing rail rapid transit or commuter

service in the study area.

The study area includes and connects the three largest employment/

activity centers in the Tampa Bay area: USF, Westshore, and Downtown.

Residential areas in between and adjacent to these destinations would

also be served. Availability of right-of-way in the study area is

constrained, and substantial increases in travel demand will exceed

existing and planned capacity of the roadway system. The adopted cost

affordable Long Range Transportation Plan for the region calls for a

combination of modal improvements, including widening of existing

roadways, improvements to the bus system, pedestrian and bicycle

facilities enhancement, application of technology to manage demand and

improve system efficiencies, and introduction of Diesel Multiple Unit

rail transit service.

In response to the study area needs, HART and the Hillsborough

County MPO conducted a Major Investment Study in the study area. The

results of the Major Investment Study, which was completed in April

1998, concluded with the selection of a Locally Preferred Strategy

including Diesel Multiple Unit rapid rail service between Downtown,

USF, Hillsborough Community College/Westshore and Port Tampa, and

substantial improvements to bus service. The transit improvements are

intended to increase the capacity of the transportation network,

improve accessibility and mobility, diversify transportation choices,

and help achieve regional air quality goals by providing alternatives

to the single-occupant vehicle and the opportunity to reduce vehicle

miles traveled.

Alternatives

The transportation alternatives proposed for consideration in this

project area include:

(1) No-Build Alternative, which involves no change to

transportation services or facilities in the Corridor beyond already

committed projects;

(2) A Transportation System Management Alternative which focuses on

operational and low to medium cost capital improvements to bus transit

routes and services in the project area; and

(3) Diesel Multiple Unit rail rapid transit alternatives ranging

from approximately 18.5 to approximately 28.5 miles of rail generally

located parallel to existing CSX railroad corridors from USF through

Downtown Tampa to Port Tampa, and the I-275 Corridor through Westshore.

Stations would be located to serve potential significant trip

generators and in areas where economic development efforts are planned

or underway. The locations of stations and resulting impacts will be an

important area of consideration during the study.

Potential Impacts for Analysis

The FTA and HART intend to evaluate significant social,

environmental, and economic impacts of the alternatives analyzed in the

EIS. Primary factors to be addressed include: land use, economic

development, traffic and parking, coordination with ongoing

transportation projects, grade crossing safety, noise and vibration,

community impacts, environmental justice, historic/archaeological

sites, water quality, air quality, contaminated materials and capital

and operating costs. Impacts on other factors including aesthetics,

parklands, ecosystems, threatened and endangered species, and energy

will also be assessed. Other potential impact issues may be added as a

result of scoping and agency coordination efforts. Mitigation measures

will be identified for significant environmental impacts.

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The subjects and level of detail addressed in the EIS will be

consistent with the requirements of the joint FTA/FHWA environmental

regulations (23 CFR 771 and 40 CFR 1500-1508) and other related

regulations. The proposed impact assessment and evaluation will take

into account both positive and negative effects, direct and indirect

impacts, short-term (construction) and long-term impacts, and

cumulative effects.

FTA Procedures

In accordance with federal transportation planning regulations and

environmental procedures (40 CFR Part 1500-1508 and 23 CFR Part 771),

the EIS will be prepared to consider reasonable alternatives, assess

the potential impacts associated with reasonable alternatives, and

provide the public with the opportunity to comment. The EIS will be

prepared to address the components of the Locally Preferred Strategy

identified in the 1998 Major Investment Study in the corridor between

downtown Tampa and the University of South Florida, Hillsborough

Community College, and Port Tampa. The Draft EIS will be circulated to

solicit public and agency comments on the proposed action. Based on the

comments received on the Draft EIS, HART will prepare the Final EIS.

Opportunity for public comment will be provided throughout project

development process.

Issued On: March 30, 1999.

Susan E. Schruth,

Regional Administrator.

[FR Doc. 99-8197 Filed 4-2-99; 8:45 am]

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