[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 13 (Friday, January 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1431-1432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-468]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration and Federal Railroad Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Portland, Oregon to Vancouver,
British Columbia
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA and the FRA are issuing this notice to advise the
public that an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared
for a proposed high speed rail improvement program between Portland,
Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gene K. Fong, Federal Highway Administration, Evergreen Plaza Building,
711 South Capitol Way, Suite 501, Olympia, Washington 98501, Telephone:
(360) 753-2120; Mark Yachmetz, Federal Railroad Administration, 400 7th
Street SW., Room 5420, Washington, DC 20590, Telephone: (202) 366-0686;
Mr. James Slakey, Washington State Department of Transportation, 310
Maple Park East Olympia, Washington 98504, Telephone: (360) 705-7920.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 22, 1992, the U.S. Department of
Transportation designated the existing rail corridor from Eugene,
Oregon through Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington to Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada as a high-speed rail corridor pursuant to
Section 1010 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of
1991 (ISTEA). The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
proposes to adopt a multi-phase program plan to develop high-speed
intercity passenger service on the 366-mile segment of that corridor
between Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia, and to
undertake specific improvements consistent with such a plan. FHWA and
FRA, in cooperation with WSDOT, will prepare an EIS on WSDOT's
proposal.
The purpose of this EIS is to provide background for the decision
whether or not to implement high-speed passenger rail service on the
corridor. The EIS will also provide background for decisions related to
possible future investment in passenger rail service related facilities
in the corridor including identification of design levels of service
(e.g. number, frequency, and speed of trains) and capital improvements
needed to meet design levels of service.
The existing rail facilities limit the addition of high speed
passenger trains within the Pacific Northwest Passenger Rail Corridor.
Passenger rail speeds are limited in the existing corridor by the steep
and curvy topography of western Washington and the limited capacity of
the existing rail line would create conflicts between slower freight
trains and higher speed passenger trains that would adversely affect
passenger and freight train scheduling. High speed passenger rail in
the corridor would require additional or improved rail geometrics,
trackage, side or passing tracks, and signal and train control systems.
The proposed improvement program would resolve the existing constraints
on dependable and timely passenger rail service between Portland,
Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Agency and public involvement programs will describe the proposed
action and solicit comment from citizens, organizations, and federal,
state, and local agencies. Comments and questions will be solicited and
accepted via telephone, internet, public meetings, and the mail. In
addition, targeted direct mail, advertisements, and media relations
efforts will be used to reach the public and agencies. Advertisements
offering interested persons the opportunity to attend and offer
comments at a public hearing will be published prior to circulation of
the draft environmental impact statement. Public notice of actions
related to the proposal that identify the date, time, place of
meetings, and the length of review periods will be published when
appropriate.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed
improvement program and its reasonable alternatives are addressed and
all significant issues are identified, comments and suggestions are
invited from all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning
this proposed action and the EIS should be directed to the FHWA or FRA
at the address provided above.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental
consultation of federal programs and activities apply to this
program.)
[[Page 1432]]
Issued on: January 8, 1996.
Gene K. Fong,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Washington
Division.
Mark E. Yachmetz,
Chief, Passenger Programs Division, Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-468 Filed 1-18-96; 8:45 am]
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