[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 233 (Thursday, December 4, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 64246-64247] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-31803] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration Environmental Impact Statement on the Norfolk-Virginia Beach Light Rail Transit Project in the Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Virginia Corridor AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Tidewater Transportation District Commission (TRT), in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization, intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), for the Norfolk-Virginia Beach Light Rail Transit Project in the Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Virginia corridor. The EIS is being prepared in conformance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and will also satisfy the requirements of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA). The EIS will evaluate the following transportation alternatives: a No-Build alternative, a Transportation Systems Management (TSM) alternative, and the light rail transit alignment. The Tidewater Transportation District Commission will be the lead agency for the preparation of the EIS. SCOPING PROCESS: The purpose of the Public Scoping Meeting is to provide interested individuals with an introduction to and an overview of the EIS process and the opportunity for comments on the significant issues and impacts to be addressed in the EIS. Comments may be submitted orally at the Scoping Meeting or in Writing to Ms. Jayne Whitney, Project Director, Tidewater Transportation District Commission, 1500 Monticello Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia 23510 during the Scoping comment period for the preparation of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) which ends on Thursday, January 22, 1998. The Scoping Meeting will begin with an ``open house'' where attendees will be able to view graphics and discuss the project with the project representatives. A presentation on the project will be given at 6:00 P.M., followed by an additional opportunity for questions and answers. Scoping material will be available at the meeting or in advance of the meeting by contacting Ms. Janette Crumley at (757) 640- 6295 or Ms. Delores Gee at (757) 640-6251. A sign language interpreter will be available for the hearing impaired. A TDD number (757) 640-6255 is also available. The buildings are accessible to people with disabilities. Scoping meetings will be held on: 1. Tuesday, December 9, 1997, 4 p.m.-7 p.m., Tidewater Transportation District Commission Headquarters, 1500 Monticello Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia 23510. 2. Thursday, December 11, 1997, 4 p.m.-7 p.m., ODU/NSU Virginia Beach Higher Education Center, 3300 South Building, 397 Little Neck Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Alfred Lebeau, Transportation Program Specialist, Federal Transit Administration, Region III, (215) 656-7100. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Scoping The FTA and TRT 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 environmental impacts to be evaluated, and suggesting alternatives that are less costly or have less environmental impacts while achieving similar transit objectives. During Scoping comments should focus on the alternatives under consideration and not on a preference for a particular alternative. Individual preference for a particular alternative should be communicated during the draft EIS comment period. Scoping comments may be made at the Public Scoping Meeting or in writing within 45 days after publication of this notice. See the ``Scoping Process'' section above for locations and times. II. Description of Study and Project Need The proposed project consists of an 18.25 mile light rail transit system between Downtown Norfolk and the Virginia Beach Pavilion Convention Center generally following the Norfolk Southern Railroad right-of-way. A combination of single and double track light rail transit construction is being studied. The study includes a proposal for 13 stations, many of which will provide both bus and park-and-ride access. The Norfolk-Virginia Beach corridor has been and continues to be an area of significant growth for the region. One hundred thousand people commute into the City of Norfolk and 30,000 into Virginia Beach every day from outside those communities. Virginia Beach Boulevard and Route 44/I-264 are at or over capacity at many locations at this time with traffic forecast to grow by another 87 percent on Route 44 by the Year 2015. Both of these roadways have been expanded to the limits of the existing, available right-of-way. The study corridor shows population concentrations along the Virginia Beach to Norfolk corridor that would potentially support further justification for expanded transit service. Population densities, particularly of minority, elderly or low-income individuals often rely on transit for their transportation needs. Regional employment also has continued to grow. Norfolk continues to be the major employment center in the [[Page 64247]] region with two major employment destinations: the Naval Base Norfolk and Norfolk's Central Business District. The emergence of new activity centers along the corridor within the last fifteen years has created new commuting patterns and additional demands on transportation facilities. In response to this need, TRT has completed a Major Investment Study (MIS) for the Norfolk-Virginia Beach corridor. The results of the MIS study resulted in a preferred alternative of a light rail transit system with limited stops along the corridor, and includes stations, park and ride lots, and transit centers. Transit improvements are intended to alleviate traffic congestion in the Norfolk-Virginia Beach corridor and help achieve regional air quality goals by providing an alternative to the single occupant vehicle. III. Alternatives The transportation alternatives proposed for consideration in this project area include: (1) No-Build, which involves no change to transportation services or facilities in the corridor beyond already committed projects, (2) a Transportation System Management (TSM) alternative which consists of low to medium cost improvements to the facilities and operations of the TRT bus system in addition to the currently planned transit improvements in the corridor, and (3) a new light rail alignment (including line, station locations and support facilities) generally following the existing Norfolk Southern rail corridor between Norfolk and Virginia Beach and on surface streets in Downtown Norfolk and to the Virginia Beach Pavilion, and a modified bus service component. IV. Probable Effects The FTA and TRT will evaluate all significant environmental, social, and economic impacts of the alternatives analyzed in the EIS. Primary environmental issues include: Land use and neighborhood protection, traffic and parking, visual, noise and vibration, safety, aesthetics, stormwater management, archaeological, historic, cultural and ecological resources, wildlife corridors. Impacts on natural areas, rare and endangered species, air and water quality, groundwater, and potentially contaminated sites will also be studied. Displacements and relocations, ecosystems, water resources, hazardous waste, parklands, and energy impacts will be assessed. The impacts will be evaluated both for the construction period and for the long-term period of operation of each alternative. Measures to mitigate any significant adverse impacts will be developed. V. FTA Procedures In accordance with the federal transportation planning regulations (23 CFR Part 450), the Draft EIS will be prepared to include an evaluation of the social, economic and environmental impact of the alternatives. The DEIS will consider the public and agency comments received and the TRT in concert with the Secretary of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization and other affected agencies, will select the preferred alternative. Then the TRT, as lead agency, will continue with the preparation of the Final EIS. Opportunity for additional public comment will be provided throughout all phases of project development. Issued: December 1, 1997. Sheldon A. Kinbar, Regional Administrator. [FR Doc. 97-31803 Filed 12-3-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-57-M