[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 12, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 26246-26247] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-12561] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Environmental Impact Statement; Orange County, FL, Notice of Intent SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed highway project in Orange County, Florida. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mark D. Bartlett, Programs Operation Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, 227 N. Bronough Street, Room 2015, Tallahassee, Florida 32301, Telephone (904) 942- 9598. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Transportation, will prepare an EIS for a proposal to improve and extend SR 438 (John Young Parkway) from SR 50 (W. Colonial Drive) to SR 424 (Edgewater Drive) at SR 434 (Forest City Road), a distance of approximately 4.2 miles (6.7 km). The proposed improvement will complete [[Page 26247]] the link between Kissimmee and Maitland. This arterial will provide an alternative to I-4 traffic through Orlando, and will also alleviate traffic congestion on the existing local connecting streets of Lee Road, Carder Road, US 441, All American Boulevard, and Edgewater Drive that now must carry continuing northbound traffic to Forest City Road. Alternatives under consideration are: (1) ``No Build'', or no improvements within the corridor beyond what is now committed; (2) Improvement of existing roadway facilities including transportation management system (TSM) within the corridor and; (3) New alignment: six-laning and extension of John Young Parkway from SR 50 to Forest City Road. In the EIS, the FHWA and local agencies will evaluate all environmental impacts of the project, including socio-economic impact, cultural impact, and public recreational facility impact to the roadway corridor and surrounding communities, natural impacts to the wildlife and vegetation, and physical impacts to land use aesthetics, noise levels, and air and water quality of the area. Impacts to floodplain and Outstanding Florida Waters, wetlands and endangered or threatened species, wildlife corridors and critical habitat will be evaluated. The presence of contaminated properties or potential contamination will be evaluated. Impacts will be evaluated for both short term and long term duration and mitigation of any impacts will be studied. Storm water volume and quality management will be a major design consideration. Meeting the local transportation needs, both personal and mass transit, and public service needs of the area communities are goals of the study. Letters with description of the proposed project soliciting comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as private groups and citizens that have expressed interest in this proposal. Public notice will be issued for a series of public meetings and hearings to be held in Orange County and the City of Orlando between April, 1998 and March, 1999, where the Draft EIS will be available to the agencies and public for review and discussion. A formal scoping meeting is planned at the project site during 1998. Comments on the proposal from all interested parties are solicited and should be directed to the FHWA contact person listed above. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this program) J.R. Skinner, Division Administrator, Tallahasse. [FR Doc. 98-12561 Filed 5-11-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-22-M