[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]


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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]
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