[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]


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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).

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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