Notice2024-00963
Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the Austin Light Rail Project in Austin, Texas
Primary source
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Published
January 19, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Transit Administration
Abstract
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), as lead Federal agency, and the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP), as local project sponsor and joint lead agency (collectively, the Agencies), issue this notice to advise the public that they intend to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for Phase 1 of the Austin Light Rail Project (the Project) in Austin, Texas (City) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Project is a proposed 9.8-mile light rail transit (LRT) branched line, including 15 stations, from points north, south, and east of downtown Austin, as well as an operations and maintenance facility (OMF), maintenance of way (MOW) shops, and associated LRT equipment storage functions. FTA has determined that the Project is sufficiently developed to allow for meaningful public comment and requires an EIS.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 13 (Friday, January 19, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 13 (Friday, January 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3706-3708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00963]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the Austin
Light Rail Project in Austin, Texas
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), as lead Federal
agency, and the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP), as local project
sponsor and joint lead agency (collectively, the Agencies), issue this
notice to advise the public that they intend to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) for Phase 1 of the Austin Light
Rail Project (the Project) in Austin, Texas (City) pursuant to the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Project is a proposed
9.8-mile light rail transit (LRT) branched line, including 15 stations,
from points north, south, and east of downtown Austin, as well as an
operations and maintenance facility (OMF), maintenance of way (MOW)
shops, and associated LRT equipment storage functions. FTA has
determined that the Project is sufficiently developed to allow for
meaningful public comment and requires an EIS.
DATES: Comments related to the NEPA review of the Project must be
received on or before March 4, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the scope of the EIS should be sent to: Austin
Transit Partnership, 203 Colorado St., Austin, TX 78701 or via email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8ee7e0fefbfaceeffafefaf6a0e1fce9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="523b3c22272612332622262a7c3d2035">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For FTA: Mr. Terence Plaskon, Federal
Transit Administration, Region VI, 819 Taylor Street, Fort Worth, TX
76102, at (817) 978-0573 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f88c9d8a9d969b9dd68894998b939796b89c978cd69f978e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ccb8a9bea9a2afa9e2bca0adbfa7a3a28ca8a3b8e2aba3ba">[email protected]</span></a>. For ATP: Mr. Deron
Lozano, Austin Transit Partnership, 203 Colorado Street, Austin, TX
78701, at (512) 923-3257 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#610504130e0f4f0d0e1b000f0e2100151115194f0e1306"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="711514031e1f5f1d1e0b101f1e3110050105095f1e0316">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agencies will prepare the EIS in
accordance with NEPA and its implementing regulations. The EIS will
evaluate two alternatives: a No Build Alternative and a Build
Alternative. After circulation of the draft EIS (DEIS) and
consideration of comments received, FTA intends to issue a combined
final EIS (FEIS)/Record of Decision (ROD) document pursuant to 23
U.S.C. 139(n)(2), unless statutory criteria preclude issuance of a
combined document (i.e., the FEIS makes substantial changes to the
proposed action that are relevant to environmental or safety concerns
or there is a significant new circumstance or information relevant to
environmental concerns that affect the proposed action or its impacts).
FTA is currently evaluating the Project's eligibility for discretionary
Federal funding under FTA's Capital Investment Grants program.
I. Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The Project is part of the Project Connect Long-Term Vision Plan
(Project Connect). Project Connect includes high-capacity transit (HCT)
corridors and is an integral part of the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan
that was approved by the Austin City Council in 2019. In 2020, the
Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization adopted its 2045
Regional Transportation Plan which included
[[Page 3707]]
HCT corridors as priority transit capital investments. On November 3,
2020, City of Austin voters approved a ballot measure (Proposition A)
to increase the City's property tax rate to provide a dedicated local
funding source for Project Connect, including LRT. ATP, an independent
local government corporation, is responsible for the financing, design,
and construction of the Project. Respective obligations and roles
related to operation and maintenance of the Project, including future
funding obligations of ATP, will be detailed in a binding
implementation agreement between ATP, the City, and the Capital
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro), the local
transportation authority.
In 2020, FTA and CapMetro completed two Planning and Environmental
Linkages (PEL) studies following Federal guidance that documented the
alternatives analysis, the purpose and needs, and public outreach which
led to the selection of a locally preferred alternative for an LRT
system. The PEL process resulted in broad public support of the purpose
and needs and the alternatives analysis. However, as the initial
environmental review process unfolded and design work for LRT advanced,
the estimated project construction costs increased. The primary cost
drivers were increasing real estate costs, inflation, supply chain cost
escalations, and desired scope refinements. Due to this material change
in circumstances, it became clear the LRT alignment and design
warranted adjustment to ensure ATP could deliver a project that was
fiscally feasible and responsive to the needs of the public. In July
2022, taking the original PEL studies and cost escalation factors into
account, ATP commenced community-driven planning efforts to develop a
viable and affordable alternative LRT implementation plan that
addresses the purpose and need of providing quality and reliable HCT to
the Austin metropolitan area. On June 6, 2023, the City, ATP, and
CapMetro unanimously approved the advancement of the Project into the
next phase of implementation.
The purpose of the Project is to meet growing corridor travel
demand with a reliable, safe, cost-effective, time competitive,
sustainable, and equitable LRT system. The lack of transportation
options and limited roadway capacity to accommodate growth in central
Texas may hinder the continued vitality and economic health of the City
and surrounding areas in the future. Inadequate transit access coupled
with rising travel demand have resulted in longer travel times,
decreased mobility, and additional travel costs for residents and
businesses. The Project is needed to:
<bullet> increase transportation network capacity to meet existing
travel demand;
<bullet> sustainably support the Austin area's population and
employment growth;
<bullet> improve transit access between affordable housing and
jobs; and
<bullet> support growth of and connectivity to regional activity
centers designated in local land use plans.
II. Description of Proposed Action and Alternatives
The EIS will evaluate two alternatives: a No Build Alternative and
a Build Alternative. The No Build, or No Action, Alternative includes
existing and committed improvements to the regional transportation
network, not including the Project, that are expected to be operational
by 2045. The No Build Alternative is included as a benchmark against
which the impacts of the Build Alternative can be compared. The Build
Alternative is a 9.8-mile LRT branched line (see the project website at
<a href="https://www.atptx.org/about/light-rail/">https://www.atptx.org/about/light-rail/</a>). Beginning at the intersection
of Guadalupe Street and 38th Street, the in-street, LRT-dedicated,
double-tracked alignment would extend south past the University of
Texas and the Texas State Capitol. At the intersection of Guadalupe and
3rd Streets, the alignment would extend east on 3rd Street, cross
Congress Avenue, and connect to Trinity Street. The alignment would
continue south on Trinity Street and cross Lady Bird Lake on a new LRT-
dedicated bridge. On the south shore of Lady Bird Lake, the alignment
would connect to and split on East Riverside Drive, where it would
split into two branches. The western branch of the split would cross
East Bouldin Creek and extend south on South Congress Avenue with a
terminus at the intersection of South Congress Avenue and Oltorf
Street. The eastern branch of the split would continue southeast along
East Riverside Drive with a terminus just west of SH-71 at the Yellow
Jacket station.
An OMF would be located in the vicinity of the US-183/SH-71
interchange near Airport Commerce Drive in a light-industrial use area.
The proposed site would include space for administration, operations
and maintenance staff, an LRT control center, and light rail vehicle
(LRV) maintenance. The OMF would also serve as an LRV storage yard with
the capacity to support both LRV operations and fleet storage. The OMF
would include MOW shops and associated LRT equipment storage functions.
III. Summary of Expected Impacts
The Agencies will evaluate the No Build and Build Alternatives for
potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts (including benefits)
to the natural, built, and social environments. Resources to be
evaluated and potential impact areas include, but are not limited to,
transportation, land use, socioeconomics and economic development,
parklands and recreational facilities, neighborhoods and community
facilities, environmental justice, noise and vibration, hazardous
materials, ecosystems, water resources, residential and commercial
displacements and relocations, historic and archaeological resources,
visual quality, vegetation, air quality (including greenhouse gas
emissions), and energy. The potential effects of the construction and
operation of the Project on these resources will be evaluated for the
short-term construction period and long-term operation of each
alternative. Measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate potential adverse
impacts will be evaluated and proposed.
IV. Anticipated Permits and Other Authorizations
The Agencies anticipate that required permits and other
authorizations may include:
<bullet> U.S. Department of Transportation section 4(f)
determination;
<bullet> U.S. Department of Interior approval under section 6(f) of
the Land and Water Conservation Act;
<bullet> U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approval under section 404 of
the Clean Water Act and/or section 10 of the River and Harbors Act.
<bullet> Memorandum of Agreement with the State Historic
Preservation Officer under section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act; and
V. Schedule for Decision-Making Process
Below is a tentative schedule of major milestones for the EIS:
<bullet> Scoping Period: January 19, 2024 to March 4, 2024.
<bullet> DEIS Release, Public Hearing, and DEIS Public Comment
Period: Fall 2024.
<bullet> FEIS/ROD: Fall 2025.
As noted in the tentative schedule, the Agencies intend to complete
the EIS for the Project within two years, measured from the date of the
publication of this notice to the date the ROD is signed. The Agencies
will accept public comments on the scope of the
[[Page 3708]]
EIS at <a href="https://www.atptx.org/">https://www.atptx.org/</a> until March 4, 2024. The Environmental
Protection Agency will publish a notice of availability of the DEIS in
the Federal Register and via local media outlets. ATP expects the DEIS
will be available for a minimum of 45 days for the public comment
period by Fall 2024. The DEIS will be distributed electronically and
made available for public and agency review and comment prior to a
public hearing. The Agencies will consider substantive comments timely
submitted during the public comment period and then anticipate
preparing a combined FEIS/ROD by Fall 2025. The FEIS/ROD will identify
the NEPA preferred alternative and any necessary mitigation
commitments. The Agencies expect that all Federal environmental
authorization decisions for the construction of the Project will be
completed within a reasonable period following issuance of the FEIS/
ROD.
Notices of public meetings, including hearings, have been, and will
continue to be, given through a variety of media providing the time and
place of the meeting along with other relevant information. Meeting
date, time, and location information can be found on the Project
website, Meetings and Events page, at <a href="https://www.atptx.org/">https://www.atptx.org/</a>. Public
meeting locations will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Persons needing special accommodations should contact Ms. Sophie Petkus
at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#88fbe7f8e0e1eda6f8edfce3fdfbc8e9fcf8fcf0a6e7faef"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="daa9b5aab2b3bff4aabfaeb1afa99abbaeaaaea2f4b5a8bd">[email protected]</span></a> or (512) 917-2492.
VI. Request for Identification of Potential Alternatives, Information,
and Analysis
The Agencies invite all State, Tribal, local governments, and the
public to comment on potential alternatives, information, impacts, and
analyses to be considered in the EIS, as well as any other relevant
information, studies, or analyses with respect to the proposed agency
action.
Gail Lyssy,
Regional Administrator, FTA Region VI.
[FR Doc. 2024-00963 Filed 1-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
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