Notice2024-11003
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Maryland Transit Administration Baltimore Red Line Project
Primary source
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Published
May 20, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Transit Administration
Abstract
The FTA, as lead Federal agency, and the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), as local project sponsor and joint lead agency, issue this notice to advise other Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribes, and the public that a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) will be prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the Red Line Project ("the Project"). The Project, a proposed high-frequency, high-capacity, approximately 14-mile transit line for the Baltimore Region, will fill a major gap in east-west transit service between Woodlawn and Bayview, through downtown Baltimore, Maryland.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 98 (Monday, May 20, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 98 (Monday, May 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43975-43976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11003]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Maryland
Transit Administration Baltimore Red Line Project
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The FTA, as lead Federal agency, and the Maryland Transit
Administration (MTA), as local project sponsor and joint lead agency,
issue this notice to advise other Federal, State, and local agencies,
Tribes, and the public that a Supplemental
[[Page 43976]]
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) will be prepared in accordance
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the Red Line
Project (``the Project''). The Project, a proposed high-frequency,
high-capacity, approximately 14-mile transit line for the Baltimore
Region, will fill a major gap in east-west transit service between
Woodlawn and Bayview, through downtown Baltimore, Maryland.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For FTA: Heidi Krofft, Environmental Protection Specialist, FTA
Region 3, 1835 Market Street, Suite 910, Philadelphia, PA 19103, 215-
656-7053.
For MTA: Allison Scott, Red Line Senior Project Director, 6 St.
Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-767-3769.
All previous environmental documents as well as current project
documents and additional information are available on the Project's
website: <a href="https://redlinemaryland.com/">https://redlinemaryland.com/</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Project was first identified as a
priority for transit investment in Baltimore City and Baltimore County
in the 2001 Maryland Comprehensive Transit Plan and the 2002 Baltimore
Regional Rail Systems Plan. Subsequently, FTA issued the Notice of
Intent to Prepare a Draft EIS for the Project on April 11, 2003 (68 FR
17855) and issued the Record of Decision (ROD) in February 2013. In
2015, MTA cancelled the project to focus on other statewide priorities
and the ROD was rescinded in 2015.
Following the recission of the ROD, local and regional planning
studies continued to study an east-west transit line. The 2020 Regional
Transit Plan ranked the project corridor high for near-term transit
investment. The Project was subject to more detailed exploration in the
2022 East-West Corridor Feasibility Study, which confirmed the public's
continued support for east-west transit. The State officially restarted
the Project in June 2023.
The Project's SEIS will build upon the previous technical reports
and NEPA analyses, as well as recent local and regional planning
studies. The original purpose and need articulated in the previous EIS
remains consistent. The purpose of the proposed Project is to provide
high-frequency, high-capacity transit service in the corridor in a
manner that improves transit efficiency; increases access to transit
near work and activity centers; enhances connections among existing
transit routes; provides transportation choices for east-west
commuters; and supports economic development and community
revitalization. The Red Line alignment was subject to more detailed
exploration in the 2022 East-West Corridor Feasibility Study, which
confirmed the public's continued support for east-west transit based on
the same needs identified in the 2008-2013 FTA NEPA review (<a href="https://redlinemaryland.com/resources/">https://redlinemaryland.com/resources/</a>).
The SEIS will reassess tunneling options, as well as changes to the
eastern end of the proposed Project alignment. The SEIS will focus on
any changes in the affected environment and project impacts,
operational changes, regulations, and mitigation measures; and will
include coordination activities and input from Federal, State, and
local agencies; consultation with tribes; and public involvement. The
Project may result in new or changed significant impacts that were not
evaluated in the FEIS. Therefore, pursuant to 23 CFR 771.130(a), FTA
has determined that a SEIS is necessary to identify and disclose any
new significant impacts. The SEIS will follow the same process and
format as the Project's EIS, except that in accordance with 23 CFR
771.130(d), additional scoping is not required. Per 40 CFR 1506.13, the
SEIS will follow Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations
that were in effect when the original Notice of Intent was published
for the Project on April 11, 2003.
Consistent with NEPA's requirements, FTA and MTA are committed to
meaningful and equitable stakeholder and public engagement during
preparation of the SEIS. Insights and commitments from the work
previously completed provides a strong foundation to build upon.
Ongoing stakeholder and public engagement activities such as online
surveys, pop-up events, on-street engagement, community meetings, in-
person public workshops, and stakeholder conversations will be used to
inform and exchange information related to the project's key
considerations and decisions. Interagency Review Meetings will be held
to present the study approach and results of major study findings to
Cooperating and Participating Agencies.
Once completed, the SEIS will be available for public, agency, and
tribal review and comment prior to the public hearing(s). After public
review, FTA and MTA anticipate issuing a combined Final SEIS/ROD
pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 304a(b) and 23 U.S.C.139(n)(2) and 23 CFR 771.124
unless FTA determines that statutory criteria or practicability
considerations preclude issuance of such a combined document.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 139(n)(2), 23 CFR part 771, 40 CFR 1506.6, and
49 CFR 1.81(a)(5) and 1.91(c).
Theresa Garcia Crews,
Regional Administrator, FTA Region 3.
[FR Doc. 2024-11003 Filed 5-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
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