Action
Notice of intent to prepare environmental documents, including an environmental impact statement for highway component and an environmental impact statement for transit rail component.
Summary
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LDOTD) and the Regional Planning Commission (RPC) are issuing this notice to advise interested agencies and the public that, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the following projects in the East-West Corridor in St. Charles, Jefferson and Orleans Parishes in Louisiana: 1. A rail transit connector between the New Orleans Central Business District (CBD) and the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (LANOIA); and 2. Extending the existing Earhart Expressway from its terminus at LA 3154 (Dickory Avenue) to the vicinity of Interstate 310. These proposed transportation projects were identified in a Major Investment Study (MIS) completed in 1999. In addition to the proposed improvements identified as the Locally Preferred Alternative in the MIS, the No-Build Alternative and new alternatives generated through the Scoping Process will be evaluated. Scoping will be accomplished through coordination with interested persons, organizations and federal, state and local agencies. Four (4) public scoping meetings and one (1) interagency scoping meeting are currently planned. Based on the results of the Scoping Process, FHWA and FTA will make the following determinations regarding the preparation of environmental documentation under NEPA: 1. Identification of environmental issues to be addressed; 2. Identification of appropriate alternatives for evaluation; 3. How cumulative environmental effects of the projects will be addressed; and 4. The need for a separate Environmental Impact Statement for each of the proposed projects, or for a single, combined Environmental Impact Statement for both projects. FHWA and FTA currently propose to proceed with the preparation of separate environmental documents for each project. FHWA is serving as the federal lead agency for the extension of the existing Earhart Expressway. FTA is serving as the federal lead agency for the rail transit connector between the CBD and the LANOIA. At the conclusion of the Scoping Process, based on the agency and public comment received, FHWA and FTA will either continue with the preparation of two individual Environmental Impact Statements, will proceed with a single Environmental Impact Statement for both projects, or may proceed with an Environmental Assessment for either of the projects, if appropriate.