Action
Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Summary
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), in consultation with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (CFRTA, locally known as LYNX), is issuing this notice to advise the public that FDOT and LYNX intend to conduct a Scoping Meeting and an Alternatives Analysis, leading to the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that would comply with all FTA requirements and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended and the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and all other relevant Federal, State and local regulations and requirements. This EIS will be prepared to evaluate a transit system that would connect the International Drive (I-Drive) Corridor to the Orlando International Airport (OIA) in Orange County, Florida. This Notice of Intent is being published at this time to notify interested parties and to solicit participation in the study. The objective of the Alternatives Analysis is to identify a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) that can then be evaluated further as part of the EIS phase of project development. The proposed project is planned to link to the 22-mile North-South Light Rail Transit (LRT) system currently under evaluation. The proposed connection to the LRT system will occur in the area of the Orange County Convention Center or the Belz Factory Outlet. The project study area extends from the International Drive (I-Drive) Corridor to the Orlando International Airport (OIA). Alternatives will be studied for connecting to OIA from the south and from the north. The following alternatives will be evaluated as part of this study: (1) A No Action (No Build) Alternative; (2) A Transportation Systems Management (TSM) Alternative; and (3) two or more Build Alternatives.