81 FR 6333 - Notice To Rescind Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study, Virginia

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 24 (February 5, 2016)

FTA in cooperation with Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) is issuing this notice to advise the public that the NOI to prepare an EIS for the Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study (VBTES) is being rescinded.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 24 (Friday, February 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 6333]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02200]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Notice To Rescind Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study, Virginia

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Rescind Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: FTA in cooperation with Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) is issuing 
this notice to advise the public that the NOI to prepare an EIS for the 
Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study (VBTES) is being rescinded.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ryan Long, Community Planner, 
Federal Transit Administration Region III, 1760 Market St, Suite 500 
Philadelphia, PA 19103, phone 215-656-7051, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FTA, as the lead Federal agency, and HRT, as 
the project sponsor, published an NOI in the Federal Register on August 
14, 2013 (FR Volume 78, Number 157) to prepare an EIS for the VBTES. 
The VBTES EIS evaluated extending transit service from the eastern 
terminus of HRT's existing Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, ``The 
Tide,'' at Newtown Road in Norfolk to the Virginia Beach oceanfront. 
The extension would travel either along the former Norfolk Southern 
Railroad right-of-way (NSRR ROW) that runs from Newtown Road to 
Birdneck Road, or along the NSRR ROW to Laskin Road then onto Birdneck 
Road and terminating at the Virginia Beach oceanfront.
    HRT was intending to seek Capital Investment Grant Program (CIG) 
funding from FTA for one or more of the alternatives that were examined 
in the Draft EIS. The CIG program, more commonly known as the New 
Starts, Small Starts, and Core Capacity program, involves a multi-year, 
multi-step process that project sponsors must complete before a project 
is eligible for funding. The steps in the process and the basic 
requirements of the program can be found on FTA's Web site at 
www.fta.dot.gov.
    Since FTA approval of the Draft EIS on March 3, 2015, HRT has re-
examined funding options and elected to not pursue the CIG program or 
other Federal transportation funding. Therefore, FTA is rescinding the 
August 14, 2013 NOI.
    Comments and questions concerning this notice should be directed to 
FTA at the address provided above.

Terry Garcia Crews,
Regional Administrator, FTA Region III.
[FR Doc. 2016-02200 Filed 2-4-16; 8:45 am]
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