Appendix E - Agency Coordination and Correspondence

8/10/2019 Appendix E - Agency Coordination and Correspondence

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Draf Environmental Impact Statement

VIRGINIA BEACH TRANSIT

EXTENSION STUDY

Cover image: courtesy of the City of Virginia Beach

November 2014

Preliminary

Review Draf

A p p e n d i x E

Agency Coordinaton and

Correspondence


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VirginiaBeachTransitExtensionStudy October2014

AgencyCoordinationandCorrespondence i

TableofContents

Date Subject

August4,2009 LetterfromHRTtoVirginiaDepartmentofHistoricResources

August4,

2009

Attachment

to

letter

from

HRT

to

Virginia

Department

of

Historic

Resources

August4,2009 SHPOProjectVicinityCorridorsUnderConsideration

August13,2009 EmailfromFHWAtoHRTre:interestinbeingparticipatingagency

August14,2009 LetterfromVirginiaDepartmentofAgricultureandConsumerServices

August17,2009 LetterfromVirginiaEconomicDevelopmentPartnership

August26,2009 LetterfromVirginiaDepartmentofTransportation

August26,2009 LetterfromVirginiaDepartmentofHistoricResources

September4,2009 LetterfromU.S.GeologicalSurvey

September22,2009 SDEISConcurrenceLetterfromFederalTransitAdministration

June7,2010 LetterfromJamesSporetoRearAdmiralBoensel,Commander,NavyRegionMidAtlantic

August17,2010 LetterofNoPrejudicefromFederalTransitAdministration

August17,2010 LetterfromJamesSporetoHRT

November22,2010 LetterfromHRTtoFederalAviationAdministrationMarch30,2011 EmailfromFTAtoHRTre:travelforecasting

April1,2011 LetterfromHRTtoFederalTransitAdministration

April8,2011 LetterfromFTAtoHRTinresponsetoApril1,2011letter

May2,2011 LetterfromHRTtoFederalTransitAdministration

April24,2012 LetterfromJamesSporetoHRTre:HilltopAlternative

March25,2013 LetterfromHRTtoCaptainRobertN.Geis,CommandingOfficer,NASOceana

April25,2013 Utilitycoordinationmeetinginvitationletter

May7,2013 CoordinationlettertoNOAA

May7,2013 CoordinationlettertoU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers

May7,2013 CoordinationlettertoU.S.CoastGuard

May7,

2013

Coordination

letter

to

U.S.

Fish

and

Wildlife

Service

June6,2013 FTAemailtoVirginiaDepartmentofHistoricResources(VDHR)re:VBTESSection106Initiation

June6,2013 LetterfromFTAtoVDHRre:VBTESSection106Initiation

June7,2013 LetterfromNOAA

June11,2013 EmailcorrespondenceregardingFHWAroleasparticipatingagency

June18,2013 CoordinationlettertoVirginiaDepartmentofGameandInlandFisheries

June21,2013 LetterfromU.S.FishandWildlifeService

June26,2013 LetterfromVirginiaDepartmentofHistoricResourcestoFTA

June27,2013 LetterfromVirginiaDepartmentofGameandInlandFisheries

July10,2013 LetterfromHRTtoFTAre:redesignationofVBTESfromAA/SDEIStoDEIS

July16,2013 ProjectreviewrequesttoVirginiaDepartmentofConservationandRecreation

August

2,

2013

Letter

from

Federal

Transit

Administration

to

HRT

August2,2013 EmailcorrespondencefromVirginiaDepartmentofHistoricResources

August14,2013 NoticeofIntentPublishedVersion

August14,2013 LetterfromCaptainGeis(NASOceanaCommandingOfficer)toHRT

August16,2013 LetterfromVirginiaDepartmentofEnvironmentalQuality

August26,2013 LetterfromDepartmentofConservationandRecreation

September10,2013 NotesfromphonecallwithU.S.CoastGuard(inresponsetocoordinationletter)

November6,2013 LetterfromHRTtoVirginiaDepartmentofHistoricResources

November26,2013 LetterfromVirginiaDepartmentofHistoricResources


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Virginia Beach Transit Extension

Using Former NSRR Property

City of Virginia Beach

NAS Oceana

Atlantic

Ocean

Former NSRR Property


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Virginia Beach Transit Extension

Hilltop (Laskin Road) Alternative Alignment

City of Virginia Beach

NAS Oceana

Atlantic

Ocean

Former NSRR Property

Laskin Road


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Planning Consultants

Redhake(eggs,larvae,juveniles,andadults)

Witchflounder(eggs)

Yellowtailflounder(larvae)

Windowpaneflounder(eggs,larvae,juveniles,andadults)

Atlanticseaherring(adults)

Bluefish(juvenilesandadults)

Atlanticbutterfish(eggs,larvae,juveniles,andadults)

Summerflounder(larvae,juveniles,andadults)

Scup(larvae,juveniles,andadults)

Blackseabass (larvae,juveniles,andadults)

Kingmackerel(eggs,larvae,juveniles,andadults)

Spanishmackerel(eggs,larvae,juveniles,andadults)

Cobia(eggs,larvae,juveniles,andadults)

Reddrum(eggs,larvae,juveniles,andadults)

Sandtigershark(larvaeandadults)

Atlanticsharpnoseshark(adult)

Duskyshark(larvaeandjuveniles)

Sandbarshark(larvae,juveniles,andadult)

Scallopedhammerheadshark(juveniles)

Tigershark(larvaeandjuveniles)

On behalf of HRT, FHI requests that your office kindly forward us any information on federal rare,

threatened,orendangeredmarinespecies information,managed fishspecies,oressential fishhabitat

thatmay existwithin or adjacent to the project study corridor.We look forward to receiving any

informationyoucanprovideus,andtofuturecoordinationwithyouroffice.

Verytruly

yours,

FITZGERALD&HALLIDAY,INC.

StephanieDyerCarroll,AICP

SeniorProjectManager

Enclosure

cc:C.Tillery(FHI);E.Nelson(HDR);JulieTimm(HRT)


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WitchduckStation

Town CenterStation

Copyright: 2013 National Geographic Society, i-cubed

264321

Virginia BeacTransit

Extension Stu

USGS ProjecLocation

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,0

Feet

Original in Color - FHI - 4

Page 1 of 4

USGS QuadrangKempsville, Princess

1:24,000

USGSQuadranBounda

Project A


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LynnhavenStation

NorthOceanaStation

Hilltop

West

Station

Hilltop

East

Station

Vehicle Storage andMaintenance Facility (LRT)

Vehicle Storageand MaintenanceFacility (BRT)

Great NeckStation


264321


Extension Stu

USGS ProjecLocation

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,0

Feet


Page 3 of 4

USGS QuadrangPrincess Anne

1:24,000

USGSQuadranBounda

Project A


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17thStreetStation

ConventionCenterStation

OceanfrontStation

BirdneckStation


264321


Extension Stu

USGS ProjecLocation

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Feet


Page 4 of 4

USGS QuadrangPrincess Anne, Virginia

1:24,000

USGSQuadranBounda

Project A


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FITZGERALD & HALLIDAY, INC .Inno va t ive Planning, Bet te r Co mm unit ies

72 Cedar Street Hartford, C T 06106

Tel. (860) 247-7200

Fax (860) 247-7206

May7,2013

Mr.MattWicks

U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineersNorfolkDistrictOffice

ATTN:CENAOWRR

803FrontStreet

Norfolk,VA23510

Subject: Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

NavigabilityofWaterCrossings

DearMr.

Wicks,

Undercontract toHDR, Inc.,Fitzgerald&Halliday, Inc. (FHI) isassistingHamptonRoadsTransit (HRT)

withthepreparationoftheVirginiaBeachTransitExtensionStudy(VBTES)toexaminethebesttransit

optionsavailable fora formerNorfolkSouthernRailroad rightofway inVirginiaBeach. InDecember,

DavidLaiuppawithourofficespokewithyouaboutseasonallimitationsofwetlanddelineations.Asyou

willrecall,awetlanddelineationwasundertakeninthefallof2009.Sincethattime,theStudyhasbeen

modifiedto includeafixedguidewayalignmentalternativethroughtheHilltopareaalongLaskinRoad

andstationlocationshavebeenmodifiedandrefined.

TheVBTES

project

involves

assessing

the

environmental

impact

of

various

transit

alternatives

including

bus, bus rapid transit, and light rail transit, along approximately 10.8miles of the former Norfolk

SouthernCorporationsrailrightofwayinVirginiaBeachandeastwardtotheOceanfrontat19thStreet.

This inactiverailcorridorextendsfromNewtownRoadattheNorfolkVirginiaBeachCity lineeastward

toBirdneckRoad ina lineroughlyparallelto Interstate264.TheOceanfrontextensionofthecorridor

startsatBirdneckRoadandstretchesalong17thStreetandWashingtonStreetto19thStreetandArctic.

AnalternativefixedguidewayalignmenttotheOceanfrontisalsobeingstudiedthroughtheHilltoparea

alongLaskinRoad,andtwopotential locations foravehiclestorageandmaintenance facilityarealso

under study. The study corridor is depicted on the attached four map sheets derived from the

Kempsville,VA,PrincessAnne,VA,andVirginiaBeach,VAUSGSTopographicQuadrangleMaps.With

the exception of several proposed station locations (which are depicted by the bulbouts on the

attached

map

sheets),

the

study

corridor

being

evaluated

is

roughly

500

feet

wide.


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Onecomponentofouranalysisistheinvestigationanddocumentationofexistingnavigablewaterways

intheprojectstudycorridor. Wearehopingthatyoucandirectustosomeoneinyourofficethatcan

provide us with mapping that depicts navigation channels in the project corridor. In addition to

contacting you,wehave sent a similar request letteron toMr. Terrence Knowles of theU.S. Coast

Guard.

Wesincerely

appreciate

your

assistance

with

this.

Verytrulyyours,




cc:C.Tillery(FHI);E.Nelson(HDR);J.Timm(HRT)

Enclosure


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WitchduckStation

Town CenterStation


264321


Extension Stu

USGS ProjecLocation

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,0

Feet


Page 1 of 4


1:24,000

USGSQuadranBounda

Project A


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RosemontStation


264321


Extension Stu

USGS ProjecLocation

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,0

Feet


Page 2 of 4


1:24,000

USGSQuadranBounda

Project A


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LynnhavenStation

NorthOceanaStation

Hilltop

West

Station

Hilltop

East

Station



Great NeckStation


264321


Extension Stu

USGS ProjecLocation

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,0

Feet


Page 3 of 4


1:24,000

USGSQuadranBounda

Project A


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17thStreetStation


OceanfrontStation

BirdneckStation


264321


Extension Stu

USGS ProjecLocation

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,0

Feet


Page 4 of 4


1:24,000

USGSQuadranBounda

Project A


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FITZGERALD & HALLIDAY, INC .Inno va t ive Planning, Bet te r Co mm unit ies

72 Cedar Street Hartford, C T 06106

Tel. (860) 247-7200

Fax (860) 247-7206

May

7,

2013

Mr.TerranceKnowles

EnvironmentalProtectionSpecialist

UnitedStatesCoastGuardFifthDistrict

431CrawfordStreet

Portsmouth,VA237045004

Subject: VirginiaBeachTransitExtensionStudyDraftEnvironmentalImpactStatement(DEIS)

DearMr.Knowles,

Under contract toHDR Engineering, Inc., Fitzgerald&Halliday, Inc. (FHI) is assistingHamptonRoads

Transit(HRT)withthepreparationoftheVirginiaBeachTransitExtensionStudy(VBTES)toexaminethe

besttransitoptionsavailableforaformerNorfolkSouthernRailroadrightofwayinVirginiaBeach.Our

initialinquiryrelativetothenavigabilityofwatercrossingswithintheprojectcorridorwassubmittedto

your office in December 2009. Since this time, options have been added for the fixedguideway

alignmentintheHilltopareaalongLaskinRoadandstationlocationshavebeenrefined.Thus,FHIseeks

toreinitiateourcoordinationeffortswithyourofficeandkindlyrequestsany information includinga

statementofyourconcerns, ifany, relative topotential impacts from theprojectonnavigablewater

crossings.Any informationprovidedwillbeutilized in thepreparationofDraftEnvironmental Impact

Statement(DEIS)fortheproject.

TheVBTESprojectinvolvesassessingtheenvironmental impactofvarioustransitalternativesincluding

bus, bus rapid transit, and light rail transit, along approximately 10.8miles of the former Norfolk

SouthernCorporationsrailrightofwayinVirginiaBeachandeastwardtotheOceanfrontat19thStreet.

This inactiverailcorridorextendsfromNewtownRoadattheNorfolkVirginiaBeachCity lineeastward

toBirdneckRoad ina lineroughlyparallelto Interstate264.TheOceanfrontextensionofthecorridor

startsatBirdneckRoadandstretchesalong17th

StreetandWashingtonStreetto19th

StreetandArctic.

AnalternativefixedguidewayalignmenttotheOceanfrontisalsobeingstudiedthroughtheHilltoparea

alongLaskinRoad,and twopotential locations foravehiclestorageandmaintenance facilityarealso

under study. The study corridor is depicted on the attached four map sheets derived from the

Kempsville,VA,PrincessAnne,VA,andVirginiaBeach,VAUSGSTopographicQuadrangleMaps.With

theexception

of

several

proposed

station

locations

(which

are

depicted

by

the

bulb

outs

on

the

attachedmapsheets),thestudycorridorbeingevaluatedisroughly500feetwide.

In2009,weconductedfieldworkfromNewtownRoad inNorfolk,VAeasttoBirdneckRoad inVirginia

Beach,VAtovisually inspectallofthemajorwatercrossingsalongtheprojectcorridor.Theresultsof

ourinvestigationarebrieflysummarizedintheparagraphsbelow.Insupportofoureffort,wekindlyask

that you review this information and provide us with any information or mapping you may have

regardingnavigablewaterwaysintheprojectcorridor.Wealsorequestthatyourenderadetermination


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as to the currentnavigabilityof thecrossingsdiscussedbelowand informus ifanyU.S.CoastGuard

permits or other requirements will apply at these locations so that we may document those

requirementsintheDEIS.

ThaliaCreekCrossing

The proposed project corridor,which follows the path of theNorfolk Southern rail corridor, crosses

ThaliaCreek

just

east

of

Town

Center.

The

existing

railroad

bridge

over

the

creek

is

awooden

structure

withtimbercrossplanksblockingalloftheopeningsbetweenthepiersexceptforone(refertoPhotoI

attached).Due to the limited clearanceunder the timber crossplanksandnarrowwidthof the lone

opening between piers (approximately eight feet), it appears that only kayaks and canoes can

successfullypassunderthebridge.Additionally,areviewofGoogleEarth(2009)aerialphotosrevealed

that therearenodocksorother signsofboating activitydownstream (southof theexisting railroad

bridge.UpstreamverticalclearanceiscontrolledbythefixedbridgeatVirginiaBeachBoulevard.Tothe

north of the railroad bridge, the first dock is encountered approximately 0.7miles upstream of the

crossingon theeastsideof thecreek,opposite theathletic fieldsassociatedwithPrincessAnneHigh

School.AsoneproceedsfurthertothenorthalongthecreekandintoHebdenCoveandWitchduckBay,

docksandboatingactivitysteadilyincrease.

LondonBridgeCreek

The Norfolk Southern rail corridor crosses London Bridge Creek just to the northeast of the I264

LynnhavenParkwayinterchange.LiketheThaliaCreekcrossing,thebridgeincludestimbercrossplanks

that covermanyof theopeningsbetween thepiers (refer to Photo2 attached). It appears that the

limited clearanceunder the timber crossplanksand thenarrowwidthof theunobstructedopenings

betweenpiers(approximatelyeightfeet)mayonlybesuitableforthepassageofkayaksandcanoes.A

reviewofGoogleEarth (2009)aerialphotographydid reveal thepresenceofasingle residentialdock

located approximately0.6milesdownstream (to the south)of theexisting railroadbridge.Noother

docksorsignsofactiveboatingwerenotedalongdownstreamreachesofthecreek.Approximately0.2

milesupstreamoftherailroadbridge,docksbegintoappearjustnorthoftheVirginiaBeachBoulevard

bridgeand

steadily

increase

in

frequency

as

one

heads

north

along

the

creek

towards

Lynnhaven

Bay.

GreatNeckCreek

AnothermajorcrossingofacreekbytheprojectcorridorisoverGreatNeckCreekjusttothenortheast

oftheOceanaNavalBase.Thecreekactuallyflowsundertherailroadcorridorviaalargeculvertandthe

channeljustnorthandsouthoftheculvertisnarrowanddenselyvegetated(refertoPhoto3attached).

ThereareseveralothersmallercreeksandwaterwayscrossedbytheexistingrailcorridorbutlikeGreat

NeckCreek,allflowthroughculvertsofvarioussizesundertherailroadbed.Noneoftheseappeartobe

navigableinthevicinityoftheprojectcorridor.

Linkhorn

Bay

DuetotheadditionoftheHilltopalignmentalternativeonLaskinRoad,anadditionalcrossing isbeing

addedtotheDEISatUpperLinkhornBay.Atthistime,afieldsurveyhasnotbeencompleted forthis

crossing. Fieldsurveyworkisanticipatedtobeperformedlaterthismonth.


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InadditiontoreachingouttotheU.S.CoastGuard for information,wewillalsoconsultwiththeU.S.

ArmyCorpsofEngineerstorequestanymappingtheymayhavethatdepictsnavigablewaterwaysinthe

projectstudycorridor.Wesincerelyappreciateyourassistanceand look forward tohearing fromyou

soon.

Verytrulyyours,

FITZGERALD&

HALLIDAY,

INC.




Enclosure


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PhotosofMajorCreekCrossingsintheVirginiaBeachTransitExtensionStudyCorridor

Photo

1:

View

of

upstream

face

of

the

Norfolk

Southern

Railroad

Bridge

over

Thalia

Creek.

Note

that

timbercrossplanksblockpassagethroughopeningsexceptinonelocation. Thatopeningisroughly

eightfeetinwidth.


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Photo2:ViewofupstreamfaceoftheNorfolkSouthernRailroadBridgeoverLondonBridgeCreek.Note

thattimbercrossplanksblockpassagethoughseveraloftheopeningsbetweenthepiers.Unobstructed

openingsareroughlyeightfeetinwidth.


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Photo3:ViewofvegetatednarrowchannelatGreatNeckCreekproximatetotheexistingrailcorridor.


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WitchduckStation

Town CenterStation


264321


Extension Stu

USGS ProjecLocation

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,0

Feet


Page 1 of 4


1:24,000

USGSQuadranBounda

Project A


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RosemontStation


264321


Extension Stu

USGS ProjecLocation

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,0

Feet


Page 2 of 4


1:24,000

USGSQuadranBounda

Project A


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LynnhavenStation

NorthOceanaStation

Hilltop

West

Station

Hilltop

East

Station



Great NeckStation


264321


Extension Stu

USGS ProjecLocation

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,0

Feet


Page 3 of 4


1:24,000

USGSQuadranBounda

Project A


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17thStreetStation


OceanfrontStation

BirdneckStation


264321


Extension Stu

USGS ProjecLocation

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,0

Feet


Page 4 of 4


1:24,000

USGSQuadranBounda

Project A


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UsingtheVirginiaDepartmentofGame&InlandFisheriesBOVAonlinedatabase,wehavegenerateda

listoffederalandstateendangeredand/orthreatenedspecieswithina10mileradiusaroundVirginia

Beach.Thislistisenclosedforyourreference.Werespectfullyrequestyourprofessionalopiniononany

anticipatedimpactstothesespeciesfromtheproposedproject.

Welookforwardtoreceivinganyinformationyoucanprovideus,andtofuturecoordinationwithyour

office.

Verytrulyyours,



SeniorProject

Manager

Enclosure



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FederalandStateThreatenedandEndangeredSpecieswithin10milesofVirginiaBeach

BOVACode Status* Tier CommonName ScientificName

030071 FTST I Turtle, loggerhead sea Caretta caretta

040120 FTST I Plover, piping Charadrius melodus

030064 SE I Turtle, eastern chicken Deirochelys reticularia reticularia

040118 SE I Plover, Wilson's Charadrius wilsonia

040110 SE I Rail, black Laterallus jamaicensis

050034 SE I Bat, Rafinesque's eastern bigeared Corynorhinus rafinesquii macrotis

040096 ST I Falcon, peregrine Falco peregrinus

040129 ST I Sandpiper, upland Bartramia longicauda

040293 ST I Shrike, loggerhead Lanius ludovicianus

040379 ST I Sparrow, Henslow's Ammodramus henslowii

040179 ST I Tern, gullbilled Sterna nilotica

010032 FESE II Sturgeon, Atlantic Acipenser oxyrinchus

030013 SE II Rattlesnake, canebrake Crotalus horridus

040183 FESE IV Tern, roseate Sterna dougallii dougallii

050008 ST IV Shrew, Dismal Swamp southeastern Sorex longirostris fisheri

030073 FESE Turtle, hawksbill sea Eretmochelys imbricata

030074 FESE Turtle, Kemp's ridley sea Lepidochelys kempii

030075 FESE Turtle, leatherback sea Dermochelys coriacea

030072 FTST Turtle, green sea Chelonia mydas

040403 ST Falcon, Arctic peregrine Falco peregrinus tundrius040292 ST Shrike, migrant loggerhead Lanius ludovicianus migrans

* FT = federal threatened, FE = federal endangered, ST = state threatened, SE = state endangered

Source:VirginiaDepartmentofGame&InlandFisheriesBOVAonlinedatabase,February2013


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WitchduckStation

Town CenterStation


264321


Extension Stu

USGS ProjecLocation

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,0

Feet


Page 1 of 4


1:24,000

USGSQuadranBounda

Project A


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RosemontStation


264321


Extension Stu

USGS ProjecLocation

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,0

Feet


Page 2 of 4


1:24,000

USGSQuadranBounda

Project A


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LynnhavenStation

NorthOceanaStation

Hilltop

West

Station

Hilltop

East

Station



Great NeckStation


264321


Extension Stu

USGS ProjecLocation

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,0

Feet


Page 3 of 4


1:24,000

USGSQuadranBounda

Project A


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17thStreetStation


OceanfrontStation

BirdneckStation


264321


Extension Stu

USGS ProjecLocation

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,0

Feet


Page 4 of 4


1:24,000

USGSQuadranBounda

Project A


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From: Julie Timm

To: Nelson, Eric

Subject: FW: Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study DEIS Section 106 Initiation (FTA)

Date: Thursday, June 06, 2013 11:58:41 AM

Attachments: image001.pngimage002.pngVB Transit Extension Study DEIS Section 106 Initiation Ltr 06_06_13.pdfAttachment A - FTA letter to DHR_8 4 09.pdfAttachment B SHPO Project Vicinity Corridors Under Consideration.pdf

YAY!

Julie E. Timm, AICP, CEP

Transit Development Officer

Hampton Roads Transit

509 East 18th Street, Building #4

Norfolk, VA 23504

(p) 757-222-6000 x6699

(c) 757-771-0672

www.gohrt.com

From:[email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]Sent:Thursday, June 06, 2013 11:32 AMTo:[email protected]:[email protected]; William E. Harrell; Ray Amoruso; Julie Timm; [email protected];[email protected]:Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study DEIS Section 106 Initiation (FTA)

Dear Ms. Kilpatrick,

Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), in cooperation with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), isstudying the possible extension of fixed-guideway transit service in the City of Virginia Beach. The

attached letter (hard copy to follow) serves as the official notification from FTA of the initiation of

the Section 106 process for this project. Supporting documentation with this initiation letter

includes previous correspondence with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (SHPO), as

well as maps indicating the proposed project vicinity and corridors under consideration. A third

supporting document, prepared by the project sponsor, contains a Phase IA Cultural Resources

Reconnaissance Survey regarding historic resources. However, since this document is 48 MB, HRT

will be able to provide you a download link for this file, if that is acceptable to you.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.

Thank you,

Ryan Long, AICP

Community Planner

Federal Transit Administration, Region III

1760 Market Street, Suite 500

Philadelphia, PA 19103
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://c/www.gohrt.comhttp://c/www.gohrt.commailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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p: 215.656.7051

f: 215.656.7260

[email protected]

HAMPTON ROADS TRANSIT LEGAL NOTICE: The information contained in this communication

(including any attachments) may be confidential and legally privileged information intended solely for

the use of the intended recipient. This email may not serve as a contractual agreement unless explicit

written agreement for this purpose has been made. If you are not the intended recipient, you are

hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication or any of its

contents is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please re-send this

communication to the sender indicating that it was received in error and delete the original message

and any copy of it from your computer system. You may also contact the sender immediately by calling

Hampton Roads Transit at 757.222.6000.
mailto:[email protected]://www.facebook.com/FTADOThttps://twitter.com/FTA_DOThttps://www.facebook.com/FTADOTmailto:[email protected]


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Marisel Lpez CruzPlanning and Environmental SpecialistFederal Highway Administration

400 North 8thStreet, Suite 750Richmond, Virginia 23219Phone: (804) 775-3376

Fax: (804) 804-775-3356

From:Julie Timm [mailto:[email protected]]Sent:Wednesday, May 08, 2013 11:19 AMTo:Ray Amoruso; Nelson, Eric; Chandler, Chad; 'Lutke, Amanda'; Lee Roy Padgett; Koenig, Daniel(FTA); 'Inman, Amy (DRPT)'; Long, Ryan (FTA); Morkunas, Vida (FTA); Lopez-Cruz, Marisel (FHWA);'Lee, Nelson T. "Ty" PE (VDOT)'; 'Stringfield, Eric L. (VDOT)'; 'Jack, Adam J. PE (VDOT)'; Simkins, John(FHWA); Mark Schnaufer; Samantha Sink; Don LintSubject:VBTES FTA/FHWA Presentation from May 6, 2013

Marisel,

Please find attached the Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study FTA/FHWA Presentation from May 6,

2013 for your review. Notes have been included with key slides to describe areas where the

proposed project crosses or potentially impacts federal aid roads.

If you or your team have any questions on this information, please feel free to contact me directly.

Respectfully,

Julie

Julie E. Timm, AICP, CEP

Transit Development Officer

Hampton Roads Transit

509 East 18th Street, Building #4

Norfolk, VA 23504

(p) 757-222-6000 x6699

(c) 757-771-0672

www.gohrt.com

HAMPTON ROADS TRANSIT LEGAL NOTICE: The information contained in this communication

(including any attachments) may be confidential and legally privileged information intended solely for

the use of the intended recipient. This email may not serve as a contractual agreement unless explicit

written agreement for this purpose has been made. If you are not the intended recipient, you are

hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication or any of its

contents is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please re-send this
mailto:[email protected]://c/www.gohrt.comhttp://c/www.gohrt.commailto:[email protected]


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communication to the sender indicating that it was received in error and delete the original message

and any copy of it from your computer system. You may also contact the sender immediately by calling

Hampton Roads Transit at 757.222.6000.


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5/14/2013 11:03:40 AM Fish and Wildlife Information Service

Help

Virginia Department of Game and Inland

Fisheries

25 Species Booklets for Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds,Mammals, Mollusks, Other Aquatic Invertebrates,

Terrestrial Invertebrates, Marine Mammals having Status or Wildlife Action

Plan codes "FE, FT, FS, SE, ST" in (810) Virginia Beach City

A Species Booklet Pop-up Window is opened when you click on any common name.Table is currently ordered by Status importance *- Click another column header to sort by that column.

Species Code Status * WAP ** Common Name Scientific Name

010032 FESE II Sturgeon, Atlantic Acipenser oxyrinchus

040183 FESE IV Tern, roseate Sterna dougallii dougallii030073 FESE Turtle, hawksbill sea Eretmochelys imbricata

030074 FESE Turtle, Kemp's ridley sea Lepidochelys kempii

030075 FESE Turtle, leatherback sea Dermochelys coriacea

030071 FTST I Turtle, loggerhead sea Caretta caretta

040120 FTST I Plover, piping Charadrius melodus

030072 FTST Turtle, green sea Chelonia mydas

030064 SE I Turtle, eastern chicken

Deirochelys reticularia

reticularia

040118 SE I Plover, Wilson's Charadrius wilsonia

040110 SE I Rail, black Laterallus jamaicensis

050034 SE IBat, Rafinesque's eastern big-

eared

Corynorhinus rafinesquii

macrotis

030013 SE II Rattlesnake, canebrake Crotalus horridus

040096 ST I Falcon, peregrine Falco peregrinus

040129 ST I Sandpiper, upland Bartramia longicauda

040293 ST I Shrike, loggerhead Lanius ludovicianus

040379 ST I Sparrow, Henslow's Ammodramus henslowii

040179 ST I Tern, gull-billed Sterna nilotica

030010 ST II Lizard, eastern glass Ophisaurus ventralis

050008 ST IVShrew, Dismal Swamp

southeasternSorex longirostris fisheri

040403 ST Falcon, Arctic peregrine Falco peregrinus tundrius

Page 1 of 2VAFWIS - Species Information - Available Booklets

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040292 ST Shrike, migrant loggerhead Lanius ludovicianus migrans

040144 FC IV Knot, red Calidris canutus rufus

040093 FS II Eagle, bald Haliaeetus leucocephalus

100002 FS IIISkipper, Duke's (or scarce

swamp)Euphyes dukesi

*FE=Federal Endangered; FT=Federal Threatened; SE=State Endangered; ST=State Threatened; FP=Federal Proposed;FC=Federal Candidate; FS=Federal Species of Concern; CC=Collection Concern

**I=VA Wildlife Action Plan - Tier I - Critical Conservation Need;II=VA Wildlife Action Plan - Tier II - Very High Conservation Need;III=VA Wildlife Action Plan - Tier III - High Conservation Need;

IV=VA Wildlife Action Plan - Tier IV - Moderate Conservation Need

List completeness is dependent on a search for published scientific records of which there may be many naming counties but few forother area types.

audit no. 460240 5/14/2013 11:03:40 AM Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service

1998-2013 Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

Page 2 of 2VAFWIS - Species Information - Available Booklets

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Administrative Services

10 Courthouse Ave.

Petersburg, VA 23803

Tel: (804) 862-6416

Fax: (804) 862-6196

Capital Region Office

2801 Kensington Ave.

Richmond, VA 23221

Tel: (804) 367-2323

Fax: (804) 367-2391

Douglas W. Domenech

Secretary of Natural Resources

COMM

De2801 Kens

June 26, 2013

Ryan Long, Community Planner

Federal Transit Administration, Re1760 Market Street, Suite 500

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Re: Virginia Beach Transit Ext City of Virginia Beach, Vir DHR File No. 2009-1705

Dear Mr. Long,

On June 6, 2013, the Virginia Depathe above-referenced project for ou

Preservation Act of 1966, as amend

funding through the Federal Transit

DHR understands that Hampton Ro

into the City of Virginia Beach, Virthe project will connect the existing

The proposed extension will run al

Norfolk Southern Rail Corridor, pu

also under consideration using lightWe understand that the range of alt

Thank you for initiating Section 10

development of the Area of Potenti

with your consultant to review the

please contact me at (804) 482-608

Sincerely,

Andrea Kampinen, Architectural Hi

Office of Review and Compliance

Cc: Dan Koenig, FTA; Julie Ti

Tidewater Region Office

14415 Old Courthouse Way

2ndFloor

Newport News, VA 23608

Tel: (757) 886-2807

Fax: (757) 886-2808

Western Region Office

962 Kime Lane

Salem, VA 24153

Tel: (540) 387-5443

Fax: (540) 387-5446

ONWEALTH of VIRGINIA

artment of Historic Resourcesngton Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23221

ion III

nsion Section 106 Initiationginia

rtment of Historic Resources (DHR) received infor review and comment pursuant to Section 106 of th

ed. We understand that the proposed project may b

Administration (FTA), and FTA would like to initi

ads Transit (HRT) is studying a proposed extension

ginia. Currently being studied under a Draft EIS,light rail service at Newtown Road to the Virginia

ng the inactive National Register of Historic Places

chased by the City of Virginia Beach in 2012. Oth

rail and bus rapid transit fixed-guide way options frnatives may change.

with our office. We look forward to working with

l Effects and list of consulting parties. We have a

roject on July 17, 2013. Should you have any addit

, or via email at [email protected]

storian

m, HRT; Jeanne Barnes, HDR, Inc.

Northern Region Office

5357 Main Street

P.O. Box 519

Stephens City, VA 22655

Tel: (540) 868-7029

Fax: (540) 868-7033

Kathleen S. Kilpatr

Director

Tel: (804) 367-2323

Fax: (804) 367-239TDD: (804) 367-23

www.dhr.virginia.g

ation regardingNational Historic

receiving federal

te Section 106.

of transit service

ursuant to NEPA,each Oceanfront.

(NRHP) -eligible

r corridors are

r the extension.

you on the

eeting scheduled

ional questions,

.


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Our initial inquiry relative to Natural Heritage resources was submitted in December 2009. Your office

responded in January 2010, indicating that no impacts were anticipated to Natural Heritage resources and

state threatened plants and insects. Since this time, options have been added for the fixed-route alignment

in the Hilltop area along Laskin Road and station locations have been refined.

Project Location: The study corridor for the various alignment options is depicted on the attached four

map sheets derived from the Kempsville, VA, Princess Anne, VA, and Virginia Beach, VA USGS

Topographic Quadrangle Maps. With the exception of several proposed station and vehicle maintenance

locations, depicted by the bulb-outs on the attached map sheets, the study corridor being evaluated is

roughly 500 feet wide. The approximate center point of the corridor is Lat: 36 50 21.94N, Long: 76 05

24.53W.

Acreage: For the purposes of this Natural Heritage project review, we are concerned with the presence of

endangered and/or threatened species within approximately 250 feet of the center line of the corridor. In

addition to the corridor we are also interested in information on areas where potential stations or vehicle

storage and maintenance facilities are planned. The location of these proposed stations is still under

review but they will likely be located within the bulb-outs depicted on the USGS maps referencedabove. The entire study area including the 500-foot wide corridor, station locations and maintenance

facilities encompasses approximately 1,200 acres within the City of Virginia Beach.

Existing Site Conditions: The project study corridor is heavily developed on both sides from Newtown

Road to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Development along the corridor is a mix of commercial,

industrial, and residential properties. Major water crossings include Thalia Creek to the east of Virginia

Beach Town Center, London Bridge Creek, Great Neck Creek, and Upper Linkhorn Bay. Development in

the vicinity of Thalia Creek, London Bridge Creek and Great Neck Creek is less dense than the

surrounding area. The only other portion of the corridor that is not heavily developed is where it passes

north and northeast of Oceana Naval Base. In general, narrow drainage ditch wetlands and grassy and/or

shrubby areas characterize much of the inactive railroad right-of-way. Fieldwork for this portion of theproject was undertaken in 2009. Additional fieldwork was undertaken in April 2013, including a survey

of the Laskin Road corridor. The conditions along the Laskin Road corridor consist of a mix of

commercial, industrial and residential properties. The only major water crossing within this portion of the

alignment is Upper Linkhorn Bay. Photos 1-4 below are typical representations of the topography,

vegetation, and environmental conditions found along the inactive railroad corridor. Photo 5 depicts

conditions along Laskin Road. Photos 6-9 depict conditions at the major water crossings.


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Photo 1: Looking east along corridor toward I-264 overpass with Witchduck Road just further to

the east

Photo 2: Looking east from a point just west of Virginia Beach Town Center


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Photo 3: Looking east from a point just west of Thalia Creek Crossing

Photo 4: Near Oceana Naval Base


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Photo 5: Laskin Road west of First Colonial Road

Photo 6: Thalia Creek Crossing


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Photo 7: London Bridge Creek and Vicinity

Photo 8: Great Neck Creek and Vicinity


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Photo 9: Upper Linkhorn Bay

Send data and invoice (if applicable) to:

Stephanie Dyer-Carroll, AICP

Senior Project Manager

Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc.

72 Cedar Street

Hartford, CT 06106

[email protected]

Phone (860) 247-7200

Fax: (860) 247-7206


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From: Kampinen, Andrea (DHR)

To: [email protected]; [email protected]

Cc: Barnes, Jeanne; Nelson, Eric;[email protected]; Mark E. Shea ([email protected])

Subject: Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study

Date: Friday, August 02, 2013 11:03:02 AM

Dan and Ryan,

As a follow up from our meeting on July 25th, I intend to formally comment on the Area of Potential

Effects and Survey Methodology in order to keep 106 moving on this project, however there were a

few survey questions I needed to ask our Survey Coordinator, Carey Jones. I discussed Jeannes

suggestions for architectural survey along the corridor with Carey, but before we made a decision,

Carey wanted the opinion of our Deputy Director. Unfortunately, she is out of the office this week,

but due back next week. Carey and I should be able to catch her for a few minutes once she gets

caught up. As soon as I have an answer, Ill speak with Jeanne before I put everything into a formal

comment letter. I believe HDR said they wouldnt be able to start surveying until September, so I

hope we have a little time.

For future correspondence, Ill just stick to our arrangement weve had for other FTA projects. Ill

copy both of you on major 106 milestones, but keep most of the technical back and forth questions

between DHR and the consultants. If you prefer otherwise, just let me know.

Thanks,

Andrea

Andrea Kampinen

Architectural Historian, Office of Review and Compliance

Virginia Department of Historic Resources

2801 Kensington Avenue

Richmond, VA 23221

(804) 482-6084

Fax: (804) 367-2391

[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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49601Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 157 / Wednesday, August 14, 2013/ Notices

to 23 CFR 771.123(a), FTA and HRTnow issue this Notice of Intent (NOI) foran EIS for the VBTES. Although theVBTES has been under consideration insome form since the 1980s, and wasincluded in the 2000 Final EIS, this EISwill specifically rely on relevantinformation that has been developedover the last several years since the 2009

Supplemental EIS was proposed.The EIS for the VBTES will be

prepared in accordance with theNational Environmental Policy Act(NEPA). This NOI initiates formalscoping for the EIS, invites interestedparties to participate in the process,provides information about the purposeand need for the study, includes thealternatives being considered forevaluation in the EIS, and identifiespotential environmental effects to beconsidered.

HRT began its VBTES publicinvolvement process in 2009. It held

frequent public meetings in 2010, 2012,and 2013, and continues to receivepublic comments on the study today.HRT plans additional public meetingsfor September 2013 and November2013. These continued opportunities forpublic involvement in the VBTESmeans no formal public scopingmeetings are planned to be held for thisEIS.

In 2009 and 2013, HRT, incoordination with FTA, contactedinterested party agencies for the VBTES.As such, agencies that have previouslyresponded to invitations to engage inthe VBTES process will remain as

interested parties on the study and arenot required to formally respond to thisnotice.DATES: Written comments on the scopeof reasonable alternatives and impactsto be considered in the EIS must be sentto HRT as indicated below. Writtencomments must be received no laterthan September 13, 2013.ADDRESSES: Written comments should

be sent to Ms. Marie Arnt, PublicOutreach Coordinator, Hampton RoadsTransit, 509 E. 18th Street, Norfolk, VA23504, by email to [email protected],or through HRTs Web site at

www.gohrt.com/about/development/vbtes.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.Ryan Long, FTA Community Planner,phone: (215) 6567051.SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Proposed Project: HRT isproposing to extend transit service fromthe eastern terminus of Norfolksexisting LRT system, The Tide, atNewtown Road to the Virginia BeachOceanfront. The service extension willoperate as a fixed guideway transit

system within the primary east-westtransportation corridor in the City ofVirginia Beach, Virginia. A fixedguideway transit system operates on aseparate right-of-way that is exclusivefor transit or other high-occupancyvehicles. The VBTES will evaluatealternatives for this service extension,including LRT and Bus Rapid Transit

(BRT). The final alignment, number ofstations and their locations, and specificeastern and western termini will bedetermined through the EIS process.

HRT is intending to seek CapitalInvestment Grant (CIG) program fundingfrom FTA for one or more of thealternatives that will be examined in theEIS. The CIG program, more commonlyknown as the New Starts, Small Starts,and Core Capacity program, involves amulti-year, multi-step process thatproject sponsors must complete before aproject is eligible for funding. The stepsin the process and the basic

requirements of the program can befound on FTAs Web site atwww.fta.dot.gov.

Purposes of and Need for the Project:The purpose of the VBTES is to providean efficient, integrated, and multimodalsystem of public transit that:

Provides an efficient transportationoption independent of trafficcongestion;

Supports a dynamic local andregional economy by responding toexisting and future travel needs;

Maintains or enhances livablecommunities within the project studycorridor; and

Complements planned local growthinitiatives and strategies.

The City of Virginia Beach and theregion need VBTES to improve personalmobility and to reduce traffic congestionin ways that are safe and reliable andthat support future planned growth.Four decades of significant growth inpopulation, employment, and tourismin the City of Virginia Beach has led toincreased traffic and congestion onexisting roadways serving the studyarea. Daily and commute trips bymotorists and transit users have grownlonger resulting in congestion and

delays in both morning and eveningpeak periods in the primary east-westtransportation corridor through the Cityof Virginia Beach. This corridor isdefined by I264, Virginia BeachBoulevard, Laskin Road, and the formerNSRR ROW.

The area within the corridor is largelydeveloped. There are limited transitopportunities with the existing bussystem which shares these congestedroadways. In addition, the VirginiaBeach Oceanfront resort area is aprimary vacation destination for the

entire Commonwealth of Virginia andthe mid-Atlantic region. Non-work tripsto access the Virginia Beach Oceanfrontarea during the period of May throughSeptember lead to increased congestionand travel delays for visitors as well asfor residents making work and non-work trips. These recreational tripsoriginate from both within and outside

the region.Numerous transportation system

planning studies have been completedfor the Hampton Roads Region and theCity of Virginia Beach that haveexamined the feasibility of providingadditional transit service in the east-west corridor. These studies wereconducted with full publicparticipation. Each study identified theneed to provide an efficient, safe,economical, and balancedtransportation system (with auto,transit, and non-motorized modes oftravel) that would minimize the impact

to the environment and wouldcomplement the communitysdevelopment patterns. Development of afixed-guideway transit system throughVirginia Beachs east-west corridor isdiscussed in the following studies:

HRT/Hampton Roads RegionalPlanning District Commission Plans:

HRTPO Hampton Roads 2034 LongRange Transportation Plan (2012)

Hampton Roads Regional TransitVision Plan (2011)

HRPDC Hampton Roads 2030 LongRange Transportation Plan (2006)

Norfolk to Virginia Beach Light Rail

Transit Final EIS (2000) Virginia Beach Corridor MajorInvestment Study (1995)

The Rail Systems Analysis and FixedGuideway Service Plan (1991)

Planning for Restoration of RailPassenger Service (1988)

Study of the Cost Effectiveness ofRestoring Rail Passenger Service(1986)

City of Virginia Beach Plans:

Hilltop Strategic Growth Area (SGA)Master Plan (2012)

Lynnhaven SGA Master Plan (2012) Rosemont SGA Master Plan (2011) Newtown SGA Master Plan (2010) Pembroke SGA Implementation Plan

(2009) Virginia Beach Comprehensive Plan

(2009) Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort

Area Plan (2005) Virginia Beach Central Business

District Final Master Plan (1991)

The HRT/Hampton Roads RegionalPlanning District Commission long-range plans are available for review atthe HRT Web site (www.gohrt.com)andthe Hampton Roads Planning District

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49602 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 157 / Wednesday, August 14, 2013/ Notices

Commission Web site (www.hrpdc.org).The City of Virginia Beachs plans areavailable on its Web site(www.vbgov.com).

Alternatives: The EIS will considerbuild and no-build alternatives todetermine which would best serve thestudy area. The EIS will also includedescriptions of alternatives considered

for evaluation but which weredetermined not to be reasonable andtherefore will not be carried forward forevaluation in detail in the EIS. The

build alternatives being carried into theEIS will include LRT and BRTtechnologies.

In the VBTES, the fixed guidewayalignment options for the buildalternative(s) are:

Newtown Road to the Rosemontarea;

Newtown Road to the Oceanfrontalong the former NSRR ROW; and

Newtown Road to the Oceanfront

partially along Laskin and BirdneckRoads.The implementation of a fixed

guideway alternative would require thelocation and construction of stationsand park-and-ride facilities and mayrequire a vehicle storage andmaintenance facility. Stations would belocated at intervals that provide serviceto key activity centers in the studycorridor. The EIS will considerreasonable and feasible alternativelocations and configurations identifiedfor each of these facilities during thestudy process.

The EIS will collect and assess

information for each alternative in orderto evaluate and compare potential

benefits and impacts. This will includesuch information as:

Station locations; Ridership Forecasts; Construction and Operation Costs

(including utility relocations); Impacts to natural resources

(including wetlands, protected species,air quality); and

Impacts to the community andhistoric resources (including traffic,noise, businesses, residences,community resources).

No Build Alternative: The No-BuildAlternative serves as the NEPA baselineagainst which environmental effects ofother alternatives, including theproposed project once one is identified,will be measured. The No-BuildAlternative will include roadway andtransit facility and serviceimprovements (other than the BuildAlternatives) planned, programmed andincluded in the Financially ConstrainedRegional Transportation Plan to beimplemented by the Year 2040. The NoBuild Alternative will include minor

transit service expansions and/oradjustments that reflect a continuationof existing service policies as identified

by HRT.Probable Effects/Potential Impacts for

Analysis: HRT anticipates the VBTESwill result in a preferred buildalternative with beneficial travel andeconomic development effects but may

have some adverse environmentaleffects. The proposed build alternativewould result in travel time savings forexisting transit patrons and gain newtransit users who switch fromautomobiles, while offering a broaderrange of transportation options forVirginia Beach and the region. It willalso support economic development andland use goals of the City of VirginiaBeach as identified in itsComprehensive Plan and StrategicGrowth Area plans. The proposed buildalternative would also contribute togoals of reducing growth in vehicle

miles traveled and emissions, includinggreenhouse gases.The purpose of the EIS is to explore

in a public setting the effects of theproposed project and its alternatives onthe human and natural environment.FTA and HRT will evaluate thepotential social, economic, andenvironmental impacts of theconstruction and operation of theproposed project. Impact areas to beaddressed include: transportation; landuse, zoning, and economicdevelopment; secondary development;land acquisition, visual impacts,displacements and relocations; cultural

resources, including impacts onhistorical and archaeological resourcesand parklands/recreation areas;neighborhood compatibility andenvironmental justice; natural resourceimpacts including air quality, wetlands,and water resources; noise andvibration; energy use; safety andsecurity; and wildlife and ecosystems,including endangered species.Reasonable measures to avoid,minimize, and mitigate adverse impactswill be identified and evaluated.

Potential impacts are likely to belimited primarily to social and

economic impacts associated withdevelopment of a fixed guideway transitproject. These impacts includeenhanced development opportunitiesand changes in zoning and local plansrelated to station area development.Such changes will be coordinated withthe City of Virginia Beachscomprehensive plan and StrategicGrowth Area plans. Property acquisitionand displacement may occur because ofthe development of park-and-ridefacilities, alignments utilizing city streetrights-of-way, and/or placement of

traction power substations (if needed).Minimal, primarily short-term (e.g.,construction), impacts may occur towetlands and/or surface waters.Construction impacts may disrupt traveland access to businesses and/orresidences on a short term basis.

Role of Agencies and the Public:NEPA, and FTAs regulations

implementing NEPA, calls for publicinvolvement in the EIS process. FTAand HRT will continue to provide asubstantial level of public involvementthroughout the EIS process, includingopen house meetings, newsletters, andoutreach to city civic leagues and

businesses. However, no formal publicmeetings are planned for the scopingperiod associated with this NOI due tothe extensive previous public meetingshosted by HRT. Specifically related topublic and agency involvement, FTAand HRT will (1) extend an invitation toother Federal and non-Federal agencies

and Indian tribes that may have aninterest in the proposed project tobecome participating agencies; (2)provide an opportunity for involvement

by participating agencies and the publicin helping to define the purpose andneed for a proposed project, as well asthe range of alternatives forconsideration in the EIS; and (3)establish a plan for coordinating publicand agency participation in, andcomment on, the environmental reviewprocess.

A comprehensive public involvementprogram has been developed for theVBTES and is posted on the project Web

site at www.gohrt.com.The publicinvolvement program includes a fullrange of involvement activitiesincluding the project Web site; outreachto local officials, community and civicgroups, and the public; anddevelopment and distribution of projectnewsletters. Specific mechanisms forinvolvement are detailed in the publicinvolvement program.

The public and participating agenciesare invited to consider and comment onthis preliminary statement of thepurpose and need for the proposedVirginia Beach alternatives. Suggestions

for modifications to the statement ofpurpose and need for the proposedproject are welcome and will be givenserious consideration. Comments onpotential environmental impacts thatmay be associated with the proposedalternatives are also welcome. Therewill be additional opportunities toparticipate in the study process at futurepublic meetings.

FTA and HRT will comply with allapplicable Federal environmental laws,regulations, and executive orders duringthe environmental review process.

http://www.hrpdc.org/http://www.hrpdc.org/http://www.vbgov.com/http://www.vbgov.com/http://www.gohrt.com/http://www.gohrt.com/http://www.vbgov.com/http://www.hrpdc.org/


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49603Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 157 / Wednesday, August 14, 2013/ Notices

1NSR states that it is seeking abandonment topermit the removal of the remaining portion of therailroad bridge over the mouth of Devils RunSlough at the request of the United States CoastGuard (USCG), because USCG views the bridgestructure as an impediment to waterway navigation.

These requirements include, but are notlimited to, the regulations of the Councilon Environmental Qualityimplementing NEPA (40 CFR parts15001508) and FTAs own NEPAregulations (23 CFR part 771); the airquality conformity regulations of theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) (40 CFR part 93); the Section

404(b)(1) guidelines of EPA (40 CFR part230); the regulations implementingSection 106 of the National HistoricPreservation Act (36 CFR part 800); theregulations implementing Section 7 ofthe Endangered Species Act (50 CFRpart 402); Section 4(f) of the Departmentof Transportation Act (23 CFR part 774);Executive Order 12898 onEnvironmental Justice, 11988 onfloodplain management, and 11990 onwetlands; and DOT Order 5610.2(a) onEnvironmental Justice.

Paperwork Reduction: The PaperworkReduction Act seeks, in part, to

minimize the cost to the taxpayer of thecreation, collection, maintenance, use,dissemination, and disposition ofinformation. Consistent with this goaland with principles of economy andefficiency in government, it is FTApolicy to limit insofar as possibledistribution of complete printed sets ofNEPA documents. Accordingly, unless aspecific request for a complete printedset of the NEPA document is received

before the document is printed, FTAand HRT will distribute only electroniccopies of the NEPA document. Acomplete printed set of the

environmental document will beavailable for review at HRTs offices; anelectronic copy of the completeenvironmental document will beavailable on the HRTs Web site(www.gohrt.com).

Brigid Hynes-Cherin,

Regional Administrator.

[FR Doc. 201319623 Filed 81313; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[USCG200314294]

Gulf Gateway Deepwater PortDecommissioning and LicenseTermination

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Public Notice; Final AgencyApproval of the Gulf GatewayDeepwater Port Decommissioning andLicense Termination.

SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration(MARAD) announces its final clearance

and authorization of thedecommissioning of the Gulf GatewayDeepwater Port and termination of theGulf Gateway Deepwater Port License(License), effective as of June 28, 2013.Pursuant to Section 1503(h) of theDeepwater Port Act of 1974, asamended, a License may remain ineffect until such time as it is either

suspended or revoked by the Secretaryof Transportation or surrendered by thelicensee. For purposes of this agencyaction, MARAD has granted as of June28, 2013, final clearance of thecompleted decommissioning of the GulfGateway Deepwater Port facility, andapproved termination of the officialLicense and all other conditions andobligations set forth by the License.DATES: The date of termination of theLicense and all actions related to thisaction is effective as of June 28, 2013.ADDRESSES: The Docket ManagementFacility maintains the public docket for

this project. The docket may be viewedelectronically at http://www.regulations.govunder docketnumber USCG200314294, or inperson at the U.S. Department ofTransportation, Docket Operations, M30, West Building Ground Floor, RoomW12140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,Washington, DC 20590.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ifyou have questions about the GulfGateway Deepwater Port project, contactMs. Tracey Ford, Acting Office Director,Office of Deepwater Ports and OffshoreActivities at (202) 3660321 or

[email protected] INFORMATION: By letterdated February 21, 2011, ExcelerateEnergy LP (Excelerate) notified MARADand the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) of itsintention to decommission the GulfGateway Deepwater Port, located 116miles off the coast of Louisiana.Excelerates decision to decommissionthe Gulf Gateway Deepwater Port wasdue primarily to declining pipelinecapacity issues, significant operationalchallenges, and changes in the globalnatural gas market. In accordance withArticle 20 of the License, Excelerate is

required to decommission its deepwaterport in compliance with thedecommissioning plans approved by theMaritime Administrator and inaccordance with applicable Federalregulations and guidelines in place atthe time of decommissioning. TheLicense further requires that MARADapproval be granted in concurrence withother relevant Federal agencies. Thisrequirement was satisfied on April 14,2012, and Excelerate was grantedauthorization by MARAD to proceedwith its planned decommissioning

activities. Excelerate completed the finaldecommissioning process on March 14,2013. At the end of thedecommissioning process, allcomponents of the Gulf Gateway facilitywere removed and the connectingpipelines were decommissioned in-place, in accordance with applicableFederal regulations.

As of the date of this notice, MARADconcurred that all decommissioningactivities for the Gulf GatewayDeepwater Port have been completed,and approved termination of the officialLicense and other related Licenseobligations.

This Federal Register Noticecompletes the final close-out andtermination procedures for the GulfGateway Deepwater Port and License.No further action will be undertaken byMARAD.

Additional information pertaining tothe Gulf Gateway Deepwater Port

project may be found in the publicdocket at www.regulations.govunderdocket number USCG200314294.

Authority: 49 CFR 1.66

By order of the Maritime Administrator

Dated: August 8, 2013.

Julie P. Agarwal,

Secretary, Maritime Administration.

[FR Doc. 201319687 Filed 81313; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 491081P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[Docket No. AB 290 (Sub-No. 347X)]

Norfolk Southern Railway CompanyAbandonment Exemptionin MarengoCounty, Ala

Norfolk Southern Railway Company(NSR) has filed a verified notice ofexemption under 49 CFR part 1152subpart FExempt Abandonments toabandon approximately 0.8 miles of railline between milepost 241.3 N (east ofthe lines crossing of the mouth ofDevils Run Slough where the sloughjoins the Black Warrior River) and

milepost 242.1 N (near the intersectionof Nash Ave. and E. Franklin St., inDemopolis), in Marengo County, Ala.1The line traverses United States PostalService Zip Code 36925.

NSR has certified that: (1) No localtraffic has moved over the line for atleast two years; (2) no overhead traffic

http://www.gohrt.com/http://www.gohrt.com/http://www.regulations.gov/http://www.regulations.gov/mailto:[email protected]://www.regulations.gov/http://www.gohrt.com/http://www.regulations.gov/mailto:[email protected]://www.regulations.gov/http://www.regulations.gov/


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Douglas W. Domenech

Secretary of Natural Resources

COMM

De2801 Kens

November 26, 2013

Julie Timm, Transit Development

Hampton Roads Transit3400 Victoria Boulevard

Hampton, VA 23661

Re: Virginia Beach Transit ExtCity of Virginia Beach, Vir DHR File No. 2009-1705

Dear Ms. Timm,

ONWEALTH of VIRGINIA

artment of Historic Resourcesngton Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23221

fficer

nsion Survey Methodologyginia

Kathleen S. Kilpatr

Director

Tel: (804) 367-2323

Fax: (804) 367-239TDD: (804) 367-23

www.dhr.virginia.g

Appendix E - Agency Coordination and Correspondence

Documents

Transcript of Appendix E - Agency Coordination and Correspondence