Action
Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Summary
FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the FRA and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) will be preparing a Tier II Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a 123-mile portion of the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) Corridor from Washington, DC to Richmond, Virginia. The EIS will evaluate environmental and related impacts of upgrading the rail system and associated infrastructure between the Long Bridge over the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia and Centralia, Virginia, to implement higher speed passenger rail service, increase rail capacity, and improve passenger train reliability. FRA is issuing this notice to solicit public and agency input into the development of the scope of the EIS and to advise the public that outreach activities conducted by FRA and DRPT will be considered in the preparation of the EIS. To ensure all significant issues are identified and considered, the public is invited to comment on the scope of the EIS, including the purpose and need, alternatives to be considered, impacts to be evaluated, and methodologies to be used in the evaluation.