STB to study environmental impact of Port Canaveral's proposed rail extension

The Surface Transportation Board's (STB) Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) has determined that the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is appropriate regarding the Canaveral Port Authority's (CPA) proposal to construct and operate an 11-mile rail line extension to Port Canaveral in Brevard County, Fla.

The authority plans to seek STB authorization for the project, which also calls for using about 17 miles of existing rail line at the NASA Kennedy Space Center to connect with a Florida East Coast Railway mainline. The Port Canaveral Rail Extension would begin near the port’s north cargo area, enter space center property on Merritt Island and then run north to the mainline connection.

The proposed project would provide the port with direct freight-rail access. The port currently has no on-dock or near-dock freight-rail service, and can only access rail service by truck.

The OEA plans to hold public scoping meetings Nov. 18 in Titusville, Fla., and Nov. 19 in Cape Canaveral, Fla., as part of the EIS development process. Written comments submitted by Dec. 19 during the scoping process will help the OEA issue a final scope of study that defines the range of actions, alternatives and impacts to be considered in the EIS, according to the STB.