FDOT is currently working with the Federal Highway Administration to conduct a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviewing the preferred alternative for improving our interstate system. In its planning phase, this process serves as a community conversation and planning effort on the future of our region’s interstate system and how it integrates with multimodal choices under development across our region.

NEPA requires agencies that receive Federal funding assistance to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for major actions that significantly affect the quality of the human environment. An EIS is a full disclosure document that details the process through which a transportation project was developed, includes consideration of a range of reasonable alternatives, analyzes the potential impacts resulting from the alternatives, and demonstrates compliance with other applicable environmental laws and executive orders. The study is a supplement to the 1996 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and the Records of Decision (ROD) that FHWA issued in 1997 and 1999.  This EIS process is the most rigorous evaluation we can do in transportation planning. FDOT and FHWA are scheduled to complete the SEIS in late 2020. The SEIS focuses on the Downtown Tampa and Westshore Area interchanges and the section of I-275 between those areas. The SEIS is part of a long-standing plan to improve and modernize Tampa’s interstate system, originally called the Tampa Interstate Study. Click here to see the history of the TIS and access historical documents related to the original Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

The analysis for the SEIS uses the most current demographic, economic, and transportation data and design plans to evaluate environmental and social impacts to communities, including impacts such as noise, air quality, socioeconomic and environmental justice issues. The SEIS includes an alternatives analysis and mitigation strategy development where impacts are unavoidable.

Public Input and Project Schedule

FDOT continues to be committed to open and transparent dialogue with the community throughout the SEIS. As part of the process the FDOT held two alternatives workshops and a public hearing on the study. To view materials including display boards, documents and videos from the alternative’s workshops and public hearing, click here.

 The study schedule is located below. The FDOT and FHWA are working to complete the study by Fall 2020.

Click schedule to enlarge image.

For more information or to view documents click here.

The Tampa Interstate Study (TIS) Cultural Resources Committee (CRC)

The Cultural Resources Committee includes federal, state and local agencies and consulting parties and was established in the early 1990’s to assist in the evaluation of potential project related effects to significant historic and archaeological resources and to assist in developing mitigation for adverse effects created by interstate improvements within the TIS EIS limits. Since 1998, the TIS CRC has also been overseeing the implementation of the Stipulations outlined in the TIS Section 106 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that was approved in 1996 to mitigate adverse effects.

Throughout the TIS SEIS process the Cultural Resources Committee facilitated workshops to discuss the Downtown Tampa Interchange, Westshore Interchange, and the Northwest (Veterans) Expressway.

For more information about the Tampa Interstate Study Cultural Resources Committee (CRC), contact Elaine Illes via email at elaine@totalinvolvement.com.

For more information or to view documents about the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and Cultural Resource Committee Workshops visit http://tampainterstatestudy.com/

Project Coordination and Public Involvement Plan

A Project Coordination and Public Involvement Plan has been developed for this Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Section 4(f) Evaluation. The document prepared September 2017 can be accessed by following this link.

Purpose and Need

A Purpose and Need document drafted September 2017 is available for review and comment for this Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Section 4(f) Evaluation. The document can be accessed by following this link. Comments on this document should be sent to the project contacts listed below.