Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS)

FDOT worked with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to conduct a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to identify the preferred alternative for improving our interstate system.

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 is developed. It 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 was a supplement to the 1996 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and the Records of Decision (ROD) that FHWA issued in 1997 and 1999.  The EIS process is the most rigorous evaluation we can do in transportation planning. The SEIS focused on the Downtown Tampa and Westshore Area interchanges and the section of I-275 between those areas and is part of a long-standing plan to improve and modernize Tampa’s interstate system, originally called the Tampa Interstate Study (TIS). Click here to see the history of the TIS and access historical documents related to the original Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).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.

Throughout the process FDOT remained committed to open and transparent dialogue with the community throughout the SEIS. The SEIS study is complete and was approved by FHWA in 2020.

For more information or to view the 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/

DTI Public Workshop
DTI Public Workshop
DTI Public Workshop
SEIS Hearing
For questions about the Tampa Bay Next Program, email TampaBayNext@dot.state.fl.us or call 813-975-NEXT (6398).

The Florida Department of Transportation is required to comply with various non-discrimination laws and regulations, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status.

Comuníquese con nosotros: Nos importa mucho la opinión del público sobre el proyecto. Si tiene preguntas o comentarios, o simplemente desea más información, por favor comuníquese con nosotros. Nuestro representante en español es: Manuel Flores, El Departamento de Transportación de la Florida, (813) 975-4248, Manuel.Flores@dot.state.fl.us