Space Coast Trail

SUBJECT:     Open House Public Meeting

Space Coast Trail Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Study

Within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore

Brevard and Volusia Counties, Florida

Financial Project ID Number: 437093-1-22-01

Efficient Transportation Decision Making (ETDM) No.: 14227

Stop by anytime between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to learn more about the proposed Space Coast Trail and to submit comments on the proposal. Staff from
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Park Service (NPS), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Florida
Department of Transportation (FDOT) will be available during the meeting to discuss the project

On behalf of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Park Service (NPS), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), I invite you to an Open House Public Meeting for the Space Coast Trail Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a proposed multi-use trail from Parrish Park along the A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway and at the entrance to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge to Parking Area No. 1 within the Canaveral National Seashore (east-west segment) and following Kennedy Parkway from Beach Road (State Road 402) to U.S. 1 (north-south segment).

The Open House Public Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 7, 2017, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the City of Titusville City Hall, 555 S. Washington Avenue, Titusville, FL, 32796. During the scheduled open house, attendees may stop by any time to review project information and discuss the proposed Space Coast Trail with staff from USFWS, NPS, NASA, and FDOT. Notices are being sent to other public officials, regulatory agencies, organizations, and individuals interested in the project. Attached is a copy of the Public Notice for the meeting.

The proposed Space Coast Trail is a federal planning project on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore, located along Florida’s central east coast in Brevard and Volusia counties.  The proposed Space Coast Trail would be the eastern end of Florida’s Coast-to-Coast Trail that connects the Gulf of Mexico in St. Petersburg with the Atlantic Ocean and would serve as a component of the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop.  The USFWS and NPS are the co-lead agencies for the Environmental Assessment (EA) under development to evaluate the potential impacts associated with the proposal in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NASA is a cooperating agency on the EA and FDOT is a key partner in the planning, funding, and construction of the proposal.  The USFWS, NPS, NASA, and FDOT are coordinating very closely on this proposal to meet all applicable rules, regulations, and policies and to facilitate public involvement.

An EA would be anticipated to be available for public review and comment by the Fall of 2018.  In compliance with NEPA and to inform the development of the EA, we request your input at this early stage in the planning process. Comments may be submitted in writing or in person at the Open House Public Meeting or by mail to Cheri Ehrhardt, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 2683, Titusville, FL 32781-2683.  Comments may also be submitted in writing at NPS’s Planning, Environment & Public Comment (PEPC) website at:  https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=67041. In addition, the information that will be presented at the Open House Public Meeting will be available on NPS’s PEPC website. To ensure consideration of your comments and concerns in the development of the EA, we request that we receive comments by January 12, 2018.

Persons with disabilities who require accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Lorena Cucek, by phone at 386-943-5392, or via email at lorena.cucek@dot.state.fl.us at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting.  If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact us by using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice).

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status.  Persons wishing to express their concerns relative to FDOT compliance with Title VI may do so by contacting Jennifer Smith, FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator at Jennifer.Smith2@dot.state.fl.us.

If you have any questions about the project or the scheduled meeting, please contact Lorena Cucek, FDOT Project Manager, by telephone at 386-943-5392, or by email at lorena.cucek@dot.state.fl.us. If you have any NEPA related questions, please contact Cheri Ehrhardt, USFWS Natural Resource Planner, by telephone at 321-861-2368.