This environmental assessment was prepared to determine the enviromental impacts of a proposed extension of the DART Orange Line from Belt Line Station to the DFW Airport and to propse mitigating measures. This final version includes responses to all written and oral comments received during the public review period for the previous draft assessment. The authors expected their report to lead to a Finding of No Significant Impact by the Federal Transit Administration.

This report describes the transportation and environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures associated with the construction and operation of a proposed Light Rail Transit Line from downtown Dallas to Farmers Branch and Carrollton. This project in DART's Southeast Corridor has been combined with the contemporaneous plan for an LRT line in the Northwest Corridor into a single, federally funded project, although separate Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) were prepared for each corridor. This Final EIS for the Northwest Corridor was written following the completion of a Draft EIS and subsequent 45-day public review and comment period and it includes responses to concerns raised during that period. Because the line would connect to Dallas Love Field Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration cooperated in the development of this report.

Appendices for the final environmental assessment for the proposed extension of the DART Orange Line from Belt Line Station to the DFW Airport. These include a list of personnel responsible for preparation, a distribution list, transcripts of public meetings, public notices, responses to comments recieved during the public review process, correspondence with relevant agencies, soil type and rare species reference information, wetland determination forms, a hazardous materials list, 10% design reports, noise and vibrations impact assessments, a list of reference plans and guidelines, and an assessment of potential operational impacts on the airport.

A proposal for developing the Lake Highlands Light Rail Transit (LRT) Station and parking along the Blue Line. The report also makes an argument for probable categorical exclusion, meaning that the project would not have significant environmental impact.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in coordination with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), produced an analysis of the potential impact, to the environment and to the airport, of extending a DART line to the DFW Airport Central Terminal Area. The FAA's approval was needed for any change to an airport layout plan (ALP) and its report primarily deals with the effect of the extension on the airport. While there was determined to be no significant impact of the proposed extension, it would be necessary to relocate weather alert devises.