[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 12856-12858] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-6688] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration Environmental Impact Statement: Sacramento Amtrak and Folsom Corridor LRT Extensions and Double Tracking project in Sacramento County, CA AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), in cooperation with the Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT), will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Sacramento Amtrak and Folsom Corridor LRT Extensions and Double Tracking project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The EIS will consider alternatives for improving direct transit service within a corridor generally following U.S. Highway 50 between the Amtrak station in downtown Sacramento and downtown Folsom, California. The EIS will evaluate the following alternatives: a No- Build Alternative, a Transportation Systems Management (TSM) Alternative, and a Light Rail Transit (LRT) Alternative. The Major Investment Study (MIS) for this project, the U.S. 50 Corridor Major Investment Study, was completed by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments in December, 1997. Other previous studies include various program- and construction-level environmental analyses conducted by RT over the past eight years, and a City of Folsom Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for a light-rail extension along the easternmost segment of the corridor. RT will perform additional preliminary engineering for the downtown Sacramento Amtrak extension, the [[Page 12857]] Folsom extension, and double tracking, for a single, construction-level Draft EIS/EIR for the entire corridor. Scoping will be accomplished through meetings and correspondence with interested persons, organizations, the general public, federal and state agencies. Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments were sent to the appropriate federal, state and local agencies, and to private organizations and citizens who have expressed or are known to have interest in this proposal. DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives and impacts to be considered must be postmarked no later than April 20, 1998 and should be sent to the Sacramento Regional Transit District at the address below. Scoping Meetings: Two public scoping meetings will be held: April 7, 1998 from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m., at the Nimbus Winery, 12401 Folsom Boulevard, Rancho Cordova, and on April 8, 1998 from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. at the Energy Commission Building, Hearing Room A, 1516 9th Street, Sacramento. A brief presentation of the project purpose and alternatives will be provided at the beginning of each meeting. RT and consultant staff will be present to take agency and public input regarding the scope of the environmental studies, key issues, and other suggested alternatives. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Mr. Anthony Palmere, Planning Manager, RT, 1400 29th Street, Sacramento, CA. 95816. Phone: (916) 321-2866. The public scoping meetings will be held at the Nimbus Winery, 12401 Folsom Boulevard, Rancho Cordova (April 7, 1998 from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m.), and at the Energy Commission Building, Hearing Room A, 1516 9th Street, Sacramento (April 8, 1998 from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m.). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Hom, Director, Office of Program Development (415) 744-3116. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Description of Project Area and Scope The FTA, as joint lead agency with the Sacramento RT, will prepare an EIS on a proposal to improve direct transit service within an approximately 23-mile-long corridor generally following U.S. Highway 50 between the Amtrak station in downtown Sacramento and downtown Folsom, California. Studies will build upon previous evaluations of route and mode alternatives and LRT extensions conducted over the past 8 years. RT will perform preliminary engineering for the downtown Sacramento Amtrak station extension, the Folsom extension, and double-tracking segments, for a single, construction-level Draft EIS/EIR that satisfies both NEPA and CEQA requirements. II. Project Purpose and Need The basic project purpose is to improve public transit service in this rapidly growing corridor by providing increased transit capacity and faster, convenient access between downtown Folsom and downtown Sacramento. Associated needs include the following: enhancing regional connectivity through expanded, interconnected LRT services along the primary travel corridors in Sacramento County; accommodating future travel demand by expanding modal options; alleviating growing traffic congestion in the U.S. 50 corridor and on major east-west arterials; alleviating the downtown Sacramento congestion and circulation impacts of increased peak hour traffic; improving regional air quality by reducing auto emissions; improving mobility options to employment, education, medical, and retail centers for corridor residents, in particular low-income, youth, elderly, disabled, and ethnic minority populations; and supporting local economic and land development goals. III. Alternatives The No-Build Alternative will consist of all presently programmed, that is, existing and fiscally committed elements of the Region's Transportation Plan for this corridor and nearby areas. These are expected to include HOV lanes on portions of U.S. 50; and RT, Folsom Stage and El Dorado County Transit bus service improvements in the Folsom corridor to meet projected employment growth and transit travel demand. The TSM Alternative will include low-capital cost bus system enhancements and traffic engineering, signalization, and other modest capital improvements in addition to the programmed projects included in the No-Build Alternative. The bus service enhancements are expected to include RT shuttle buses between the Mather Field light rail station and the employment centers in the White Rock Road, Mather Field, and Sunrise Boulevard areas; new express buses from Folsom and El Dorado County to the White Rock Road, Mather Field Road, and Sunrise Boulevard employment centers and to the Mather Field Road station; and continuation of Folsom Stage and El Dorado County express buses to downtown Sacramento. The LRT Alternative is the Sacramento Amtrak and Folsom Corridor LRT Extensions and Double Tracking project. It incorporates extension of the existing LRT tracks from 7th and K streets in downtown Sacramento, to the Amtrak Station in downtown Sacramento; extension of the LRT tracks from the Mather Field station to downtown Folsom; and track relocation and other facility modifications to provide for double-tracking from Amtrak to a point approximately two miles east of Sunrise Boulevard, becoming single track to Iron Point Road and downtown Folsom. LRT stations are included at Sunrise Boulevard, Hazel Avenue, and Iron Point Road, in addition to the downtown Sacramento Amtrak station and a station in downtown Folsom. The LRT Alternative may be constructed in stages, depending on ridership and cost projections to be developed during the studies. Proposed implementation phasing and LRT and bus system operational changes to accommodate the proposed LRT extensions will be described and evaluated in the Draft EIS/EIR. Also, environmental review of four additional stations, at Horn Road, Coloma Road, Kilgore Road, and Silverbrook Drive, will be provided to enable construction of these stations as funding permits. An LRT maintenance facility will be considered in the area between Sunrise Boulevard and the Iron Point Road stations. The EIS/EIR will address the full range of other alternatives that have been considered in developing the proposed project. IV. Probable Effects Impacts proposed for analysis include changes in the physical environment (natural resources, air quality, noise, water quality, geology, visual); changes in the social environment (land use, business and neighborhood disruptions); changes in traffic and pedestrian circulation; impacts on parklands and historic sites; changes in transit service and patronage; associated changes in highway congestion; capital, operating, and maintenance costs; and financial implications. Impacts will be identified both for the construction period and for the long-term operation of the alternatives. The proposed evaluation criteria include transportation, environmental, social, economic, and financial measures as required by current federal (NEPA), and State (CEQA) environmental laws and current Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and FTA guidelines. The TSM and LRT alternatives are expected to increase transit ridership, and therefore may improve air quality and reduce automobile traffic [[Page 12858]] congestion in the U.S. 50 corridor. Possible adverse environmental effects of these alternatives include localized traffic congestion or delay, property acquisition/ displacement, visual, noise/vibration, wetlands/natural resources, hazardous materials, and temporary construction-phase impacts. Mitigating measures will be explored for identified adverse effects. To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS/EIR should be directed to RT at the address provided above. Issued on: March 11, 1998. Leslie Rogers, Region IX Administrator. [FR Doc. 98-6688 Filed 3-13-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-57-P