[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16974-16975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7615]



[[Page 16974]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement for the San Francisco Transbay 
Terminal and Caltrain Downtown Extension Project in San Francisco, CA

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), in cooperation with 
the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB), the City and County of 
San Francisco, and the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency will prepare 
a joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report 
(EIS/EIR) for the San Francisco Transbay Terminal and Caltrain Downtown 
Extension Project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The 
EIS/EIR will address alternatives for: (1) A new, multi-modal 
transportation facility at the site of the current Transbay Terminal at 
First and Mission Streets, and (2) an extension of Caltrain commuter 
rail service from its current San Francisco terminus at 4th and 
Townsend to the new Transbay Terminal along with establishment of a 
redevelopment area and development of a mix of new transit-oriented 
uses on publicly-owned property in the vicinity of the new terminal to 
help defray project costs. Other project features include: an off-site 
bus storage facility, new bus ramps connecting to the Bay Bridge, 
construction and operation of a temporary bus facility for the 
construction period, and a reconfigured Caltrain layover yard. The EIS/
EIR will evaluate the following alternatives: (1) A No-Build 
Alternative, (2) a Build Alternative with design options, and (3) any 
additional reasonable alternatives that emerge from the scoping 
process.
    Previous studies relevant to this action include: the recently 
completed Transbay Terminal Study (Metropolitan Transportation 
Commission, 2001); associated technical reports regarding such subjects 
as Transbay Terminal design options, joint development options, and 
terminal operations; and the original Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement/Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/DEIR) for the 
Caltrain San Francisco Downtown Extension Project (FTA-U.S. DOT/
Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, 1997). Although the 1997 DEIS/
DEIR contributed to the planning history of the proposed project, this 
new EIS/EIR will completely replace the 1997 document.
    Scoping will be accomplished through meetings and correspondence 
with interested persons, organizations, the general public, and 
federal, state, and local agencies. Letters describing the proposed 
action and soliciting comments have been 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 18, 
2001 and should be sent to the San Francisco Planning Department at the 
address below. Scoping Meetings--Two public scoping meetings will be 
held: April 4, from 6 until 8 p.m. at the San Francisco City Hall, Room 
400, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett, Jr. Place, San Francisco, California 
94102; and April 11, from 6 until 8 pm at the Peninsula Corridor Joint 
Powers Board, 2nd Floor Auditorium, 1250 San Carlos Avenue, San Carlos, 
California 94070. The first hour (6-7 p.m.) will be an open house. A 
brief presentation of the project purpose and alternatives will be 
provided at 7 p.m., and project staff will be present to receive formal 
agency and public input regarding the scope of the environmental 
studies, key issues, and other suggestions.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Joan Kugler, AICP, EIR 
Project Manager, San Francisco Planning Department, 1660 Mission 
Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94103-2414. The addresses for the 
scoping meetings are given above in the DATES section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerome Wiggins, Federal Transit 
Administration, Office of Program Development at (415) 744-3116.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project is located in the 
central business district of the City of San Francisco in the South of 
Market Area. The project area includes the existing Transbay Terminal 
(built in 1939) generally located between Mission and Natoma and Beale 
and Second Streets. The New Transbay Terminal is proposed to be 
constructed at the same site as the existing Terminal it would replace. 
The project includes the proposed underground right-of-way linking the 
existing Caltrain Terminal at 4th and Townsend to the new proposed 
terminal. Development, including transit-oriented development, is 
proposed for parcels under public ownership within the boundaries of 
the proposed Redevelopment Plan Area.
    Purpose and Need of Proposed Action: The primary objectives of the 
San Francisco Transbay Terminal and Caltrain Downtown Extension Project 
include: improving public access to bus and rail services; modernizing 
the Transbay Terminal and improving service; reducing non-transit 
vehicle usage; and revitalizing the Transbay Terminal area.
     Improve public access to bus and rail services: A multi-
modal transportation facility would provide a centralized location for 
bus (AC Transit, MUNI, Golden Gate, SamTrans, Greyhound), paratransit, 
and rail (Caltrain) services in San Francisco's growing Financial 
District/South of Market Area and would enhance transit access for 
passengers arriving in and departing San Francisco. The extension of 
the Caltrain system from its current terminus at 4th and Townsend to a 
new Transbay Terminal at First and Missions Streets would improve 
access for residents and workers in San Francisco's high-density 
financial district and improve connections to other local and regional 
transit providers. Additionally, a multi-modal terminal facility and 
Caltrain extension would facilitate future expansion of regional 
express train service and potential statewide high-speed rail service.
     Modernize the Transbay Terminal and improve service: The 
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), State of California, City 
of San Francisco, and area transit providers (AC Transit, MUNI, Golden 
Gate, SamTrans, and JPB) have evaluated options for replacement of the 
1939 Transbay Terminal facility, due to its age, need for seismic 
upgrade, and inadequate facility layout. A properly designed, new 
terminal would improve space utilization, passenger circulation, 
signage, security, safety, and the overall transit-rider experience.
     Reduce non-transit vehicle usage: Provision of a multi-
modal transportation facility would increase transit ridership, thus 
reducing the number of non-transit vehicles traveling on area streets, 
highways, and bridges. Reduction in automobile vehicle miles of travel 
would result in reduced vehicular air emissions and an improvement in 
air quality.
     Revitalize the Transbay Terminal area: The current 
Transbay Terminal and associated ramps and the now-removed Embarcadero 
Freeway contributed to deterioration and underutilization of land in 
the Transbay Terminal area. An opportunity exists to provide for more 
efficient and enhanced use of land in the area, including

[[Page 16975]]

provision of transit-oriented development and badly needed housing.
    Alternatives: Alternatives to be reviewed in the EIS/EIR include a 
No-Project Alternative, a Build Alternative, and any additional 
reasonable alternatives that emerge from the scoping process. Design 
options will be evaluated for the Build Alternative. The No-Project 
Alternative assumes a 2020 baseline condition of programmed land use, 
low-capital-cost transportation improvements, and a seismic retrofit of 
the existing Transbay Terminal. The Build Alternative includes the 
following elements: (1) A new Transbay Terminal, (2) extension of 
Caltrain service into or near the basement of the new Terminal, (3) 
related development of publicly-owned properties in the vicinity of the 
Transbay Terminal, and (4) adoption of a redevelopment plan for a 
portion of the terminal vicinity.
    A new Transbay Terminal would consist of an approximate 600,000 
square-foot multi-modal transit facility with 50 bus bays on two levels 
served by ramps directly connected to the Bay Bridge. The basement 
would accommodate train platforms and tracks. The facility would 
include transit passenger service areas and an estimated 150,000-
225,000 square feet of retail, entertainment, conference, educational, 
and cultural space. During MTC's Transbay Terminal Study, this concept 
(known as ``Great Expectations'') was adopted by the Transbay Panel and 
Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) following a review of multiple design 
options.
    Two preliminary design options are proposed for the Caltrain 
Downtown Extension. Key criteria used in developing the two design 
options include: (1) Ability to provide efficient and effective rail 
operations and accommodate high-speed rail, (2) potential impacts to 
land use and proposed developments, (3) potential for a future rail 
connection to the East Bay, (4) relationship of rail services to 
Transbay Terminal and transit operations, and (5) anticipated community 
impacts. Option 1 for the Caltrain Extension would follow the 1997 
DEIS/DEIR ``long-radius, short mined tunnel'' alignment from 4th and 
Townsend to Essex Street. From there, the alignment would continue 
northward underground as cut-and-cover construction to a station 
generally oriented north-south, terminating at Minna Street just to the 
west of the new Transbay Terminal. Option 2 for the Caltrain Extension 
would curve northeasterly from Townsend Street to a cut-and-cover 
alignment under Second Street. As the alignment approaches Howard 
Street, it would curve eastward into the basement of the new Transbay 
Terminal. This option includes additional tracks in a cut-and-cover 
section passing through the east end of the new Terminal and curving 
south under Main Street. This track would be used for temporary train 
storage and could ultimately be extended as a San Francisco to Oakland 
cross-bay alignment.
    Development of publicly-owned property along in the vicinity of the 
Transbay Terminal, including transit-oriented uses would enhance the 
Transbay Terminal area. Revenues or tax increments could be used to 
defray a portion of the costs for the new Transbay Terminal and 
Caltrain downtown extension. Two development scenarios will be 
evaluated in the EIS/EIR. The ``full build'' development scenario 
assumes about 7.7 million square feet of residential/office/retail/
hotel development, including approximately 4,500 residential units 
(including affordable housing), 1.1 million square feet of office, 
400,000 square feet of retail, and 475,000 square feet of hotel. A 
``reduced scope'' development scenario that assumes a lesser amount of 
commercial and retail development and that is weighted toward housing 
will also be evaluated.
    The adoption of a redevelopment plan for a portion of the terminal 
vicinity in the area between Mission, Main, Folsom, and Second streets 
is proposed to allow City assistance in the revitalization and 
enhancement of the Transbay Terminal area.
    Probable Effects: The Build Alternative is expected to increase bus 
and rail transit ridership and improve the overall character of the 
Transbay Terminal area. Environmental impacts are anticipated in the 
following areas: visual and aesthetic, air emissions (related to 
development), traffic, transit operations, pedestrian and bicycle 
operations, noise, vibration, impacts to historic and cultural 
resources, property acquisitions, impacts of pre-existing hazardous 
wastes, and temporary construction-phase impacts. Mitigation measures 
will be identified and explored for avoiding and reducing adverse 
effects.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action is 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 the San Francisco Planning Department's EIR Project Manager 
at the address provided above.

    Issued on: March 21, 2001.
Leslie Rogers,
FTA Region IX Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-7615 Filed 3-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P