[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30262-30264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14102]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement on the Central Corridor Project 
Located Between Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is issuing this 
notice to advise interested agencies and the public that, in accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act, an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) is being prepared for the Central Corridor Transit 
Project located between Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.

DATES: One Interagency Scoping Meeting and two Public Scoping Meetings 
will be held on the following dates and times at the locations 
indicated.

Interagency Scoping Meeting

Tuesday, June 26, 2001, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sheraton Midway, 
400 North Hamline Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55104,

Public Scoping Meetings

Tuesday, June 26, 2001, 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Sheraton Midway, 400 
North Hamline Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55104
Tuesday, June 26, 2001, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Lifetrack Resources Job 
Search Center, 709 University Avenue West, St. Paul, Minnesota 55104
Wednesday, June 27, 2001, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Radisson Metrodome, 
615 Washington Avenue SE., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the analysis and impacts to 
be considered should be sent by July 20, 2001 to: Mr. Steve Morris, 
Project Manager, Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority (RCRRA), 50 
West Kellogg Boulevard, Suite 665, St. Paul, Minnesota 55102, 
Telephone: (651) 266-2784, Fax: (651) 266-2761, E-mail: 
[email protected], TDD: 1 800 627-3529.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Joel P. Ettinger, Regional 
Administrator, Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Region V, 200 West 
Adams Street, Suite 2410, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Telephone: (312) 
353-2789.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FTA (the federal lead agency for this 
action) in cooperation with the Ramsey County Regional Railroad 
Authority (RCRRA), the local lead agency, will prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Central Corridor Transit Project.

I. Scoping

    The FTA and the RCRRA invite interested individuals, organizations 
and federal, state and local agencies to participate in: defining the 
options to be evaluated in the EIS; in identifying the social, economic 
and environmental impacts to be evaluated; and suggesting alternative 
options that are less costly or have fewer environmental impacts while 
achieving similar transportation objectives. An information packet, 
referred to as the Scoping Booklet is being circulated to all federal, 
state and local agencies having jurisdiction in the project, and all 
interested parties currently on the RCRRA mailing list. Other 
interested parties may request this Scoping Booklet by contacting Steve 
Morris at the address indicated above.
    Three Public Scoping Meetings will be held in the study area. The 
first will be held from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 26, 2001, at 
the Sheraton Midway, 400 North Hamline Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota. The 
second will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26, 
2001, at the Lifetrack Resources Job Search Center, 709 University 
Avenue West, St. Paul, Minnesota. The third Public Scoping Meeting will 
be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 27, 2001,

[[Page 30263]]

at the Radisson Metrodome, 615 Washington Avenue Southeast, 
Minneapolis, Minnesota. One Interagency Scoping Meeting will be held 
from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26, 2001, at the Sheraton 
Midway, 400 North Hamline Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota. People with 
special needs should call Steve Morris at (651) 266-2784. The buildings 
are accessible to persons with disabilities.
    Scoping comments may be made orally at the Public Scoping Meetings 
or in writing by July 20, 2001. Comments or questions should be 
directed to Mr. Steve Morris at the address indicated above.

II. Description of the Study Area and Transportation Needs

    The Central Corridor study area is described as the 11-mile 
corridor extending between Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota on the 
west and east, and bounded by the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe (BNSF) 
Northern Mainline on the north and the Canadian Pacific Railroad (CP 
Railway) Shortline Railroad on the south. The proposed Central Corridor 
would connect the central business districts of Minneapolis and St. 
Paul, and the University of Minnesota, and would serve the transit-
dependent population located within the study area.
    Throughout the last two decades, the Central Corridor has been the 
focus of several studies regarding the feasibility of various mass 
transit modes. Each of these studies has identified the Central 
Corridor as the region's priority corridor for mass transit investment. 
The current 2020 Long-Range Transportation Plan and the State 
Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) both include funding 
commitments for the Central Corridor Project.
    In February 2000, the RCRRA initiated the Central Corridor Transit 
Study to identify the mass transit options for the Central Corridor. 
Preliminary phases of the study identified the purpose and need for 
transportation improvements in the corridor and identified and screened 
potential mass transit options that would meet the purpose and need. 
The purpose and need for transportation improvements in the study area 
were focused on three principal areas: economic opportunity and 
investment; communities and environment; and transportation and 
mobility. Following a multiple-phase screening process, it was 
determined that the potential mass transit options that would address 
the purpose and need for the Central Corridor included: Light Rail 
Transit (LRT); Busway/ Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and Commuter Rail.
    Although two commuter rail options were being considered during the 
preliminary phases of the Central Corridor Transit Study, the 
evaluation of the commuter rail options will be deferred to a separate 
environmental document based on regional commuter rail connections and 
system planning, funding and operating agency responsibility.
    A public involvement program has been developed and initiated with 
a website, newsletters, informational meetings, and public hearings.

III. Alternatives

    The transit modes initially considered for the Central Corridor 
included: Bus Transit, Busway/Bus Rapid Transit, Light Rail Transit, 
Commuter Rail, Streetcar, Heavy Rail Transit, Monorail, Automated 
Guideway Transit, Personal Rapid Transit, and Magnetic Levitation. The 
seven route alignments initially studied were the Burlington Northern 
Santa Fe Northern Mainline, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Southern 
Mainline, the Pierce Butler Route, University Avenue, I-94, the 
Canadian Pacific Rail, and the Canadian Pacific Rail West.
    The transportation alternatives currently proposed for 
consideration for the Central Corridor Draft EIS include:
    1. No-Build Alternative--No change to transportation services or 
facilities in the Central Corridor beyond already committed projects. 
This includes only those roadway and transit improvements defined in 
the appropriate agencies' Long Range Transportation Plans and Transit 
Development Plans for which funding has been committed.
    2. Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternative--Low cost 
transportation infrastructure and bus transit improvements for the 
Central Corridor. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Travel 
Demand Management (TDM), bus operations and other TSM improvements will 
be included in this alternative.
    3. Busway/Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Alternative--A Busway/Bus Rapid 
Transit (BRT) line to be constructed with several station stops between 
downtown Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota and downtown St. 
Paul, primarily in exclusive guideway in the center of University 
Avenue. The alternative would include all facilities associated with 
the construction and operations of the Busway/BRT, including right-of-
way, structures, and stations, as well as Busway/BRT, feeder bus and 
rail operating plans. The Busway/BRT alternative would also incorporate 
the elements of the No-Build and TSM alternatives.
    4. Light Rail Transit (LRT) Alternatives--A Light Rail Transit 
(LRT) line to be constructed with several station stops between 
downtown Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota and downtown St. 
Paul, on either University Avenue or I-94. Both the University Avenue 
and I-94 LRT alternative would incorporate the elements of the No-Build 
and TSM alternatives.
    The I-94 LRT Alternative would provide LRT service, primarily in 
barrier-separated exclusive lanes in the median of I-94. The 
alternative would include all facilities associated with the 
construction and operations of the LRT, including right-of-way, tracks, 
structures, and stations, as well as LRT, feeder bus and rail operating 
plans.
    The University Avenue LRT Alternative would provide LRT service, 
primarily in exclusive lanes in the center of University Avenue. The 
alternative would include all facilities associated with the 
construction and operations of the LRT, including right-of-way, tracks, 
structures, and stations, as well as LRT, feeder bus and rail operating 
plans.

IV. Probable Effects/Potential Impacts for Analysis

    The FTA and the RCRRA will consider probable effects and 
potentially significant impacts to social, economic and environmental 
factors associated with the alternatives under evaluation in the EIS. 
Potential environmental issues to be addressed will include: Land use, 
historic and archaeological resources, traffic and parking, noise and 
vibration, environmental justice, regulatory floodway/floodplain 
encroachments, coordination with transportation and economic 
development projects, and construction impacts. Other issues to be 
addressed in the EIS include: natural areas, ecosystems, rare and 
endangered species, water resources, air/surface water and groundwater 
quality, energy, potentially contaminated sites, displacements and 
relocations, and parklands. The potential impacts will be evaluated for 
both the construction period and the long-term operations period of 
each alternative considered. In addition, the cumulative effects of the 
proposed project alternatives will be identified. Measures to avoid or 
mitigate any significant adverse impacts will be developed.

[[Page 30264]]

V. FTA Procedures

    In accordance the regulations and guidance established by the 
Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), as well as the Code of Federal 
Regulations, Title 23, Part 771 (23 CFR 771) of the FHWA/FTA 
environmental regulations and policies, the EIS will include an 
analysis of the social, economic and environmental impacts of each of 
the alternatives selected for evaluation. The EIS will also comply with 
the requirements of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) and with 
Executive Order 12898 regarding Environmental Justice. After its 
publication, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will be 
available for public and agency review and comment. Public hearings 
will be held on the DEIS.
    The Final EIS will consider comments received during the DEIS 
public review and will identify the preferred alternative. Opportunity 
for additional public comment will be provided throughout all phases of 
project development.

    Issued on: May 30, 2001.
Joel P. Ettinger,
Region 5 Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Chicago, 
Illinois.
[FR Doc. 01-14102 Filed 6-4-01; 8:45 am]
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