[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 18, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48160-48162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23317]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Environmental Impact Statement on the Santa Clara/Alum Rock Light
Rail Transit Project in San Jose, CA
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Santa Clara
Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) intend to prepare an
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Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and an Environmental Impact Report
(EIR) in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) for a proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) line in the Santa Clara/
Alum Rock corridor. The proposed line and technology were selected
following completion of the Downtown East Valley Major Investment Study
(MIS) in August 2000. The MIS considered alternative modes of travel,
alignments, and station locations in a 30-square mile study area. The
MIS process resulted in a Preferred Investment Strategy that includes
LRT improvements in the Santa Clara/Alum Rock Corridor to improve
direct transit service in an approximately 4.3-mile-long corridor from
downtown to the East Valley area in San Jose, California. The Santa
Clara/Alum Rock Project will be further evaluated during the conceptual
engineering phase of the project and carried forward in the EIS/EIR.
The EIS/EIR will evaluate a No-Action alternative, LRT alignment and
station options, and additional alternatives that emerge from the
scoping process. Scoping will be accomplished through correspondence
and discussions with interested persons; organizations; federal, state
and local agencies; and through a public meeting.
DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives
and impacts to be considered in the EIS/EIR must be received no later
than November 2, 2001 and must be sent to VTA at the address indicated
below. Scoping Meeting: A public scoping meeting will be held on
September 19, 2001, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Mexican Heritage
Plaza, Classroom #1, 1700 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose, CA 95116. Phone
(408) 928-5550. The project purpose and alternatives will be presented
at this meeting. The building used for the scoping meeting is
accessible to persons with disabilities. Any individual who requires
special assistance, such as a sign language interpreter, to participate
in the scoping meeting should contact Jennifer Rielly, Public
Communications Specialist, VTA Community Outreach, at (408) 321-7575 or
TDD only at (408) 321-2330. Scoping material will be available at the
meeting an may be obtained in advance of the meeting by contacting Mr.
Molseed at the address or phone number given below.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Mr. Roy Molseed, Senior
Environmental Planner, VTA, 3331 North First Street, San Jose, CA
95134-1906. Phone: (408) 321-5789. Fax: (408) 321-5787. E-mail:
[email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roy Molseed, Senior Environmental
Planner, VTA, 3331 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95134-1906. Phone:
(408) 321-5789 or Mr. Jerome Wiggins, Office of Planning and Program
Development, FTA, 201 Mission Street, Room 2210, San Francisco, CA
94105. Phone: (415) 744-3115. People with special needs should contact
Jennifer Rielly, Public Communications Specialist, VTA Community
Outreach, at (408) 321-7575 or TDD only at (408) 321-2330.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Scoping
The FTA and VTA invite all interested individuals and
organizations, and federal, state, regional, and local agencies to
provide comments on the scope of the project. A summary of the MIS,
Downtown East Valley Major Investment Study--Project Summary Report
(December 2000), is available for public review at the following public
libraries: (1) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Main Library, 180 West San
Carlos Street, San Jose, CA 95113; and (2) East San Jose Carnegie
Branch Library, 1102 East Santa Clara Street, San Jose, CA 95116. The
MIS summary is also available by contacting Mr. Molseed at the address
and phone number given above. Mr. Molseed should also be contacted to
be placed on the project mailing list and to receive additional
information about the project. Written comments on the alternatives and
potential impacts to be considered should be sent to Mr. Molseed.
II. Project Purpose and Need
The project purpose is to improve public transit service in the
downtown and East Valley areas of the City of San Jose by addressing
the following specific goals established in the MIS: improve mobility;
increase transit ridership; target the highest commute corridors with
emphasis on work and school trips; promote livable neighborhoods and
community support.
In general, the project would provide residents of downtown and
east San Jose more efficient access to the light rail system and
improved connections and greater mobility options throughout the
Silicon Valley. For example, residents could travel to south San Jose,
downtown San Jose, and to the cities of Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and
Mountain View via the Guadalupe, Tasman, and Capitol LRT lines.
Linkages to the Caltrain commuter rail line, which provides service to
San Francisco and to communities along the Peninsula, may also be
accessed at intermodal connections throughout the system.
The project would also alleviate heavy traffic congestion on major
arterials; reduce the circulation impacts of increased peak-hour
traffic; improve regional air quality by reducing automobile emissions;
improve mobility options to employment, education, medical, and retail
centers for corridor residents, in particular low-income, youth,
elderly, disabled, and ethnic minority populations; and support local
economic and land development goals.
III. Alternatives
The Santa Clara/Alum Rock Light Rail Project is examining
alternatives to be carried forward into the environmental analysis
process. The No-Action Alternative will consist of the existing
conditions, in accordance with both NEPA and CEQA requirements. The
Build or LRT Alternative is the Santa Clara/Alum Rock LRT Project.
Two proposed alignment options are under consideration for the
segment through downtown San Jose between the Diridon Station and 10th
Street. One option is along San Fernando Street from the vicinity of
the Diridon Station area, north on Almaden, and then east on Santa
Clara Street. The second option is from the vicinity of the Diridon
Station east along San Fernando Street, transitioning north to Santa
Clara Street between 7th and 10th Streets, and then proceeding east on
Santa Clara Street and Alum Rock Avenue. East of King Road, the LRT
would operate in an exclusive guideway; west of King Road, the LRT
would operate in a right-of-way shared with vehicular traffic. Along
the alignment, thirteen conceptual station locations have been
identified. More precise station locations and alignment options will
be developed during preparation of the Draft EIS/EIR.
The EIS/EIR will also address any additional alternatives that are
identified in the scoping process.
IV. Probable Effects
The purpose of the EIS/EIR is to fully disclose the environmental
consequences of building and operating the Santa Clara/Alum Rock LRT
Project in advance of any decisions to commit substantial financial or
other resources towards its implementation. The EIS/EIR will explore
the extent to which project alternatives and design options result in
environmental impacts and will discuss actions to reduce or eliminate
such impacts.
Environmental issues to be examined in the EIS/EIR include: changes
in the physical environment (natural
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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; changes in
transit service and patronage; associated changes in traffic
congestion; and impacts on parklands and historic resources. 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 and FTA
guidelines.
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 VTA as noted above.
V. FTA Procedures
The EIS/EIR for the Santa Clara/Alum Rock LRT Project will be
prepared simultaneously with conceptual engineering for station and
alignment options. The EIS/EIR/conceptual engineering process will
address the potential use of federal funds for the proposed project, as
well as assess the social, economic, and environmental impacts of
station and alignment alternatives. Station designs and alignment
alternatives will be refined to minimize and mitigate any adverse
impacts identified. After publication, the Draft EIS/EIR will be
available for public and agency review and comment, and a public
hearing will be held. Based on the Draft EIS/EIR and comments received,
VTA will select a preferred alternative, which will be described in
full detail in the Final EIS/EIR.
Issued on: September 14, 2001.
F. James Kenna,
Deputy Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-23317 Filed 9-17-01; 8:45 am]
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