[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]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-M