[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 204 (Monday, October 22, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53470-53471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26559]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the Central Link 
Light Rail Transit Project

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact 
statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Central Puget 
Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit) intend to prepare a 
supplemental EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) on the Central Link Light Rail Transit project north 
corridor from Convention Place to Northgate. This is a supplemental EIS 
to the Central Link Light Rail Transit Project Final EIS (November 
1999). The supplemental EIS will evaluate a no build alternative and 
light rail station and route options in three segments: Capitol Hill/
South Lake Union (Convention Place Station to SR-520), Ship Canal 
crossing/University District (SR-520 to NE 45th Street), and the 
Northgate segment (NE 45th to Northgate). Scoping will be accomplished 
through meetings and correspondence with interested persons, 
organizations, the general public, federal, state and local agencies 
and tribes.

DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of the 
alternatives and impacts to be considered should be sent to Sound 
Transit by November 9, 2001. See ADDRESSES below. Scoping meetings: 
Public scoping meetings will be held on Wednesday, October 24, 2001 
from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Union Station and on Thursday, October 25, 
2001 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Calvary Temple. An agency scoping meeting 
will be held Wednesday, October 24, 2001 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Union 
Station. See ADDRESSES below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the project scope of alternatives and 
impacts to be considered should be sent to James Irish, Sound Transit, 
401 South Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104-2826 by November 9, 2001. 
Scoping meetings will be held on the following days and locations.

Public Scoping Meetings

Wednesday, October 24, 2001
5 pm-8 pm
Location: Union Station--Great Hall, 401 S. Jackson Street, Seattle, 
Washington, and
Thursday, October 25, 2001
5 pm-8 pm
Location: Calary Temple--Children's Auditorium, 6810 8th Avenue NE., 
Seattle, Washington

Agency Scoping Meeting

Wednesday, October 24, 2001
1 pm-3 pm
Location: Union Station--Sound Transit Board Room, 401 S. Jackson 
Street, Seattle, Washington

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Witmer, Federal Transit 
Administration, 915 2nd Avenue Suite 3142, Seattle, WA 98174, 
Telephone: 206.220.7964 or James Irish, Sound Transit, 401 South 
Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104-2826, Telephone: 206.398.5140.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scoping

    The FTA and Sound Transit invite comments from interested 
individuals, organizations, and federal, state, regional and local 
agencies for a period of 30 days after publication of this notice (See 
DATES and ADDRESSES above). Comments should focus on defining the 
alternatives within the corridor to be evaluated in the EIS and 
identifying any significant social, economic, or environmental issues 
related to the alternatives. An Environmental Scoping Information 
Report describing the project, the proposed alternatives, the impact 
areas to be evaluated, the public involvement program and the 
preliminary project schedule has been prepared. You may request a copy 
of the report by contacting Anna Mallon, Sound Transit, 401 South 
Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104-2826, Telephone: 206.398.5144. In 
addition to written comments, which may be made at the meetings or as 
decribed above, a stenographer will be available at the public meetings 
to record oral comments. All of the

[[Page 53471]]

locations for the scoping meetings are accessible to people with 
disabilities. Non-English translation services and accessible formats 
are available by request at 800.201.4900 (voice) or 206.398.5410 (TTY).

II. Study Area and Alternatives

    FTA and the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound 
Transit) will prepare a supplemental EIS on route alternatives from 
Convention Place to Northgate. The study are will be divided into three 
segments: Capitol Hill/South Lake Union (Convention Place Station to 
SR-520), Ship Canal Crossing/University District (SR-520 to NE 45th 
Street), and the Northgate segment (NE 45th to Northgate). The 
supplemental EIS will address the no build alternative and the 
following light rail station and route options:

Capitol Hill/South Lake Union (Convention Place Station to SR-520)

    These include the adopted Capitol Hill route including Capitol Hill 
station alternatives, an Eastlake Avenue Route, a Bouren Avenue route, 
and a route bypassing First Hill with stations between Capitol Hill and 
First Hill and on 15th Avenue.

Ship Canal Crossing/University District (SR-520 to NE 45th Street)

    These include the Postage Bay tunnel adopted route, a Montlake 
tunnel route via the University of Washington's Rainier Vista, a tunnel 
route in the vicinity of the University bridge, and a high-and/or mid-
level bridge.

Northgate Segment (NE 45th to Northgate)

    Includes the two 8th Avenue route options, and the 12th Avenue 
route. A Notice of Intent was issued on April 16, 2001 to prepare a 
supplemental EIS for the Northgate segment (NE 45th to Northgate) to 
the project. That supplemental EIS has been terminated. Supplemental 
environmental review for the Northgate segment of the project will be 
incorporated in this new supplemental EIS.

III. Probable Effects

    This is a supplemental EIS to the Central Link Rail Transit Project 
Final EIS (November 1999). The FTA and Sound Transit will evaluate all 
significant environmental, social, and economic impacts of the 
alternatives analyzed in the supplemental EIS. Impacts will be 
evaluated for all issues evaluated in the original EIS.

    Issued on: September 27, 2001.
Helen Knoll,
Regional Administrator, Region X.
[FR Doc. 01-26559 Filed 10-19-01; 8:45 am]
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