[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 40 (Thursday, February 28, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9352-9353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-4849]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

Federal Highway Administration


Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the South 
Corridor Segement of the South/North Transit Corridor Project in the 
Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT and Federal Highway 
Administration, DOT.

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

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Highway 
Administration, Metro and Tri-Met intend to prepare a Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for transit improvements in the 
southern segment of the South/North Transit Corridor (referred to as 
the South Corridor Project) of the Portland Oregon metropolitan region. 
Conditions have changed since the South/North DEIS was published. The 
Corridor has been divided into minimum operable segments. The North 
Corridor Interstate MAX FEIS was published and the project is under 
construction. The South Corridor Transportation Alternatives Study was 
performed to re-examine transportation options in the South Corridor.
    The purpose of this new Notice of Intent is to re-notify interested 
parties of the intent to prepare a SEIS and invite participation in the 
study. Over time, traffic congestion in the South Corridor has degraded 
transit reliability and increased transit travel time. The project 
proposes to implement a major high capacity transit improvement in the 
South Corridor segment of the South/North Corridor, that maintains 
livability in the metropolitan region, supports land use goals, 
optimizes the transportation system, is environmentally sensitive, 
reflects community values and is fiscally responsive. Six transit 
alternatives (described below) will be evaluated in the SDEIS.

MEETING DATES: Agency Coordination Meeting: An agency coordination 
meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13, 2002, at the 
Metro Regional Center, 600 NE Grand Avenue, Portland Oregon.
    Public Information Meeting: A public information meeting will be 
held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at the Metro 
Regional Center, 600 NE Grand Avenue, Portland Oregon. The Metro 
Regional Center is accessible to persons with disabilities. Any 
individual with a disability who requires special assistance, such as a 
sign language interpreter, should contact Kirstin Hull at (503) 797-
1864, at least 48-hours in advance of the meeting in order for Metro to 
make necessary arrangements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Agency Coordination contact Sharon 
Kelly, Metro EIS Manager at (503) 797-1753 or (e-mail) 
[email protected]. Public Information contact Kristin Hull, Metro 
Public Involvement Coordinator at (503) 797-1864 or (e-mail) 
[email protected]. Written Comments should be sent to Sharon Kelly, 
South Corridor Project, Metro, 600 NE Grand Avenue, Portland OR 97232. 
Additional information on the South Corridor Project can also be found 
on the Metro Web site at: www.metro-region.org.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Notice of Intent

    This new Notice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental EIS is being 
published at this time to re-notice interested parties due to the 
changes that have occurred since the initial Notice of Intent (October 
1993), publication of the South/North DEIS (February 1998), and 
publication of the North Corridor Interstate MAX Light Rail Project 
FEIS (October 1999). The South Corridor Project is re-examining high 
capacity transit alternatives in the southern segment of the South/
North Corridor. Also, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is 
joining the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as a Federal Co-Lead. 
Because the study is primarily a transit alternatives study, FTA 
regulations and guidance will be used for the analysis and preparation 
of the South Corridor Project SEIS.

II. Study Area

    The South Corridor generally encompasses the southeast quadrant of 
the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area, including downtown Portland, 
Southeast Portland neighborhoods, the City of Milwaukie, the City of 
Gladstone, the City of Oregon City and urban unincorporated Clackamas 
County (east of the Willamette River).

III. Alternatives

    Six alternatives will be evaluated in the SDEIS. The No-Build 
Alternative will provide the basis for comparison of the build 
alternatives. The No-Build Alternative includes the existing 
transportation system plus multi-modal transportation improvements that 
would be constructed under the Regional Transportation Plan Financially 
Constrained Transportation Network. The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) 
Alternative provides low cost capital and operating improvements to the 
existing bus transit system. The BRT Alternative includes bus priority 
treatments on existing streets, intelligent transportation system (ITS) 
treatments, simplified fare payment methods, fewer stops and other 
amenities that would enhance bus service. The Busway Alternative 
includes elements of a separated busway in combination with BRT 
elements connecting the Transit Mall in downtown Portland with downtown 
Milwaukie and the Clackamas Town Center area. The Milwaukie Light Rail 
Alternative includes 6.3 miles of new light rail transit connecting to 
the existing light rail system in downtown Portland and extending to 
downtown Milwaukie. Some BRT improvements would also be included in 
this alternative. The I-205 Light Rail Alternative includes 6.5 miles 
of new light rail transit connecting to the existing light rail system 
at Gateway and extending south along I-205 to the Clackamas Town Center 
area. Some BRT improvements would also be included in this alternative. 
The Combined Light Rail Alternative includes both Milwaukie Light Rail 
and I-205 Light Rail along with some BRT components.

[[Page 9353]]

IV. Probable Effects

    FTA, FHWA, Metro and Tri-Met will evaluate all significant 
transportation, environmental, social and economic impacts of the 
alternatives. Primary issues include: support of state, regional and 
local land use and transportation plans and policies, cost effective 
expansion of the transit system, preservation of capacity enhancement 
options of I-205, neighborhood impacts and environmental sensitivity. 
The impacts will be evaluated for both the construction period adn for 
the long-term period of operation. Measures to mitigate any significant 
impact will be developed.

    Issued on: February 25, 2002.
Linda Gehrke,
Deputy Regional Admininstrator, Region, X, Federal Transit 
Administration.
Elton H. Change,
Environmental Coordinator, Oregon Division, Federal Highway 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-4849 Filed 2-27-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-M