[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56345-56346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22370]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement for the North Eugene Bus Rapid 
Transit Corridor in the Eugene-Springfield Oregon Metropolitan Area

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

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

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration and Lane Transit District 
(LTD) intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for 
transit improvements in the North Eugene Bus Rapid Transit Corridor of 
the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan region. The purpose of this Notice 
of Intent is to notify interested parties of the intent to prepare an 
EIS and invite participation in the study. The Eugene-Springfield 
metropolitan region has adopted a long-range transportation plan, 
TransPlan, which identifies Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as the preferred 
transit strategy for the twenty-year plan. BRT was adopted as a 
comprehensive system plan, which includes full build-out of five 
corridors. The general alignments of the five corridors have been 
identified in the approved plan. Phase 1, the initial 4 mile east-west 
corridor alignment is the first of the corridors to be implemented, and 
is currently in final design. The remaining four corridors will be 
implemented in priority order as determined by local elected officials 
through a corridor selection process. The North Eugene BRT Corridor has 
been identified as the next priority corridor to pursue in Eugene.
    The BRT project proposes to implement a major high capacity transit 
improvement in the North Eugene corridor that maintains livability in 
the metropolitan region, supports land use goals, optimizes the 
transportation system, increases overall corridor capacity, is 
environmentally sensitive, reflects community values, and is fiscally 
responsive.
    Meeting Dates: Agency Coordination Meeting: An agency coordination 
meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday September 17, 2002 at the 
Lane Transit District, 3500 East 17th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon.
    Public Information Meeting: A public information meeting will be 
held from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday September 19th, 2002 at the Lane Transit 
District, 1700 East 17th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon. The Lane Transit 
District is accessible to persons with disabilities. Any individual 
with a disability who requires special assistance, such as a sign 
language interpreter, should contact Lane Transit District at (541) 
682-6100 at least 48-hours in advance of the meeting in order for LTD 
to make necessary arrangements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Agency Coordination should contact 
Lisa Gardner, LTD EIS Manager at (541) 682-6135 or (e-mail) 
[email protected]. Public Information contact Sue Aufort, LTD 
Public Involvement Coordinator at (541) 682-6144 or (e-mail) 
[email protected]. Written comments should be sent to Lisa 
Gardner, North Springfield Corridor Project, Lane Transit District, 
3500 East 17th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97403. Additional information on the 
North Springfield Corridor Project can also be found on the LTD Web 
site at: www.ltd.org. Additional information can be obtained from 
Rebecca Reyes-Alicea, Community Planner, Federal Transit 
Administration, at (206) 220-4464.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

I. Notice of Intent

    This Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS is being published at this 
time to inform interested parties. The North Eugene Corridor Project is 
examining BRT alternatives in the North Eugene Corridor. FTA 
regulations and guidance will be used for the analysis and preparation 
of the north Eugene Corridor EIS.

II. Study Area

    The North Eugene corridor encompasses a general alignment heading 
north from the downtown Eugene Transit Station at West 11th Avenue and 
Willamette Street in Eugene to the Gateway area in Springfield. The

[[Page 56346]]

exact alignment will be determined as part of the EIS process.

III. Alternatives

    All reasonable alternatives will be evaluated in the EIS including 
a No-Build Alternative, which will provide the basis for comparison of 
the build alternatives. The No-Build Alternative includes the existing 
transportation system plus improvements to the fixed-route transit 
system included in the Regional Transportation Plan Financially 
Constrained Transportation Network, excluding the implementation of 
BRT.

IV. Probable Effects

    FTA and LTD 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, neighborhood impacts, and 
environmental sensitivity. The impacts will be evaluated for both the 
construction period and for the long-term period of operation. Measures 
to mitigate any significant impact will be developed.

    Issued on: August 28, 2002.
R.F. Krochalis,
FTA Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-22370 Filed 8-30-02; 8:45 am]
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