[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 13 (Friday, January 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3248-3249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1154]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Preparation of Environmental Impact Statement for the E Street 
Transit Corridor in San Bernardino, 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 Omnitrans are 
issuing this notice to advise agencies and the public that, in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, FTA and 
Omnitrans, in cooperation with San Bernardino Association of 
Governments, Southern California Association of Governments and other 
public entities, will complete the Alternatives Analysis, adopt a 
Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) and then prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate transit improvements, including a 
potential bus rapid transit (BRT) line and other alternatives in the E 
Street corridor from California State University at San Bernardino to 
the City of Loma Linda in San Bernardino County, California. This 
Notice of Intent is being published at this time to notify all 
interested parties and to invite them to participate in the study. 
Conceptual alternatives to be considered may include No Action/No 
Build, transportation system management (TSM), bus rapid transit (BRT), 
and light rail transit (LRT). Other conceptual alternatives may be 
identified during the scoping sessions.

Scoping: Scoping for the studies will be developed during a process 
that will include an extensive review of previous and existing plans, 
consultation with affected agencies and interested persons, interviews 
with community leaders, public meetings and other outreach/involvement 
activities.

DATES: Two public scoping meetings, one at the Radisson Hotel & 
Convention Center 295 NE., Street, San Bernardino, CA 92401, on 
February 7, 2005, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the other to be held at the 
Feldheym Central Library, 555 W.

[[Page 3249]]

6th Street, San Bernardino, CA 92401, on February 9, 2005, at 5:30 p.m. 
Details of the public scoping meetings will be advertised in local 
newspapers and other media. An interagency scoping meeting will be held 
on February 17, 2005 at 1:30 p.m. (See ADDRESSES below). Written 
comments on the scope of the studies may be sent to Rohan Kuruppu, 
Director of Planning, Omnitrans within forty-five days of the meeting 
dates (See ADDRESSES below).

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the project should be sent to Rohan 
Kuruppu, Director of Planning, Omnitrans, Omnitrans Metro Facility, 
1700 West Fifth Street, San Bernardino, CA 92411. The interagency 
scoping meeting will be held on February 17, 2005 at 1:30 p.m. at 
Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), 818 West Seventh 
Street, 12th Floor, Los Angeles, CA, 90017. All scoping meetings will 
be held in facilities meeting the requirements of Americans with 
Disabilities Act.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Notice of Intent

    The Notice of intent is to prepare an Alternatives Analysis leading 
to an Environmental Impact Statement and is being published at this 
time to advise interested parties of the study and invite their 
participation. FTA regulations and guidance in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act will be used in the analysis and 
preparation of the E Street Corridor studies.

II. Scoping

    The FTA, Omnitrans, SANBAG, SCAG and other public entities invite 
comments both at the public meetings listed above and in writing for a 
period of 45 days following the date of the meetings. Comments should 
focus on identifying specific social, economic, or environmental 
concerns to be addressed, the types of alternatives to be considered as 
well as the scope and impacts of the alternatives.
    If you wish to be placed on a mailing list to receive further 
information as the study progresses, contact Rohan Kuruppu at 
Omnitrans, 1700 West Fifth Street, San Bernardino, CA 92411.

III. Study Area

    The study area is approximately 14 miles long, extending from 
California State University on the north to the City of Loma Linda on 
the south generally following Kendall Drive, E Street, Hospitality Lane 
and then south crossing under I-10 on one of three alternative 
alignments.

IV. Purpose and Need

    Numerous key deficiencies and needs have been identified in the E 
Street Corridor. Existing transit services are slower than auto travel. 
Given that the corridor has high transit dependency and an aging 
population, this translates into reduced mobility for many residents. 
It also results in low usage by choice riders, particularly during 
lunchtime and mid-day periods. The corridor is in need of a catalyst to 
help accelerate revitalization efforts that have not yet been 
successful. Depressed economic conditions in the central corridor 
creates a disconnect of development between south and north. Portions 
of the corridor are viewed as unsafe. Scheduling of existing transit 
routes is difficult because of the potential for delays, particularly 
crossing the I-10 Freeway. This problem will get much worse as 
population and employment grow. Parking capacity is also a problem at 
the university and hospital campuses.
    The purpose of the project is to mitigate the deficiencies 
identified above. Alternative transit scenarios to be evaluated must be 
designed to address the corridor's deficiencies and needs. Therefore 
each alternative will be designed to meet the following project goals:
     Enhance Mobility and Accessibility;
     Encourage Economic Growth and Redevelopment;
     Improve Transit Operations; and
     Provide a Cost Effective Solution.

V. Alternatives

    As provided in the FTA major investment project development 
process, this Alternatives Analysis will focus on narrowing a range of 
conceptual alternatives to a manageable number to carry forward into 
detailed analysis. Conceptual alternatives to be considered may 
include:
     A No Action Alternative, including only existing and 
committed projects and services;
     A Transportation Systems Management (TSM) alternative that 
will include existing and committed projects, the most recent Omnitrans 
Short Range Transit Plan and other non capital improvements;
     One or more Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) alternatives in the E 
Street Corridor, with major improvements in the corridor; and
     A Light Rail Transit (LRT) alternative.

VI. Probable Effects

    The purpose of the EIS is to fully disclose the environmental 
consequences of building and operating a premium transit system in the 
E Street Corridor in advance of any decisions to commit substantial 
financial or other resources towards its implementation. The 
Environmental Impact Statement will allow the project sponsors to 
evaluate the projects potential for significant adverse impacts during 
construction and operation and to identify feasible mitigation measures 
for those impacts. The specific analyses that would take place are land 
use, neighborhood character, social conditions and displacement, visual 
and aesthetic considerations, historic resources, archaeological 
resources, transit, traffic, parking, air quality, noise and vibration, 
energy, hazardous materials, water quality, natural resources, 
construction and construction impacts, cumulative impacts and 
environmental justice.
    Depending on the outcome of the scoping process and the analysis of 
conceptual alternatives, a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) will be 
selected and evaluated in the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS will be prepared 
simultaneously with Preliminary Engineering for the project, including 
station and alignment options. The Draft EIS process will address the 
potential use of federal funds for the proposed action, as well as 
assess the social, economic, and environmental impacts of the station 
and alignment alternatives. Station designs and any alignment options 
will be refined to minimize and mitigate any adverse impacts.

VII. FTA Procedures

    After publication, the Draft EIS will be available for public and 
agency review and comment, and a public hearing will be held. Based on 
the Draft EIS and comments received, the LPA may be refined, and 
Omnitrans will further assess the LPA in the Final EIS and will apply 
for FTA approval to initiate Final Design of the LPA.

    Issued on: January 12, 2005.
Edward Carranza, Jr.,
Acting Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-1154 Filed 1-19-05; 8:45 am]
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