[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 189 (Monday, October 1, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55854-55856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-19363]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Early Scoping Notice for an Alternatives Analysis of Proposed 
Transit Improvements in the Westside Extension Transit Corridor of Los 
Angeles, CA

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Early Scoping Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Los Angeles 
County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) issue this early 
scoping notice to advise other agencies and the public that they intend 
to explore, in the context of the Council on Environmental Quality's 
early scoping process, alternative means of improving transit capacity 
and service in the Westside Extension Transit Corridor of Los Angeles, 
California. The early scoping process is part of a planning 
Alternatives Analysis (AA) required by 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) 
5309, that will lead to the selection of a Locally Preferred 
Alternative by the LACMTA Board and Southern California Association of 
Governments (SCAG). Early scoping meetings have been planned and are 
announced below.
    The Westside Extension Transit Corridor is east-west oriented and 
includes portions of five jurisdictions: the cities of Los Angeles, 
West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, as well as portions of 
unincorporated County of Los Angeles. The study area generally extends 
north to the base of the Santa Monica Mountains along Hollywood, Sunset 
and San Vicente Boulevards, east to the Metro Rail stations at 
Hollywood/Highland and Wilshire/Western, south to Pico Boulevard, and 
west to the Pacific Ocean. The Alternatives Analysis will study transit 
extensions from the terminus of the Metro Rail Purple Line at the 
Wilshire/Western station or the Metro Rail Red Line at the Hollywood/
Highland station to downtown Santa Monica.
    After planning the Alternatives Analysis and selection of a Locally 
Preferred Alternative (LPA), the LPA will then be the subject of the 
appropriate environmental review under the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA). If the selected LPA would have significant impacts, 
an environmental impact statement (EIS), combined with a California 
environmental impact report (EIR) would be initiated with a Notice of 
Intent in the Federal Register and final public scoping of the EIS/EIR. 
In particular, the purpose and need for the project, the range of 
alternatives to be considered in the EIS/EIR, the environmental and 
community impacts to be evaluated, and the methodologies to be used, 
would be subject to public and interagency review and comment, in 
accordance with 23 U.S.C. 139.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of the planning Alternatives 
Analysis, including the alternatives to be considered and the impacts 
to be assessed, should be sent to LACMTA at the address below by 
November 1, 2007. See ADDRESSES below for the address to which written 
public comments may be sent. Early scoping meetings to accept public 
comments on the scope of the Alternatives Analysis will be held on the 
following dates:
     Thursday, October 11, 2007, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Pan 
Pacific Recreation Center, 7600 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 
90036.
     Thursday, October 16, 2007, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wilshire 
United Methodist Church, 4350 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010.

[[Page 55855]]

     Wednesday, October 17, 2007, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Beverly 
Hills Public Library Auditorium, 444 North Rexford Drive, Beverly 
Hills, CA 90210.
     Thursday, October 18, 2007, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Santa 
Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401.
    The draft purpose and need for the project and the initial set of 
alternatives proposed for study will be presented at these meetings. 
The buildings and facilities used for the scoping meetings are 
accessible to persons with disabilities. Any individual who requires 
special assistance, such as a sign language interpreter, to participate 
in a scoping meeting should contact Ms. Jody Litvak, LACMTA at 213-922-
1240 or metro.net">Litvakj@metro.net.
    Scoping materials will be available at the meetings and are also 
available on the LACMTA Web site at http://www.metro.net/westside. Hard 
copies of the scoping materials are available from Ms. Jody Litvak, 
LACMTA at 213-922-1240 or metro.net">Litvakj@metro.net.
    An interagency scoping meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 
10, 2007, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Sheriff's Station Briefing 
Room, 720 N. San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069. Representative 
of Native American tribal governments and of all Federal, State, and 
local agencies that may have an interest in any aspect of the project 
will be invited by phone letter, or e-mail.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Mr. David Mieger, AICP, 
Project Manager and Deputy Executive Officer, Los Angeles County 
Metropolitan Transportation Authority, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, 
CA 90012, phone 213-922-3040, e-mail metro.net">miegerd@metro.net. The locations 
of the early scoping meetings are given above under DATES.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ray Tellis, Team Leader, Los 
Angeles Metropolitan Office, Federal Transit Administration, 888 South 
Figueroa Street, Suite 1850, Los Angeles, CA 90017, phone 213-202-3950, 
e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Early Scoping

    The FTA and LACMTA invite all interested individuals and 
organizations, public agencies, and Native American tribes to comment 
on the scope of analyses, including the purpose and need for transit 
improvements in the corridor, the alternatives to be studied, and the 
impacts to be evaluated in the planning Alternatives Analysis. Comments 
at this time should focus on the purpose and need for transit 
improvements in the corridor; alternatives that may be less costly or 
have less environmental impacts while achieving similar transportation 
objectives; and the identification of any significant social, economic, 
or environmental issues relating to the alternatives.
    Purpose and Need for Action: The project purpose is to improve 
public transit service and mobility in the Westside Extension Corridor. 
The project would provide the cities of Los Angeles, West Hollywood, 
Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica with improved fixed-guideway east-west 
transit service between the existing terminus of the Metro Red Line and 
Metro Purple Lines near Western Avenue in the City Los Angeles and 
Ocean Avenue in the City of Santa Monica. Possible western extensions 
from the Metro Purple Line would generally follow Wilshire Boulevard 
(from the Metro Purple Line Wilshire/Western Station). Possible 
extensions from the Metro Red Line would generally follow Santa Monica 
Boulevard (from the Metro Red Line Hollywood/Highland Station). The 
overall goal of the proposed project is to improve mobility in the 
Westside Extension Corridor by extending the benefits of the existing 
Metro Red/Metro Purple Line rail and bus investments beyond the current 
terminus. Mobility problems and potential improvements for this 
corridor have been well documented in many studies, including numerous 
Metro Red Line planning studies, Southern California Association of 
Governments (SCAG) planning studies, the Mid-City/Westside Transit 
Corridor Re-Evaluation/Major Investment Study (2000), the Metro Rapid 
Demonstration Project (2000), the Mid-City/Westside Transit Corridor 
Draft EIS/EIR (2001), the American Public Transportation Association 
Review of Wilshire Corridor Tunneling (2005), and in the Southern 
California Association of Governments Regional Transportation Plan 
(2004). These studies can be reviewed at the Dorothy Peyton Gray 
Transportation Library located on the 15th Floor or Metro Headquarters, 
One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Additional considerations 
supporting the project's need include:
     The concentration of activity centers and destinations in 
the Westside Extension Corridor;
     Increasing traffic congestion on the highway network 
throughout the Westside Extension Corridor, which has led to public and 
political support for a high-capacity transit alternative to the 
automobile;
     The ``Centers Concept'' Land Use Policy of the City of Los 
Angeles which is transit-based;
     The existing concentration of transit supportive land uses 
in the Westside Extension Corridor.
     The high population and employment densities in the 
Westside Extension Corridor.
     Local redevelopment plans that are highly supportive of, 
and dependent on, high capacity transit services in the Westside 
Extension Corridor.
     The existing high ridership levels on bus lines in the 
Westside Extension Corridor.
     Significant transit dependent population in the Westside 
Extension Corridor.
     Forecasts of significant future population and employment 
growth in the Westside Extension Corridor.
     Existing and future travel demand patterns that 
demonstrate a strong and growing demand for high-capacity transit in 
the Westside Extension Corridor.
     Emerging travel patterns associated with a job-rich study 
area that has led to significant westbound congestion during the 
morning rush hours and corresponding eastbound congestion during the 
evening rush hours.
     Local policy directed toward travel demand management and 
transit solutions rather than the expansion of the street and highway 
network.

Alternatives

    The Westside Extension Transit Corridor Study proposes to extend 
transit from the terminus of the Metro Purple Line at the Wilshire/
Western station or the Metro Red Line at the Hollywood/Highland station 
to downtown Santa Monica. Two primary alignments have been considered 
historically:
     Wilshire Boulevard Alignment from Wilshire/Western station 
via Wilshire Boulevard to Santa Monica Boulevard and west on Santa 
Monica Boulevard to Century City, then transitioning back to Wilshire 
Boulevard and proceeding along Wilshire Boulevard near Westwood 
Boulevard along Wilshire Boulevard to downtown Santa Monica 
(approximately 13 miles).
     Santa Monica Boulevard Alignment starting from the 
Hollywood/Highland Metro Red Line proceeding west on Hollywood 
Boulevard and transitioning to Santa Monica Boulevard to Century City, 
then transitioning to Wilshire Boulevard near Westwood Boulevard and 
proceeding along Wilshire Boulevard to downtown Santa Monica 
(approximately 12.5 miles).

[[Page 55856]]

    Heavy Rail Transit, the transit mode that is currently used in the 
Metro Red Line and Metro Purple Line subway system, is being 
considered. It normally follows an underground configuration although 
ground-surface and aerial configurations may also be considered in some 
locations. Other transit modes, including Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and 
other forms of rail transit, may also be considered. Possible station 
sites along the Wilshire Boulevard Alignment are Wilshire/Crenshaw, 
Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax, Wilshire/La Cienega, Wilshire/
Beverly Dr., Century City, Santa Monica/Westwood, Wilshire/Westwood 
Village/I-405, Wilshire/Bundy, Wilshire/26th St., Wilshire/16th St., 
and Wilshire/4th St. (12 stations). Possible station sites along the 
Santa Monica Boulevard Alignment are Sunset/Fairfax or Santa Monica/
Fairfax, Santa Monica/La Cienega or Santa Monica/San Vicente, Santa 
Monica/Beverly, Santa Monica/Rodeo, Century City, Santa Monica/
Westwood, Wilshire/Westwood Village/I-405, Wilshire/Bundy, Wilshire/
26th St., Wilshire/16th St., and Wilshire/4th St. (11 stations).
    Future No-Build Alternative--The study will consider the 
transportation and environmental effects if no new major transit 
investments beyond those that have already been planned are implemented 
in this corridor. This alternative will include the highway and transit 
projects in the current Metro Long Range Transportation Plan and the 
2030 Southern California Association of Governments Regional 
Transportation Plan. For purposes of the Alternatives Analysis, the 
major fixed guideway investments under study for the Exposition Transit 
Corridor Phase 2 and Crenshaw Transit Corridor projects would not be 
included in the Future No-Build Alternative. The completion of the 
Metro Rapid Bus Program would be included as well as possible 
additional feeder bus networks to serve the region's major activity 
centers.
    Transportation System Management Alternative (TSM)--The study will 
consider the effects of modest improvements in the highway and transit 
systems beyond those in the Future No-Build Alternative. The TSM 
Alternative would evaluate low-cost enhancements to the Future No-Build 
Alternative and would emphasize transportation system upgrades, such as 
intersection improvements, minor road widening, traffic engineering 
actions, bus route restructuring, shortened bus headways, expanded use 
of articulated buses, reserved bus lanes, expanded park-and-ride 
facilities, express and limited-stop service, signalization 
improvements, and timed-transfer operations.
    In addition to the alternatives described above, other alternatives 
identified through the early scoping process will be considered for 
potential inclusion in the Alternatives Analysis. Alternative modes, 
vertical or horizontal alignments, or station locations may emerge from 
the early scoping process.

FTA Procedures

    Early scoping is an optional element of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) process that is particularly useful in situations 
where, as here, a proposed action (the locally preferred alternative) 
has not been identified and alternative modes and major alignment 
variations are under consideration in a broadly-defined corridor. While 
NEPA scoping normally follows issuance of a notice of intent, which 
describes the proposed action, it ``may be initiated earlier, as long 
as there is appropriate public notice and enough information available 
on the proposal so that the public and relevant agencies can 
participate effectively.'' See the Council on Environmental Quality's 
``Forty Most Asked Questions Concerning CEQ's National Environmental 
Policy Act Regulations,'' 46 FR 18026, 18030 (1981). In this case, the 
available information is more than adequate to permit the public and 
relevant agencies to participate effectively in early scoping and the 
planning Alternatives Analysis.
    LACMTA may seek New Starts funding for the proposed project under 
49 U.S.C. 5309 and will, therefore, be subject to New Starts regulation 
(49 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Part 611). The New Starts 
regulation requires a planning Alternatives Analysis that leads to the 
selection of a Locally Preferred Alternative by LACMTA and the 
inclusion of the locally preferred alternative in the long-range 
transportation plan adopted by the Southern California Association of 
Governments. The planning Alternatives Analysis will examine 
alignments, technologies, station locations, costs, funding, ridership, 
economic development, land use, engineering feasibility, and 
environmental factors in the corridor. The New Starts regulation also 
requires the submission of certain project-justification information in 
support of a request to initiate preliminary engineering, and this 
information is normally developed during the Alternatives Analysis. At 
the conclusion of the Alternatives Analysis, a locally preferred 
alternative--the ``proposed action''--will be determined, as well as 
the appropriate NEPA process--an environmental assessment or 
environmental impact statement--to be undertaken for the proposed 
action. If preparation of an environmental impact statement is 
warranted, a notice of intent will be published in the Federal Register 
and the scoping of the EIS/EIR will be completed by soliciting and 
considering comments on the purpose and need for the proposed action, 
the range of alternatives to be considered in the EIS/EIR, and the 
potentially significant environmental and community impacts to be 
evaluated in the EIS/EIR. In conjunction with this final scoping of the 
EIS/EIR and consistent with provisions of 23 U.S.C. 139, invitations 
will be extended to other Federal and non-Federal agencies that may 
have an interest in this matter to be participating agencies. A plan 
for coordinating public and agency participation in the environmental 
review process and for commenting on the issues under consideration at 
various milestones of the process will be prepared and posted on the on 
the LACMTA Web site at http://www.metro.net/westside.

    Issued on September 26, 2007.
Leslie T. Rogers,
Regional Administrator, Region IX, Federal Transit Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-19363 Filed 9-28-07; 8:45 am]
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