[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20741-20743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8189]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Lake 
Oswego to Portland Transit Project in the Portland, OR 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 (FTA) and Metro (the 
regional government that serves the 25 cities and three counties of the 
Portland, Oregon metropolitan area), in cooperation with the cities of 
Lake Oswego and Portland, Clackamas and Multnomah counties; Oregon 
Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Tri-County Metropolitan 
Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the benefits and 
impacts of proposed transit improvements. Three alternatives are 
proposed: (1) A No-Build alternative that includes everything in the 
Metro Regional Transportation Plan, not including the proposed project, 
and with a continuation of present day bus service policies in place of 
the project; (2) a streetcar alternative that would extend the existing 
Portland Streetcar system approximately 1.2 miles to a short terminus 
in Johns Landing, or 5.7 miles to a terminus in downtown Lake Oswego, 
with connecting bus service in the corridor, and (3) an enhanced bus 
alternative with capital improvements between downtown Portland and 
Lake Oswego and connecting bus service to the rest of the corridor. FTA 
and Metro will prepare the EIS in accordance with FTA regulations (23 
CFR 771 et seq.) implementing the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), and with the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). This Notice 
alerts interested parties of the intent to prepare the EIS, provides 
information on the nature of the proposed transit project, invites 
participation in the EIS process (including comments on the scope of 
the EIS proposed in this notice), and announces an upcoming public 
scoping meeting.

DATES: Comment due date: Written comments on the scope of the EIS, 
including the preliminary purpose and need for transit improvements in 
the corridor, the alternatives to be considered, the environmental and

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community impacts to be evaluated, and any other project-related 
issues, should be sent to the Lake Oswego to Portland Transit Project, 
at the address below, by July 18, 2008. Scoping meeting date: A public 
scoping meeting will be held on April 21, 2008 at 6 p.m. at the 
location indicated in ADDRESSES below. Oral and written comments may be 
given at the scoping meeting. An agency scoping meeting was held on 
September 26, 2007, to collect comments of local, State and federal 
agencies with an interest in the proposed project.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS should be sent to 
Lake Oswego to Portland Transit Project, Metro, 600 NE Grand Avenue, 
Portland Oregon 97232. Comments may also be offered at the public 
scoping meeting. The public scoping meeting will be at: Community Room, 
Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S. State Street, Lake Oswego, OR 
97034. This meeting place is accessible to persons with disabilities. 
Any individual with a disability who requires special assistance, such 
as a sign language interpreter, may contact Karen Withrow at (503) 797-
1932 at least 48 hours before the meeting. A scoping information packet 
will be available before the meeting on the Metro Web site (www.metro-region.org) or by calling Karen Withrow at (503) 797-1932; copies will 
also be available at the public scoping meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Witmer, Community Planner, 
Federal Transit Administration, Region 10, (206) 220-7954.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Scoping: FTA and Metro invite all interested 
individuals and organizations, public agencies and Native American 
Tribes to comment on the scope of the EIS, including the project's 
proposed purpose and need, the proposed alternatives to be analyzed in 
the EIS and the proposed impacts to be evaluated. Each is described 
below.
    Background: The Lake Oswego to Portland corridor is 
environmentally, topographically and physically constrained. Future 
roadway expansion is not anticipated and probably not feasible, and 
previous planning studies have concluded that a high capacity transit 
improvement is needed to provide additional corridor capacity. In 1988, 
a consortium of seven government agencies purchased the Willamette 
Shore Line right-of-way connecting Lake Oswego to Portland for the 
purpose of preserving the rail right-of-way for future rail transit 
service. The 2004 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) identified the 
need for a corridor refinement plan for a high capacity transit option 
for this corridor. Metro led a broad-based alternatives analysis that 
published its results in June 2007. After public review and comment, 
the Metro Council adopted Resolution No. 07-3887A, advancing three 
alternatives into an EIS. Public comment is summarized in a comment 
report dated January 2008.
    Preliminary statement of purpose of and need for the project. The 
project is needed because mobility and traffic conditions in this 
corridor are projected to worsen as population and employment 
projections for Portland and Clackamas County continue to grow, 
especially on the west side of the Willamette River. The corridor 
already experiences long traffic queues, poor levels of service and 
significant capacity constraints at key locations. Travel times in the 
corridor for traffic and bus transit are unreliable due to congestion 
on Highway 43.
    The purpose of the Portland to Lake Oswego Transit Project is to 
develop transit that meets future travel demand, supports local and 
regional land use plans, and garners public acceptance and community 
support; and which will:
     Increase the mobility and accessibility within the 
geographically constrained Highway 43 Corridor, connecting from the 
Portland Central City through the Lake Oswego Town Center.
     Minimize traffic and parking-related impacts to 
neighborhoods.
     Support and enhance existing neighborhood character in an 
environmentally sensitive manner.
     Cost-effectively increase corridor and system-wide transit 
ridership.
     Support transit-oriented economic development in Portland 
and Lake Oswego.
     Improve transportation access to and connectivity among 
significant destinations and activity centers.
     Increase transportation choices in the corridor, and 
access for persons with disabilities.
     Integrate effectively with other transportation modes.
     Anticipate future needs and impacts and not preclude 
future expansion opportunities.
    The project's purpose and need statement will be finalized, using 
agency and public review and comment.
    The environmental process: In accordance with NEPA, SAFETEA-LU 
Section 6002, and FTA's Section 5309 New Starts requirements, the 
project's environmental process has been divided into three general 
phases: Scoping; Alternatives Analysis/Draft EIS and selection of the 
Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA); and Final EIS.
    (1) Scoping: Metro and FTA will use the scoping process to identify 
participating agencies, and to develop, with the review and comment of 
participating agencies and the public: (a) The project's purpose and 
need, (b) the range of alternatives to be studied in the Alternatives 
Analysis/Draft EIS, and (c) the evaluation methodology, including a 
determination of the scope of the environmental analysis to be 
conducted for the EIS. The scoping process will include a public 
process that will include a variety of public and agency meetings, 
workshops, open houses, and comment opportunities. Metro will create 
and implement a comprehensive public involvement program and a public 
and agency involvement Coordination and Communication Plan. The 
coordination plan will be posted on the project Web site at the end of 
the scoping process. The public involvement program will include: 
outreach to local and county officials and community and civic groups; 
periodic meetings with various local agencies, organizations, and 
committees; a public hearing after release of the Draft EIS; and 
distribution of project newsletters and other information pieces.
    (2) Alternatives Analysis/Draft EIS: During this phase, Metro and 
FTA will analyze and document the environmental benefits, costs, and 
impacts of the alternatives that were selected for further study as a 
result of the scoping process. This will build on the 2005-07 Lake 
Oswego to Portland Transit and Trail Study alternatives analysis to the 
extent appropriate. Also, the Alternatives Analysis FTA requires for 
New Starts and Small Starts projects will be completed. Metro and FTA 
will publish a Draft EIS documenting the alternatives analysis, 
evaluation of alternatives and the environmental evaluations required 
by NEPA during this phase. Following a formal public hearing on the 
Alternatives Analysis/Draft EIS and consideration of the comments 
received, this phase will conclude with selection of the locally 
preferred alternative, with public and participating agency input, by 
the Metro Council; the cities of Lake Oswego and Portland; Clackamas 
and Multnomah counties; ODOT; and TriMet.
    (3) Final EIS: In preparing the Final EIS, further study necessary 
to respond to comments on the Draft EIS will be conducted, responses to 
all comments received will be prepared, and feasible and prudent 
mitigation identified in the Draft EIS for all adverse environmental

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and community impacts will be further designed and committed to.
    Proposed alternatives: Metro expects to analyze a no-build 
alternative and two build alternatives. Prior to beginning formal EIS 
analysis, a Johns Landing refinement plan will be undertaken to define 
alignments for streetcar in the John's Landing area of the City of 
Portland, using all or parts of the Willamette Shore Line right-of-way, 
SW Macadam Avenue, Johns Landing Master Plan alignment or combinations 
thereof. As defined by the Metro Council in Resolution No. 07-3887a 
adopted December 2007, the build alternatives are as follows: (1) A 
Streetcar mode, because among transit alternatives studied to date, 
Streetcar operation in a significant percentage of exclusive right-of-
way (the Willamette Shore Line) has the highest forecast ridership, 
significantly faster travel times between key corridor destinations, 
and greater reliability. In peak travel periods, the Streetcar would 
provide faster travel times than autos between downtown and Lake 
Oswego. Faster travel time and higher reliability is gained through 
operation of streetcar in a significant percentage of exclusive right 
of way on the Willamette Shore Line. Streetcar would also have the 
lowest operating and maintenance costs of any alternative, including 
the No-Build. Streetcar development could leverage up to 3.3 million 
square feet of total new transit supportive development in Lake Oswego 
and Johns Landing. Streetcar would operate as an extension of the 
existing streetcar line that operates between NW 23rd Avenue and the 
South Waterfront. (2) Enhanced Bus Mode, because this would avoid the 
property impacts of the previously studied Bus Rapid Transit 
alternative while still providing improved service, bus pullouts, and 
better shelters and lighting at stations. Enhanced bus would operate in 
mixed traffic, which has implications for travel time, reliability and 
long-term efficiency of the line. Enhanced bus would serve as the base 
case for comparison of Streetcar alternatives in the EIS. The EIS will 
also include a no-build alternative. Metro will consider any additional 
reasonable transit alternatives identified during scoping that provide 
similar transportation benefits while reducing or avoiding adverse 
impacts.
    Probable effects: NEPA requires Metro and FTA to evaluate, in a 
public setting, the significant impacts of the alternatives selected 
for study in the Draft EIS. Areas of investigation include, but are not 
limited to, land use, development potential, land acquisition and 
displacements, historic resources, visual and aesthetic qualities, air 
quality, noise and vibration, energy use, safety and security, and 
ecosystems, including threatened and endangered species. The impacts 
will be evaluated for both the construction period and for the long-
term period of operation. Measures to mitigate adverse impacts will be 
developed. Comments on potentially significant environmental impacts 
that may be associated with the proposed project and alternatives are 
welcomed.
    In accordance with FTA policy and regulations, Metro and FTA will 
comply with all Federal environmental laws, regulations, and executive 
orders applicable to the proposed project during the environmental 
review process to the maximum extent practicable. These requirements 
include, but are not limited to, the regulations of the Council on 
Environmental Quality and FTA implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508, and 23 CFR Part 771), the project-level air quality conformity 
regulation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (40 CFR 
part 93), the Section 404(b)(1) guidelines of EPA (40 CFR part 230), 
the regulation implementing Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act (36 CFR Part 800), the regulation implementing section 
7 of the Endangered Species Act (50 CFR part 402), Section 4(f) of the 
DOT Act (23 CFR 771.135), and Executive Orders 12898 on environmental 
justice, 11988 on floodplain management, and 11990 on wetlands.

R.F. Krochalis,
Regional Administrator, Region 10, Federal Transit Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-8189 Filed 4-15-08; 8:45 am]
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