[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54890-54893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22257]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement on the Proposed 
Southwest Transitway Project in Hennepin, Minnesota

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
on the Proposed Southwest Transitway Project in Hennepin County, 
Minnesota.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Hennepin 
County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA) are planning to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Southwest 
Transitway Project, a 14-mile corridor of transportation improvements 
that links Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Edina, Hopkins, St. Louis Park, 
and Minneapolis neighborhoods and

[[Page 54891]]

downtown Minneapolis. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Minnesota Environmental 
Policy Act (MEPA) as well as provisions of the Safe, Accountable, 
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users 
(SAFETEA-LU). The purpose of this Notice of Intent (NOI) is to alert 
interested parties regarding the plan to prepare the EIS to provide 
information on the nature of the proposed transit project, to invite 
participation in the EIS process, including comments on the scope of 
the EIS, including the project purpose and need, the alternatives to be 
studied, and the potential social, economic, environmental and 
transportation impacts to be evaluated.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS by all interested 
individuals and organizations, public agencies, and Native American 
Tribes on the scope of the EIS, including the purpose and need for the 
proposed action; alternatives that may be less costly or have less 
environmental or community impacts while achieving similar 
transportation objectives; and the identification of any significant 
social, economic, or environmental issues relating to the alternatives 
are invited. Public scoping meetings will be held to accept comments on 
the scope of the EIS. The scoping meetings will be composed of a one 
hour public open house followed by a formal public hearing hosted by 
the HCRRA and will be held at the following locations on the following 
dates:

Tuesday, October 7, 2008: 2 p.m. open house, 3 p.m. public hearing, 
Hennepin County Government Center, 300 South 6th Street, Minneapolis, 
MN 55487.
Tuesday October 14, 2008: 5 p.m. open house, 6 p.m. public hearing, St. 
Louis Park City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Boulevard, St. Louis Park, MN 
55416.
Thursday, October 23, 2008: 5 p.m. open house, 6 p.m. public hearing, 
Eden Prairie City Hall, 8080 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344

    The locations for all 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. Katie Walker, AICP, Transit Project Manager, 
Hennepin County, Housing, Community Works & Transit, 417 North 5th 
Street, Suite 320, Minneapolis, MN 55401, Telephone: (612) 348-9260; e-
mail: [email protected]. Requests for special assistance 
should be made two weeks in advance of the scheduled meeting.
    Scoping materials will be available at the meetings and are 
available by clicking on the Southwest Transitway Web site at 
www.southwesttransitway.org. Hard copies of the scoping materials are 
available from Ms. Katie Walker, AICP, at 417 North 5th Street, Suite 
320, Minneapolis, MN 55401, Telephone: (612) 348-2190; e-mail: 
[email protected]. An interagency scoping meeting will be 
scheduled with agencies having an interest in the proposed project.
    In addition to receiving comments at the public hearings, the 
public may submit comments by e-mail, mail, fax, or via the Web site.

ADDRESSES: Written Comments Should Be Sent To: Ms. Katie Walker, AICP, 
Transit Project Manager, Hennepin County, Housing, Community Works & 
Transit, 417 North 5th Street, Suite 320, Minneapolis, MN 55401, 
Telephone: (612) 348-2190; e-mail: [email protected].; 
Fax: (612) 348-9710; or can be made at www.southwesttransitway.org. 
Comments will be accepted until 5 PM on November 7, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Mr. David Werner at FTA, Region V, 
200 West Adams Street, Suite 320, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Telephone: 
(312) 353-2789; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Project would provide for 
transit improvements within the Southwest Corridor, which extends 
approximately 14 miles from downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie 
through St. Louis Park, Hopkins, and Minnetonka. The proposed project 
was the subject of an Alternatives Analysis (AA), which recommended 
three light rail transit (LRT) alternatives and one Enhanced Bus 
alternative for inclusion in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). 
The proposed project would provide high-frequency (7.5 minute peak), 
bi-directional transit service 20 hours per day seven days per week. 
Stations are proposed at \1/2\ to 1 mile intervals providing service to 
key activity centers including, but not limited to, downtown 
Minneapolis, the new Twins Baseball Stadium, the Walker Art Center, the 
Minneapolis Convention Center, Eat Street, Uptown, Calhoun Village/
Commons, Methodist Hospital, Excelsior/Grand, Cargill, SuperValu, Opus, 
Golden Triangle, and the Eden Prairie Center Mall.

Purpose and Need for the Project

    The intent of the Southwest Transitway Project is to improve 
mobility, further develop multi-modal options, and increase 
transportation choices for the traveling public. The overall goals of 
the proposed project are to: (1) Improve mobility; (2) provide a cost-
effective, efficient travel option; (3) protect the environment; (4) 
preserve and protect the quality of life in the study area and the 
region; and, (5) support economic development.
    The Southwest Transitway was first identified as a potential 
transitway in the mid-1980s reflecting the projected strong growth for 
this area by the Metropolitan Council. Since the mid-1980s numerous 
studies by the Metropolitan Council, Mn/DOT, and Hennepin County have 
documented the transportation needs of the study area. These studies 
are available for review at the Southwest Transitway Web site 
www.southwesttransitway.org. The Southwest Transitway is identified in 
the Metropolitan Council's Transportation Policy Plan (TPP) as a Tier 2 
transitway www.metrocouncil.org.
    With Southwest Transitway communities projected to encompass 25 
percent of the regional employment base by 2030, the Twin Cities region 
needs to maintain the ability to travel to, from, and through Southwest 
Transitway communities efficiently, and at acceptable cost. The six 
communities that make up the Southwest Transitway study area need to 
accommodate additional transportation capacity while preserving the 
corridor's business advantages, environmental features, and quality of 
life for residents.
    Additional considerations supporting the project's need include:
    Declining mobility is being experienced by residents, workers and 
visitors to the study area. This is caused by travel resulting from the 
high employment and residential growth of the area, which is 
outstripping the capacity of the existing transportation system. 
Currently 27 percent of all regional trips begin or end in the corridor 
and 65 percent of the trips generated within the corridor stay in the 
corridor. The study area includes two of the region's largest 
employment centers, downtown Minneapolis with over 140,000 jobs, and 
Golden Triangle with over 50,000 jobs. Travel on area roadways has 
increased by 80 to 150 percent over the past 25 years. This has led to 
increasing congestion with no plans by the state, region or county to 
significantly expand the roadway system. The area is projected to

[[Page 54892]]

continue to grow with a significant portion of the 1 million people and 
500,000 jobs the region expects to add by 2030 locating within the 
study area.
    Competitive, reliable transit options are not available for many 
study area choice riders and transit dependent persons. Due to 
congested roadways and circuitous roadway networks, it is difficult to 
provide the significant travel time advantages that would attract 
choice riders to the transit system and to adequately serve transit-
dependent people living in and around downtown Minneapolis attempting 
to access the growing job base in the study area. The study area 
roadway network is oriented north-south/east-west where development 
patterns have radiated outward from downtown Minneapolis on a diagonal. 
The number of transit-dependent people is growing in the study area, 
primarily in and around downtown Minneapolis. The roadway network 
through these neighborhoods is circuitous and has many one-way streets.

Alternatives To Be Considered

    After a two-year study of transit alternatives, three light rail 
transit routes (Build Alternatives) have been identified for further 
evaluation in the EIS to determine which would best serve the study 
area. Other alternatives currently under consideration include a future 
No-Build Alternative, and a Transportation Systems Management (TSM) 
Alternative, also known as Enhanced Bus.

Build Alternatives To Be Considered

    Light Rail Transit 1A: This alternative would operate from downtown 
Minneapolis to Eden Prairie (TH 5) via an extension of the Hiawatha LRT 
tracks on 5th Street past the downtown Minneapolis Intermodal Station 
to Royalston Avenue to the Kenilworth Corridor through Minneapolis and 
the HCRRA property through St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Eden 
Prairie terminating at TH 5 and the HCRRA's property. Stations are 
proposed at Royalston Ave., Van White Blvd., Penn Ave., 21st St., West 
Lake St., Beltline Blvd., Wooddale Ave., Louisiana Ave., Blake Rd. 
downtown Hopkins, Shady Oak Rd., Rowland Rd., TH 62, and TH 5.
    Light Rail Transit 3A: This alternative would operate from downtown 
Minneapolis to Eden Prairie (Mitchell Road/TH 5) via an extension of 
the Hiawatha LRT tracks on 5th Street past the downtown Minneapolis 
Intermodal Station to Royalston Avenue to the Kenilworth Corridor 
through Minneapolis, the HCRRA property in St. Louis Park and Hopkins, 
to new right-of-way through the Opus/Golden Triangle area, the Eden 
Prairie Major Center area terminating at TH 5 and Mitchell Road. 
Stations are proposed at Royalston Ave., Van White Blvd., Penn Ave., 
21st St., West Lake St., Beltline Blvd. Wooddale Ave., Louisiana Ave., 
Blake Rd., downtown Hopkins, Shady Oak Rd., Opus, City West, Golden 
Triangle, Eden Prairie Town Center, SouthWest Station, and Mitchell Rd.
    Light Rail Transit 3C: This alternative would operate from downtown 
Minneapolis to Eden Prairie (Mitchell Road/TH 5) via Nicollet Mall to 
Nicollet Avenue (tunnel from Franklin Avenue to 28th Street), the 
Midtown Corridor through Minneapolis, the HCRRA property in St. Louis 
Park and Hopkins, to new right-of-way through the Opus/Golden Triangle, 
the Eden Prairie Major Center area terminating at TH 5 and Mitchell 
Road. Stations are proposed at 4th St., 8th St., 12th St., Franklin 
Ave., 28th St., Lyndale Ave., Hennepin Ave., West Lake St., Beltline 
Blvd., Wooddale Ave., Louisiana Ave., Blake Rd., downtown Hopkins, 
Shady Oak Rd., Opus, City West, Golden Triangle, Eden Prairie Town 
Center, SouthWest Station, and Mitchell Rd.

No-Build Alternative

    The No-Build Alternative contemplates roadway and transit facility 
and service improvements (other than the proposed project) planned, 
programmed and included in the Financially Constrained Regional 
Transportation Policy Plan to be implemented by the Year 2030. It 
includes minor transit service expansions and/or adjustments that 
reflect a continuation of existing service policies as identified by 
the Metropolitan Council. The No-Build Alternative serves as the NEPA 
baseline against which environmental effects of other alternatives, 
including the proposed project, will be measured.

Transportation Systems Management (TSM) Alternative

    The TSM Alternative (Enhanced Bus) is designed to provide lower 
cost, operationally-oriented improvements to address the project's 
purpose and need as much as possible without a major transit 
investment. It includes minor modifications to the existing express 
service, and would augment Metro Transit and SouthWest Transit service 
between Minneapolis and Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Hopkins, and St. 
Louis Park. This alternative will serve as the New Starts Baseline 
against which the cost-effectiveness of the proposed project will be 
measured, and includes improvements identified in the No-Build 
Alternative.
    In addition to the above described alternatives, other additional 
reasonable transit alternatives identified through the scoping process 
that provide similar transportation benefits while reducing or avoiding 
adverse impacts will be evaluated for potential inclusion in the EIS. 
Because of the sensitive adjacent land uses located in many parts of 
this corridor, all alternatives will need to consider a full range of 
design and mitigation solutions to enlist the support of local 
communities for the completion of this line.

Probable Effects

The EIS Process and the Role of Participating Agencies and the Public

    The purpose of the EIS process is to explore in a public setting 
the effects of the proposed project and its alternatives on the 
physical, human, and natural environment. The FTA and the HCRRA will 
evaluate all significant environmental, social, and economic impacts of 
the construction and operation of the proposed project. Impact areas to 
be addressed include: transportation; land use, zoning, and economic 
development; secondary development; land acquisition, displacements, 
and relocations; cultural resource, including impacts on historical and 
archaeological resources and parklands/recreation areas; neighborhood 
compatibility and environmental justice; natural resource impacts 
including air quality, wetlands, water resources, noise, vibration; 
energy use; safety and security; wildlife and ecosystems, including 
endangered species. Measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate all 
adverse impacts will be identified and evaluated.
    Regulations implementing NEPA, as well as provisions of the Safe, 
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy 
for Users (SAFETEA-LU), call for public involvement in the EIS process. 
Section 6002 of SAFETEAU-LU requires that FTA and the HCRRA do the 
following: (1) Extend an invitation to other Federal and non-Federal 
agencies and Indian tribes that may have an interest in the proposed 
project to become ``participating agencies,'' (2) provide an 
opportunity for involvement by participating agencies and the public in 
helping to define the purpose and need for a proposed project, as well 
as the range of alternatives for consideration in the EIS, and (3) 
establish a plan for coordinating public and agency participation in, 
and comment on, the environmental review process. An

[[Page 54893]]

invitation to become a participating agency, with the scoping materials 
appended, will be extended to other Federal and non-Federal agencies 
and Native American tribes that may have an interest in the proposed 
project. It is possible that FTA and the HCRRA will not be able to 
identify all Federal and non-Federal agencies and tribes that may have 
such an interest. Any Federal or non-Federal agency or tribe interested 
in the proposed project that does not receive an invitation to become a 
participating agency should notify, at the earliest opportunity, the 
Project Manager identified above under ADDRESSES.
    A comprehensive public involvement program will be developed and a 
Coordination Plan for public and interagency involvement will be 
created and posted on the project Web site at 
www.southwesttransitway.org.
    The public involvement program includes a full range of involvement 
activities including the project Web site (referenced above); outreach 
to local officials, community and civic groups, and the public; and 
development and distribution of project newsletters. Specific 
mechanisms for involvement will be detailed in the public involvement 
program.
    The public and participating agencies are invited to consider and 
comment on this preliminary statement of the purpose and need for the 
proposed Southwest Transitway project. Suggestions for modifications to 
the statement of purpose and need for the proposed project are welcome 
and will be given serious consideration. Comments on potentially 
significant environmental impacts that may be associated with the 
proposed project and alternatives are also welcome. There will be 
additional opportunities to participate in the scoping process at the 
public meetings announced in this notice.
    The HCRRA will be seeking New Starts funding for the proposed 
project under 49 U.S.C. 5309 and, therefore, will be subject to New 
Starts regulations (49 CFR Part 611). The New Starts regulation 
requires a planning Alternatives Analysis that leads to the selection 
of a locally preferred alternative and the inclusion of the locally 
preferred alternative as part of the long-range transportation plan 
adopted by the Metropolitan Council. 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 in conjunction with the NEPA process. 
Pertinent New Starts evaluation criteria will be included in the Final 
EIS.
    The EIS will be prepared in accordance with NEPA and its 
implementing regulations issued by the Council on Environmental Quality 
(40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and with the FTA/Federal Highway 
Administration regulations ``Environmental Impact and Related 
Procedures'' (23 CFR part 771). In accordance with 23 CFR 771.105(a) 
and 771.133, 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 
environmental and public hearing provisions of Federal transit laws (49 
U.S.C. 5301(e), 5323(b), and 5324), 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 
Department of Transportation Act (23 CFR 771.135), and Executive Orders 
12898 on Environmental justice, 11988 on Floodplain Management, and 
11990 on Wetlands.

    Issued on September 18, 2008.
Marisol R. Simon,
Regional Administrator, Region V, Federal Transit Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-22257 Filed 9-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P