[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 1 (Monday, January 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 207-210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-33065]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed
Transit Improvements to the North Red and Purple Lines, Cook County, IL
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of
Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), as the lead Federal
agency, and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) intend to prepare a
Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (Tier 1 EIS) for the North Red
and Purple Line Modernization (RPM) Project in Cook County, Illinois.
The CTA operates the rapid transit system in Cook County, Illinois. The
proposed project, described more completely within, would bring the
North Red and Purple lines up to a state of good repair from the track
structure immediately north of Belmont Station in Chicago, Illinois to
the Linden terminal in Wilmette, Illinois. The purpose of this Notice
of Intent is to (1) alert interested parties regarding the intent to
prepare the EIS, (2) to provide information on the nature of the
proposed project and possible alternatives, and (3) to invite public
participation in the EIS process.
DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS, including the
project's purpose and need, the alternatives to be considered, the
impacts to be evaluated, and the methodologies to be used in the
evaluations should be sent to CTA on or before February 18, 2011. See
ADDRESSES below for the address to which written public comments may be
sent. Four public scoping meetings to accept comments on the scope of
the EIS will be held on the following dates:
Monday, January 24, 2011; 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; at St.
Augustine College, 1345 West Argyle Street, Chicago, IL 60640.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011; 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; at the
Nicholas Senn High School, 5900 North Glenwood Avenue, Chicago, IL
60660.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011; 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; at the
New Field Primary School, 1707 West Morse Avenue, Chicago, IL 60626.
Thursday, January 27, 2011; 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; at the
Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster Street, Evanston, IL
60201.
The buildings to be used for the scoping meetings are accessible to
persons with disabilities. Any individual who requires special
assistance or language translation, such as a sign language
interpreter, to participate in the scoping meeting should contact Mr.
Jeff Wilson, Government and Community Relations Officer, Chicago
Transit Authority, at 312-681-2712 or [email protected], five
days prior to the meeting.
Scoping materials describing the project purpose and need and the
alternatives proposed for analysis will be available at the meetings
and on the CTA Web site http://www.transitchicago.com/rpmproject. Paper
copies of the scoping materials may also be obtained from Mr. Jeff
Wilson, Government and Community Relations Officer, Chicago Transit
Authority, at 312-681-2712 or [email protected].
An interagency scoping meeting will be held on Monday, January 24
at 10:30 a.m. at CTA Headquarters, in Conference Room 2A, 567 W. Lake
Street, Chicago, IL 60661. Representatives of Native American Tribal
governments and Federal, State, regional, and local agencies that may
have an interest in any aspect of the project will be invited to be
participating or cooperating agencies, as appropriate.
ADDRESSES: Comments will be accepted at the public scoping meetings or
they may be sent to Mr. Steve Hands, Strategic Planning and Policy,
Chicago Transit Authority, P.O. Box 7602, Chicago, IL 60680-7602, or
via e-mail at [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Reginald Arkell, Community
Planner, Federal Transit Administration, Region V, 200 West Adams
Street, Suite 320, Chicago, IL 60606, phone 312-886-3704, e-mail
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Scoping
The FTA and CTA invite all interested individuals and
organizations, public agencies, and Native American Tribes to comment
on the scope of the Tier 1 EIS, including the project's purpose and
need, the alternatives to be studied, the impacts to be evaluated, and
the evaluation methods to be used. The Tier 1 EIS will be a planning
level EIS that will allow the CTA and FTA to use the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process as a tool to involve agencies
and the public in the decision making process for the project as well
as to capture any associated or cumulative impacts on the environment.
This process will ensure that: the complete 9.5-mile RPM corridor is
analyzed; the EIS is used to help refine and prioritize design
concepts, and; related components of the project are grouped together
for future analysis. After this Tier 1 EIS process is complete,
component projects can each be evaluated more specifically with a
second-tier EIS and/or other NEPA environmental documentation as
needed. These ensuing NEPA documents can reference and summarize
information from the Tier 1 EIS and concentrate on the issues specific
to the subsequent actions (40 CFR 1502.20). Comments should address (1)
the project's priorities and appropriate cost-effective alternatives
and components, and (2) any significant environmental impacts relating
to the alternatives.
NEPA ``scoping'' (40 CFR 1501.7) has specific and fairly limited
objectives, one of which is to identify the
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significant issues associated with alternatives that will be examined
in detail in the Tier 1 EIS, while simultaneously limiting
consideration and development of issues that are not truly significant.
It is in the NEPA scoping process that potentially significant
environmental impacts--those that give rise to the need to prepare an
environmental impact statement--should be identified; impacts that are
deemed not to be significant need not be developed extensively in the
context of the impact statement, thereby keeping the statement focused
on impacts of consequence. Transit projects may also generate
environmental benefits; these should be highlighted as well--the impact
statement process should draw attention to positive impacts, not just
negative impacts.
Once the scoping process is completed, a scoping report and
annotated outline will be prepared and shared with interested agencies
and the public. The report and outline serves at least three worthy
purposes, including (1) documenting the results of the scoping process;
(2) contributing to the transparency of the process; and (3) providing
a clear roadmap for concise development of the environmental document.
Purpose and Need for the Project
The purpose of the North Red and Purple Line Modernization project
is to bring the existing crucial transit asset into a state of good
repair, while reducing travel times, improving access to job markets,
responding to shifts in travel demand, better utilizing existing
transit infrastructure and providing access to persons with
disabilities in the north lakefront and north suburbs of Chicago. This
project would also support the area's economic development initiatives
and current transit supportive development patterns.
The need for the project is based on the following considerations:
the North Red and Purple Line infrastructure is significantly past its
useful life as most of it was constructed between 1900 and 1922; much
of the infrastructure is dilapidated and continued degradation could
increase the cost of maintenance and compromise service in the future;
transit trips are delayed and unreliable due to antiquated
infrastructure; the community relies on these facilities for all trip
types including work access and reverse commutes; 15 of the 21 stations
within the project area do not have access for persons with
disabilities; the volume of passengers, over 128,000 trips on an
average weekday representing over 19% of all weekday and 23% of all
weekend CTA rail trips, could not be accommodated either on the
currently congested road network or through bus transportation
alternatives; and the project area population is growing, highly
transit-reliant, and diverse.
Project Location and Environmental Setting
The project area extends from the track structure immediately north
of Belmont station to Linden station, which is approximately 9.5 miles
and includes 21 stations and two rail yards, the Howard Yard and the
Linden Yard. Currently, the Red and Purple Lines operate beside each
other on 4 tracks for 5.7 miles from north of Belmont station to Howard
station, of which 1.9 miles is located on steel elevated structure and
3.8 miles on earthen embankment. The Purple Line operates alone on 2
tracks for 3.8 miles from Howard station to Linden station on earthen
embankment.
The project area traverses dense urban single and multi family
residential, commercial, and educational land uses and includes
portions of Chicago's North Side, Evanston, and Wilmette, Illinois. The
project area includes numerous parks and cemeteries, and crosses the
North Shore Channel of the Chicago River.
Alternatives
Several alternatives are proposed for analysis in the EIS. Public
input received during scoping will help to select, reject and/or revise
the following alternatives.
No Action Alternative: The No Action Alternative would maintain the
status quo. This alternative would include the absolute minimum repairs
required to keep the Red and Purple lines functional. Travel patterns
would remain the same. Travel times would likely continue to increase
and service reliability would continue to degrade due to the need to
safely operate on systems not considered in a state of good repair.
Additional ADA access would not be provided. Minor repairs and upgrades
would be made using current capital funding levels. The number of
stations and station entrances would remain at 21 and 23, respectively.
No stations would be renovated. The No Action Alternative is used as a
basis for comparison for the other alternatives.
Basic Rehabilitation Alternative: This alternative includes a
strategic mix of repairs, rehabilitation, and replacement to bring the
Evanston Branch (between Linden Terminal and Howard Station) and the
North Red Line (between Belmont Station and Howard Station) into a
minimal state of good repair. It would provide adequate service for the
next 20 years. The stations, viaducts, and other structural elements
would not be brought up to modern standards and would only meet minimal
ADA requirements. Upgrades would be made to signals and communication
systems. The number of stations and station entrances would remain at
21 and 23, respectively.
Evanston Branch: The Evanston Branch, between Linden Terminal and
Howard Station, is the northern section of the study area and is
approximately 3.8 miles long. This segment currently has 2 operating
tracks with 8 stations (not including Howard). Only one station would
be renovated to accommodate 8 car trains; two stations which are
already accessible would receive minor repairs; the other six stations
would be renovated to meet minimal ADA requirements. This alternative
consists of upgrades to existing structures primarily within the
existing CTA right-of-way and maintenance of the existing overall track
alignment, structure, and station configurations.
North Red Line: The North Red Line, between Belmont Station and
Howard Station, is the southern section of the study area and is
approximately 5.8 miles long. This segment currently has 4 operating
tracks with 13 stations. Eight stations would be renovated to meet
minimal ADA requirements; one station would be reconstructed; the
remaining four stations are already accessible and would receive minor
repairs. This alternative consists of upgrades to existing structures
primarily within the existing CTA right-of-way and maintaining the
existing overall track alignment, structure, and station
configurations. Express service with no stops between Howard and
Belmont would continue to be provided in both directions during peak
periods.
Basic Rehabilitation with Transfer Stations Alternative: This
alternative includes all of the elements of the Basic Rehabilitation
Alternative plus new transfer stations at Wilson and Loyola. The number
of stations would remain at 21 and the total number of station
entrances would increase to 25.
Evanston Branch: Same as Basic Rehabilitation Alternative above in
this segment for this alternative.
North Red Line: This alternative includes all of the elements of
the Basic Rehabilitation Alternative plus new transfer stations at
Wilson and Loyola. The new transfer stations and 1 mile of associated
structures would have a useful life of 60-80 years; the rest of the
improvements would have a useful life
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of 20 years. Additional access to express service would be possible at
the two new transfer stations. This alternative would allow for
potential expanded hours of express service. Seven stations would be
renovated to meet minimal ADA requirements; three stations would be
reconstructed (two as transfer stations); the remaining three stations
are already accessible and would receive minor repairs.
Modernization 4-Track Alternative: This alternative would provide
modern amenities at stations, extend the useful life of the system for
the next 60-80 years, increase speed and reliability, and address
safety and accessibility concerns. This alternative would require
significant right-of-way acquisitions. The number of stations would
decrease to 17 and the total number of station entrances would increase
to 31.
Evanston Branch: All stations would be reconstructed or renovated
to meet modern standards for accessibility and safety including modern
platform widths and clear lines of sight, in addition to being expanded
to accommodate 8 car trains. Four stations would be reconstructed; the
remaining two previously-modernized stations would receive minor
repairs. Reconstruction of elevated structures and viaducts would bring
them up to modern standards including clearances for cross streets
underneath viaducts. Minimal acquisition would be required to
straighten curves that currently slow service. The potential exists to
consolidate stops while providing additional access points; examples of
this could include: Adding a Washington entrance to Main station and
removing South Blvd station; and adding a Gaffield entrance to Noyes
station and a Church entrance to Davis station and removing Foster
station.
North Red Line: All stations would be reconstructed or renovated to
meet modern standards for accessibility and safety including modern
platform widths and clear lines of sight. Nine stations would be
reconstructed (two as transfer stations); the remaining one previously-
modernized station would receive minor repairs. This alternative would
provide express and local service in both directions by maintaining 4-
tracks and would replace the existing structures and embankment with
modern concrete aerial structure. This alternative would allow for
potential expanded hours of express service. Substantial additional
right-of-way would be required to increase platform widths and provide
clear lines of sight, as well as to straighten curves that slow
service. The potential exists to consolidate stops, while providing
additional access points; examples of this could include: Adding an
Ainslie entrance to Argyle station and removing Lawrence station;
adding a Glenlake entrance to Granville station and a Hollywood
entrance to Bryn Mawr station and removing Thorndale station; and
providing additional access to Howard station at Rogers Avenue and
removing Jarvis station.
Modernization 3-Track Alternative: This alternative would provide
modern amenities at stations, extend the useful life of the system for
the next 60-80 years, increase speed and reliability, and address
safety and accessibility concerns. This alternative would remove one of
the four tracks in the North Red Line corridor. The number of stations
would decrease to 17 and the total number of station entrances would
increase to 31. The number of stations to be reconstructed and repaired
would be the same as the Modernization 4-Track Alternative above.
Evanston Branch: Same as Modernization 4-Track Alternative above in
this segment for this alternative.
North Red Line: All stations would be reconstructed or renovated to
meet modern standards for accessibility and safety including modern
platform widths and clear lines of sight. This alternative would
generally stay within the existing right-of-way, would eliminate one of
the four existing tracks between Belmont and Howard to accommodate
wider platforms, and would replace the existing structures and
embankment with modern concrete aerial structure. Local service would
be offered in both directions at all times and express service would be
offered inbound in the morning and outbound in the evening; no reverse
commute express service would be provided. Some right-of-way
acquisition would be required to straighten curves that currently slow
service. The potential exists to consolidate stops, while providing
additional access points; possibilities would be the same as for the
Modernization 4-Track Alternative above.
Modernization 2-Track Underground Alternative: This alternative
would provide modern amenities at stations, extend the useful life of
the system for the next 60-80 years, increase speed and reliability,
and address safety and accessibility concerns. This alternative would
operate underground in a new 2-track alignment in place of the current
4-track alignment in the North Red Line segment. The number of stations
would decrease to 16 and the total number of station entrances would
increase to 29.
Evanston Branch: Same as Modernization 4-Track Alternative above in
this segment for this alternative.
North Red Line: This alternative would replace a significant
portion of the existing 4-track elevated rail structure and embankment
with a below-grade 2-track alignment. This alternative would provide a
single more frequent local service in both directions between Linden
and Belmont in this corridor; no express overlay service would be
provided. The alternative alignment would begin north of Belmont and
transition below ground, proceeding underneath the northbound Brown
Line tracks. The alignment would continue northward generally following
Sheffield/Sheridan to the intersection of Sheridan and Broadway, and
then proceed north underneath Broadway until it transitions back to the
elevated alignment just north of Loyola. Subway stations would be
constructed at Addison, Irving Park, Wilson, Foster, Bryn Mawr,
Glenlake, and Devon/Loyola. In total, seven modern stations would be
constructed underground; one station would be reconstructed above
ground; one previously-modernized station would receive minor repairs.
The current 4-track earthen embankment between Loyola and Howard would
be replaced with a 2-track modern concrete aerial structure. This
alternative would require right-of-way acquisition outside of the
existing Red Line alignment for station entrances and auxiliary
structures. Curves would be straightened and new subway stops would be
located to maximize train speed. The potential exists in the remaining
elevated alignment to provide additional access to Howard station at
Rogers Avenue and remove Jarvis station.
Possible Effects
The purpose of this Tier 1 EIS process is to study, in a public
setting, the effects of the proposed project and its alternatives on
the quality of the human and natural environment. Areas of
investigation for transit projects generally 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. Investigation
may reveal that the proposed project will or will not substantially
affect many of these areas. Measures will be identified to avoid,
minimize, or mitigate any significant adverse impacts.
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FTA Procedures
The regulations implementing NEPA, as well as provisions of the
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), calls for public involvement in the EIS
process. Section 6002 of SAFETEA-LU requires that FTA and CTA do the
following: (1) Extend an invitation to other Federal and non-Federal
agencies and Native American 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 to
help 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 invitation to become a
participating or cooperating agency, with 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 CTA will not be able to identify all Federal
and non-Federal agencies and Native American Tribes that may have such
an interest. Any Federal or non-Federal agency or Native American 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 and a Coordination Plan
for public and interagency involvement will be developed for the
project and posted on CTA's Web site, http://www.transitchicago.com/rpmproject. The public involvement program includes a full range of
activities including maintaining the project Web page on the CTA Web
site and outreach to local officials, community and civic groups, and
the public. Specific activities or events for involvement will be
detailed in the project's public participation plan.
The Paperwork Reduction Act seeks, in part, to minimize the cost to
the taxpayer of the creation, collection, maintenance, use,
dissemination, and disposition of information. Consistent with this
goal and with principles of economy and efficiency in government, it is
FTA policy to limit insofar as possible distribution of complete
printed sets of environmental documents. Accordingly, unless a specific
request for a complete printed set of environmental documents is
received (preferably in advance of printing), FTA and its grantees will
distribute only the executive summary of the environmental document
together with a Compact Disc of the complete environmental document. A
complete printed set of the environmental document will be available
for review at the CTA's offices and elsewhere; an electronic copy of
the complete environmental document will also be available on the CTA's
Web page.
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).
Issued on: December 22, 2010.
Marisol Sim[oacute]n,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-33065 Filed 12-30-10; 8:45 am]
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